GT Grille, Pony Pkg Grille, problems--Help!
#1
GT Grille, Pony Pkg Grille, problems--Help!
**Disclaimer--I'm a total newb, please bear with me**
I bought the West Coast Performance Parts GT Grille mod kit for my father's-in-law `05 V6 a couple months ago. The plan was to borrow the car Christmas Eve (today), install the grille and voila! Christmas present.
Then I discovered that the grille installation process wasn't as easy as advertised. There isn't a modified grille, or some special conversion kit that allows the stock GT grille to fit in the V6 bumper fascia. Installation is based on lubing up the bumper cover with liquid soap and (simplifying somewhat) gracefully forcing that sucker in.
This is my first grille swap but I know my way around cars pretty well. The GT grille just does not fit. I eventually broke off one of the four mounting tabs, which didn't help any. I searched a few forums, including this one, and discovered installation has been pretty hit-or-miss, with many owners resorting to cutting into their bumper cover to make this work.
As this isn't my car, that's not an option. Neither, apparently, is getting help from West Coast Performance Parts. Their eBay store has vanished and Charlie (whose number I found on this forum) isn't answering.
Now I'm stuck with a GT grille 'conversion kit' (wiring harness, GT grille missing a tab, dash switch, misc. shimming hardware.) Does anyone know if I bought a Pony Package grille instead, if I could use the same wiring harness, switch, etc?
Any help/suggestions/recommendations would be welcome! Thanks in advance.
--Edit: I've read a couple posts confirming the same wiring harness, switch can be used on the pony grille. I've e-mailed Charlie in hopes that he will try to work with me on making this right (I'll let you all know how that goes.) Otherwise, I'll have to find a pony grille elsewhere. Any recommendations?--
I bought the West Coast Performance Parts GT Grille mod kit for my father's-in-law `05 V6 a couple months ago. The plan was to borrow the car Christmas Eve (today), install the grille and voila! Christmas present.
Then I discovered that the grille installation process wasn't as easy as advertised. There isn't a modified grille, or some special conversion kit that allows the stock GT grille to fit in the V6 bumper fascia. Installation is based on lubing up the bumper cover with liquid soap and (simplifying somewhat) gracefully forcing that sucker in.
This is my first grille swap but I know my way around cars pretty well. The GT grille just does not fit. I eventually broke off one of the four mounting tabs, which didn't help any. I searched a few forums, including this one, and discovered installation has been pretty hit-or-miss, with many owners resorting to cutting into their bumper cover to make this work.
As this isn't my car, that's not an option. Neither, apparently, is getting help from West Coast Performance Parts. Their eBay store has vanished and Charlie (whose number I found on this forum) isn't answering.
Now I'm stuck with a GT grille 'conversion kit' (wiring harness, GT grille missing a tab, dash switch, misc. shimming hardware.) Does anyone know if I bought a Pony Package grille instead, if I could use the same wiring harness, switch, etc?
Any help/suggestions/recommendations would be welcome! Thanks in advance.
--Edit: I've read a couple posts confirming the same wiring harness, switch can be used on the pony grille. I've e-mailed Charlie in hopes that he will try to work with me on making this right (I'll let you all know how that goes.) Otherwise, I'll have to find a pony grille elsewhere. Any recommendations?--
#2
RE: GT Grille, Pony Pkg Grille, problems--Help!
Not that this is going to help at all but I figured I would throw my own two cents in. I also purchased the WCPP GT grille kit and harness and crap. Got it in along with a body kit and the DVD made me feel like I could install it really easy in like a half hour and be up and running. Three days later I dropped off the grille with my body kit and a shop. They installed and painted the kit and then they spent two days trying to get the grille in. Keep in mind I also didn't want them to cut the bumper or make any other modifications. The last day, with 4 guys pushing it, I gave in and I personally ended up putting two screws through it to hold it in. Can’t really see them because their painted black now, but it was upsetting to have to do that. Charlie seemed like an alright guy, but all of his information was quite misleading. I figure now in that video the bumper cover must have been stretched already from previous installs, making the grille go in easy.
