[phpBB Debug] PHP Notice: in file /viewtopic.php on line 988: date(): It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Europe/Moscow' for 'MSK/3.0/no DST' instead
[phpBB Debug] PHP Notice: in file /viewtopic.php on line 988: getdate(): It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Europe/Moscow' for 'MSK/3.0/no DST' instead
SolaraGuy.com • View topic - All up in your Trenz Grilles...[pic overkill]
Page 1 of 3

All up in your Trenz Grilles...[pic overkill]

PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:43 pm
by Down2TheC
Part tutorial, part review/pics.
Puchased from RadToysCentral.com (see thread http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php?t=24460)

The Trenz grills come to you like this. Note the forks on the lower grill. For each skeg in the lower opening they have an upper and lower fork. The plastic covers on those skegs pop off and slide into those forks. Then the grill can be snapped in place. Those covers don't pop off easily. If you pry too hard the wrong way you will break a tooth off but there's two on each side so you have some wiggle room.
Image

The lower gets the same three fasteners as the stock grille. Then the bottom edge snaps in with hooks just like stock. You can see that they follow the curve of the hood's leading edge perfectly and everything is parallel. (Pardon the screws in the nose... I took off the plate for the pics)
Image
(any suggestions how to get that spooge off from behind my license plate? I wanna get some caps so I can ditch the plate for meets.)
Image

The upper is sturdy such that you can't flex it with your hands (unless you're ripping phonebooks in your off time). The lower has a little give. I didn't notice until picture time that my lower was a bit off. The grille is absolutely perfect, but my alignment is tweaked on the passenger side because I didn't get the cover jammed all the way in the forks on that side. So she's riding low and forward by 1/8". I've since fixed it.
Image

General look
Shots are taken at sunset so the sun is getting through the grilles and lighting up the engine comp. behind it. Usually you'll get more "blacked out" between the rungs of the grille. But they look great imo regardless.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

All in all it's a great look with some bling value but all class. (At least I don't think it would look PIMP even with chromed out 20s.) I had two guys cruise by asking what car it was. Jaws dropped when they found out it was Toyota. One chick drove by seeing me taking shots of the car and said "I don't blame ya! Damn!" Obviously not for the "Black on <whatever>" look though.

Final tip: If you're installing the lower, make sure all the covers are riding at the same level before snapping the thing into place. It's not easy to get off.

PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:53 pm
by solaraslev67
looks nice! glad you like it. enjoy!

PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:58 pm
by joebxr
Great job and they do look sweeeet! Damn...now I gotta save and get the bottom. I really like the way the look. Damn...I gotta get the lower one quick !!!

PS - Try the Mr Clean Eraser for the front bumper...worked for me.

PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:32 pm
by PhreakdOut
Mike! Holy Schnikes!

This looks great with the Silver. The horizontal lines make the car look lower and wider in the front. This would be increadible lowered with some polished wheels. Either way, it's VERY slick.

Did you take some pics during the install to help complete a tutorial?

PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:59 pm
by Down2TheC
Lowered, yes... I agree. Not sure about polished wheels. That PIMP knife-edge and all. (as if I could rationalize doing both at the same time... $$$)
The install is soo simple, I was done before I thought to take a pic. But I may scan a diagram from the instructions to illustrate the lower install.

PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:06 pm
by Biggi_e
nice pics

PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:14 pm
by theprodigy79
I may have to consider these... Hey Mike, there ain't anything wrong with "pimp", but "rice" is what ya gotta watch out for ;-) Your car's lookin great!!

Take care,

-James

PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:22 am
by swindler
I was thinkin' brushed and maybe top only. But seeing as how I got the same car setup, and that DOES look nice, now I'm thinkin' polished, and I may have to do the bottom too.

From the picks, it really looks like a quality grill, like you might find on a car costing 2-3 times as much.

A step above that plastic grill we have, eh?

PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:54 am
by dude
i am not a fan of the look. i prefer less bling, but heck they do look like quality. maybe look a little pimp looking with chrome 19's but lowered would give balance and give an much more upmarket and one-of-a kind look. and a trd exhaust to give some rumble. oh, and a cp-e intake to give some kick to that rumble. now, the grills would be just about perfect! imo, of course...

PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:41 am
by Down2TheC
No... nothing wrong with Pimpin', just not what I'm looking for. And the "Lunar Mist" doesn't really pimp out as well as black. I think it takes her a notch closer to Lexus for better or worse.

And swindler, I was thinking the brushed, but with the crome edge on the hood I'm not sure if that would play well. You'd save some green though.

Agreed

PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:17 am
by JMSinMaryland
This is actually an improvement to the look of that Gen Solara. I think the upper grill makes the front look like the most recent Lexus ES. James, as I mentioned before, I think this grill, powdercoated black with black pearl emblems on the back to replace the T and Solara which have posts would look sick. Jon.

Re: Agreed

PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:20 am
by PhreakdOut
JMSinMaryland wrote:This is actually an improvement to the look of that Gen Solara. I think the upper grill makes the front look like the most recent Lexus ES. James, as I mentioned before, I think this grill, powdercoated black with black pearl emblems on the back to replace the T and Solara which have posts would look sick. Jon.


I was thinking the same thing. You know me: "Once you go black ... "

PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:54 am
by gone
that's HOTNESS right there.Looks great and turns our rides into a little more of a luxery look,but still sporty at the same time

PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:45 am
by Down2TheC
I think the brushed are about $70 cheaper. Would that buy a nice powercoating job?

PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:17 am
by joebxr
Well, I just couldn't wait, so ordered the lower today. Your pics really sold me on it.

Put upper on today. Someone asked about adding the logo, so I put it on just to see how it would look...really not sure if I like it on or off.

Image