[Silver35th]

I just recently got in a fender bender and got some upgrades for the front end, including some black headlights, a chin spoiler, and a grille delete. After installing them, I was happy with everything except the grille delete. It hugs the bottom like it should, but not the sides. There is a fairly large gap that is noticeable and it really bothers me. It is the 3 piece kit from LRS. Does anyone else have this issue?

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[BML99]

That seems very odd. Could your fender bender have bent something you can't see?

Did you slide both tabs fully underneath the bumper when you slid in the plastic piece?

Seems very odd, I'll go look at mine real quick.

[6ER THEN I 8ER!]

i've heard of this...i hear most people fix this issue with 3m tape

[Silver35th]

It is a totally new bumper so everything should line up. As far as the tabs you mentioned, what tabs are you talking about? I would use the tape, but it takes a lot of force to push it down to be flush.

[BML99]

Noticing what looks to be something at your pics now....is the plastic grille piece above the radiator support? If so, that's probably what is doing it. Might just be my eyes playin' tricks on your pic...


Here's mine

(left side, right when facing car.)




Edit: the tabs underneath the plastic piece, that you slide in place so it lands flush. It look me a minute or two to get both sides in well enough.

[6ER THEN I 8ER!]

Originally Posted by BML99 Noticing what looks to be something at your pics now....is the plastic grille piece above the radiator support? If so, that's probably what is doing it. Might just be my eyes playin' tricks on your pic... Here's mine (left side, right when facing car.) Edit: the tabs underneath the plastic piece, that you slide in place so it lands flush. It look me a minute or two to get both sides in well enough.

some aftermarket kits don't have the tabs to hold it down from the bottom...i dunno if LMR is one of those kits or not

[BML99]

Hmmmm, could be it, I got mine from AM.

Comparing angled pictures of yours and mine, your plastic piece doesn't look as close to the front as mine is, just a thought....here what I mean...

yours.




and mine...


It could just be the angle, but it looks like the plastic is a farther up on mine than yours. Keep in mind I did not get the 3 piece kit, I got the 2 piece and then drilled a hole for my pony, though I don't think that should affect it too terribly much

[Silver35th]

I have the tabs all the way down in the bumper. and as far as the back piece, I think its supposed to slide in how I have it. Maybe its not. I can try tomorrow if I can get the damn rubber screw pushpin things out. Theyre stripped. But I dont think it will help out the side gaps. I guess its just a mix of being an aftermarket bumper and grille kit.

[BML99]

No, that isn't it. Just my eyes playin' tricks.

[BML99]

Possibly. the radiator support is above the grille piece, right?

[Silver35th]

The panel that has the gaps mounts to the bumper and nothing else. The piece behind mounts to the radiator support but the difference you see is in the 3rd piece. It has more plastic than the factory piece and covers the support so it isnt visible. Do you think a genuine Ford piece would fit right?

[tommy93]

I have the same problem... Probably not as bad as yours, but still a bit noticable... its just the fitment from the plastic piece... Like stated before, it just needs to be held to the bumper with some double sided 3M tape, or something of the same sort.

I understand that it bothers you, but nothing is wrong with the piece... its just the fitment

[mcqueen]

Just a thought, is your new bumper OEM or an aftermarket replica? Replicas aren't always perfect so slight differences in the grille area could cause that. If it's all installed properly, I would go with the 3M double sided tape method.

[Silver35th]

The bumper is aftermarket, but the issue is almost like the panel for the grille is too narrow. I know that seems weird but if I were to stretch it out it would probably work. I dont know why it seems too narrow when the bumper lines up with the factory holes up at the top.

[tommy93]

Originally Posted by baleger92 The bumper is aftermarket, but the issue is almost like the panel for the grille is too narrow. I know that seems weird but if I were to stretch it out it would probably work. I dont know why it seems too narrow when the bumper lines up with the factory holes up at the top.

its just the fitment from the grille delete... Just stretch it out... its really no big deal man.
heres mine for reference...(you can see the lift at the corners)

[Silver35th]

Would a hairdryer be able to soften up the plastic enough to stretch it out a little?

[tommy93]

Originally Posted by baleger92 Would a hairdryer be able to soften up the plastic enough to stretch it out a little?

you could try it... but id just get some 3M double sided tape and tape the bitch down

[Silver35th]

I would tape it...but when i push the panel down to be flush with the curve, the top mounting points want to point up due to the bending. Maybe I can cut the top tabs off and tape it down...since the top tabs seem to be the issue by keeping the sides away from the bumper.

[Silver35th]

I think I may have figured out a solution. I might drill different holes in the panel outside of the original ones to give extra bending room for the sides. This will also help out with the fact that the panel is too narrow and give me some more slack in the panel. I will get some small bolts and nuts to snug it down to keep it still. When I try this (may be a few weeks before I can get my hands on some tools), I will let y'all know how it turns out.