I have the SS speed grille inserts, and I've been thinking about removing the factory chrome mesh/crossbars behind it. Has anyone done this and will it weaken the grille shell too much? I don't want it to warp and look like poop. Thanks for any input!

 

I cut out the factory inserts to put my billet inserts in and it has held up fine. I don't think you will lose any strength. It will definitly clean up the look since you won't see the factory inserts behind the ss ones. Go for it.

 

It is fine once installed, but you should be careful after removing the inserts, when the grille is out. The top and bottom horizontals do become somewhat flexible.

 

Cool, that's what I was hoping to hear, thanks! I think it will definitely look alot cleaner without the factory stuff showing through.

 

I cut them out of my original grille too. It did make it a bit more flexible but once it's installed it's fine.

budhayes, check your PM's.

 

i did it like what you did. i put the speed grille over the stock grille. i did not like the look of it. after a while of it bothering me so much, i ripped it out. well, actually i used a pair of wire cutters and snipped it out. looks 100% better. here are some before and after pics. not the greatest pics. can barely see the stock grille vertical bars through the speed grille on the 1st pic. but they are there and looked like crap


before

after

 

Yea KeukaZ71, I can definitely see the difference...mine looks like your before picture. I've had it that way for a while and it's always bothered me, so I'm finally gonna do something about it. Looks good man!

 

On my 2000 silverado I spray painted the factory grill flat black before putting
speed grills on. After that, you didn't see anything thru the speed grill and you hadn't cut up your oe grill.

 

I tried that too but the black flaked off the chrome pretty easily.

 

thanks.

your truck looks pretty good in that 1st picture. speed grille definitely makes the front of our trucks alot better.