I wish I went with a pony kit in the first place, I hope you find something that works for you.
I wish I went with a pony kit in the first place, I hope you find something that works for you.
#5
RE: GT Grille, Pony Pkg Grille, problems--Help!
Greetings! I am new to the forum, and just ran across your post. I too went through the pain of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. After breaking off one of the tabs I called Charlie at West Coast Performance and he had me ship the whole package back. At no charge I had him replace it with a "Pony Package" grille kit. It pops right in because it was designed for the V6 bumper. Looks great! At first I was bummed because I wanted The GT look, but now I like the retro look better. Call Charlie, I think he and Lisa are pretty square, if you give them a chance. Good Luck!
#6
RE: GT Grille, Pony Pkg Grille, problems--Help!
If you want the grille to fit correctly, you'll probably have to buy a GT front bumper. I am eventually going to do that because if you look close at my grille, it looks like it is going to fall out. I got the same kit from WCP back in May. He offered for me to return it, but my bumper was already damaged and he was going to charge me a restocking fee.
#7
RE: GT Grille, Pony Pkg Grille, problems--Help!
ORIGINAL: 05 Cayuse
Greetings! I am new to the forum, and just ran across your post. I too went through the pain of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. After breaking off one of the tabs I called Charlie at West Coast Performance and he had me ship the whole package back. At no charge I had him replace it with a "Pony Package" grille kit. It pops right in because it was designed for the V6 bumper. Looks great! At first I was bummed because I wanted The GT look, but now I like the retro look better. Call Charlie, I think he and Lisa are pretty square, if you give them a chance. Good Luck!
Greetings! I am new to the forum, and just ran across your post. I too went through the pain of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. After breaking off one of the tabs I called Charlie at West Coast Performance and he had me ship the whole package back. At no charge I had him replace it with a "Pony Package" grille kit. It pops right in because it was designed for the V6 bumper. Looks great! At first I was bummed because I wanted The GT look, but now I like the retro look better. Call Charlie, I think he and Lisa are pretty square, if you give them a chance. Good Luck!
Personally, I like the look of the Pony Package grille better, and fortunately I think my father-in-law (whose car this is) does too.
#8
RE: GT Grille, Pony Pkg Grille, problems--Help!
Charlie's # is 714-757-1701 , at least that's the number I used a couple of month's ago. He also has moved his site to a Yahoo store. I talked to Lisa a few weeks ago, and she said that they're still doing business. I think, like in most situations, remaining calm and friendly while talking about the problem was the key to my positive outcome. Good Luck.
#9
RE: GT Grille, Pony Pkg Grille, problems--Help!
Fletcher,Me and My brother just installed my grill today(just the grill,i don't have the harness or switch yet).It is just A stock gt grill I got off ebay,And Yes it was A bitch!![:@]On another message here ,some one had a drawing of how to notch the facia out.I did that (reluctently!!)
Here is what We did,Notch out the facia as I mentioned above,and I cut the two top tabs off both sided of the grill as well,On the bottom 2 tabs on the side of the grilll,Shave them off A little bit on the top of them,as to make them not as tall.and cut all of the bottom tabs off.When you cut both top tabs off,the radiator cover thing will hold it in place.Tommorrow,I will drill A hole in the bottom center of the grill and install a plastic,flush fitting fastener to help hold the bottom in place.The one I got from autozone are flush fitting and are flat back,so it wont be noticable.The reason for that is because when you stuff the grill in ,everything is in a badass bind,That will help the grill from popping out of the tabs.(as there Are only 2 tabs holding it on the bottom(barely)!!!!!Tommorow I will post A pic of the install.It looks pretty damn good!The only gap is at the bottom between the grill and bumper,(about 3/16),not very noticable.Like i said It took alot trai and error,but we finnally got it in!! Another thing,You will have to loosen and raise up the hood latch mechanism a little bit and bend the latch
up a little as well,but it can be done,not easily,but we did it,and like I said it looks great!!
