5th Generation Camry simple mods.

[iconman]

First up changing the front grille from a 2002 to a 2005 model Camry LE/XLE. Ordered the grille from RockAuto. The fit and finishes was alright. Inspired by another member on TN. The new grille looks elegant and sexy.










I also ordered a Valor exhaust tip from TRDparts4u. Installation was a breeze.
















Updates:

This mod is to add a protection screen to the AC's condenser behind the grille from road debris that could potentially damage it when you're on the road. I might try this on the front bumper when I have time. I think this mod will work with most if not all cars. I got the idea from another car forum.

You will need a gutter mesh guard , zip ties, something to trim the mesh with and a drill with a drill bits to drill couple of holes large enough for the zip ties to go through.

I got the Amerimax gutter guard from Ace Hardware. It is made of durable plastic and came in black. Zip ties I bought from Home Depot and a dremel with cutting blade and drill bits.


All the red marks are where I'm going to drill a hole through the grille's tabs with the dremel. There are going to be a total of 18 holes.

Front


Back


Closer look of the drilled hole through the tab.




Starting to trim up a bit and secure the mesh guard with the zip ties through the drilled tabs.


Done





Took me about an hour and a half but that mainly because this was my first time using a dremel tool.

The mod doesn't mess up the look of the grille at all since and the only way to tell that it has been modifies is if you stand very close trying to look for the zip ties.


June 12 updates

I decided to Plasti Dipped the OEM Camry's alloy rims. I got a couple cans of the black Plasti Dip from Home Depot and a can of RustOleum acrylic enamel clear coat. I started the project on Saturday afternoon and finished by Sunday night.

The only prep work I'd done was washed the rims and tapped off the wheels and spokes with newspapers. There were no sanding and primer involves.

I jacked up the car and took off all four wheels. I started off with a light coat of the Plasti Dip, let it dried for about 45 minutes and then sprayed it again but this time with a medium coat. The remaining three cans of PD I repeated this cycle with medium coat each time.

This morning the PD cured and I did a few coats of the RustOleum clear coat. The PD itself is matte black but with the clear coat there is a bit of gloss.

I heard that the PD was durable and could be taken off easily, kind of like vinyl wrap. Just be sure to layer at least a couple of coats of PD on whatever you're spraying it on so that it would peel off in one big chunk instead of flaking into tiny pieces when you want to remove it.

Overall I am happy with the result.
Before Plasti Dipped




Materials


First light coat of PD



Medium light coat



Cured PD waiting for clear coat



Added clear coat looks kind of glossy



Careful taking of the newspapers or this could happens



Finish results

[fatngs]

looks good..... i ordered a new grille from rock auto that i painted and it turned out great

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

Good stuff... nice simple and clean.

[orton]

Wow that 2005 grille looks a lot better

[xx03Camryxx]

You made me want this grille, just bought it.

[boonkai]

how you change the muffle tips? you do it yourself??

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

it slides over the tailpipe and bolts on

[boonkai]

where did u get that from? ebay?

[Yazovets]

Looks good! I like simple mods like this.

[Gen_5]

Nice clean mods! Where in the Bay Area are you located ?

[iconman]

I live in Oakland. Right now I'm just waiting for the S2K-r projectors development stage to complete so I start the HID retrofit with them.

[my.rims.are.stock]

Originally Posted by iconman

I live in Oakland. Right now I'm just waiting for the S2K-r projectors development stage to complete so I start the HID retrofit with them.

You take this car to the side show?

[iconman]

Updates

[restrung]

can you possible tell me the exact grille you got from rockauto? and all the pictures on this site don't have the toyota emblem in it. do you have to install that separately or what?

[fatngs]

u havta reuse ur old emblem or buy a new one