Here is what We did,Notch out the facia as I mentioned above,and I cut the two top tabs off both sided of the grill as well,On the bottom 2 tabs on the side of the grilll,Shave them off A little bit on the top of them,as to make them not as tall.and cut all of the bottom tabs off.When you cut both top tabs off,the radiator cover thing will hold it in place.Tommorrow,I will drill A hole in the bottom center of the grill and install a plastic,flush fitting fastener to help hold the bottom in place.The one I got from autozone are flush fitting and are flat back,so it wont be noticable.The reason for that is because when you stuff the grill in ,everything is in a badass bind,That will help the grill from popping out of the tabs.(as there Are only 2 tabs holding it on the bottom(barely)!!!!!Tommorow I will post A pic of the install.It looks pretty damn good!The only gap is at the bottom between the grill and bumper,(about 3/16),not very noticable.Like i said It took alot trai and error,but we finnally got it in!! Another thing,You will have to loosen and raise up the hood latch mechanism a little bit and bend the latch
up a little as well,but it can be done,not easily,but we did it,and like I said it looks great!!
#10
RE: GT Grille, Pony Pkg Grille, problems--Help!
ORIGINAL: dmartin
Fletcher,Me and My brother just installed my grill today(just the grill,i don't have the harness or switch yet).It is just A stock gt grill I got off ebay,And Yes it was A bitch!![:@]On another message here ,some one had a drawing of how to notch the facia out.I did that (reluctently!!)
Here is what We did,Notch out the facia as I mentioned above,and I cut the two top tabs off both sided of the grill as well,On the bottom 2 tabs on the side of the grilll,Shave them off A little bit on the top of them,as to make them not as tall.and cut all of the bottom tabs off.When you cut both top tabs off,the radiator cover thing will hold it in place.Tommorrow,I will drill A hole in the bottom center of the grill and install a plastic,flush fitting fastener to help hold the bottom in place.The one I got from autozone are flush fitting and are flat back,so it wont be noticable.The reason for that is because when you stuff the grill in ,everything is in a badass bind,That will help the grill from popping out of the tabs.(as there Are only 2 tabs holding it on the bottom(barely)!!!!!Tommorow I will post A pic of the install.It looks pretty damn good!The only gap is at the bottom between the grill and bumper,(about 3/16),not very noticable.Like i said It took alot trai and error,but we finnally got it in!! Another thing,You will have to loosen and raise up the hood latch mechanism a little bit and bend the latch
up a little as well,but it can be done,not easily,but we did it,and like I said it looks great!!
Fletcher,Me and My brother just installed my grill today(just the grill,i don't have the harness or switch yet).It is just A stock gt grill I got off ebay,And Yes it was A bitch!![:@]On another message here ,some one had a drawing of how to notch the facia out.I did that (reluctently!!)
Here is what We did,Notch out the facia as I mentioned above,and I cut the two top tabs off both sided of the grill as well,On the bottom 2 tabs on the side of the grilll,Shave them off A little bit on the top of them,as to make them not as tall.and cut all of the bottom tabs off.When you cut both top tabs off,the radiator cover thing will hold it in place.Tommorrow,I will drill A hole in the bottom center of the grill and install a plastic,flush fitting fastener to help hold the bottom in place.The one I got from autozone are flush fitting and are flat back,so it wont be noticable.The reason for that is because when you stuff the grill in ,everything is in a badass bind,That will help the grill from popping out of the tabs.(as there Are only 2 tabs holding it on the bottom(barely)!!!!!Tommorow I will post A pic of the install.It looks pretty damn good!The only gap is at the bottom between the grill and bumper,(about 3/16),not very noticable.Like i said It took alot trai and error,but we finnally got it in!! Another thing,You will have to loosen and raise up the hood latch mechanism a little bit and bend the latch
up a little as well,but it can be done,not easily,but we did it,and like I said it looks great!!