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Tech

The new T-Rex billet grille and lower bumper inserts gives the front end of our Nissan Sentra SE a cool custom look.

First, remove the Phillips screws along the top of the factory grille and remove the grille from the vehicle. (You may need a long screwdriver to pop it out.)

The factory grille has a plastic insert attached to the chrome surround (shell) which has to be removed by first unscrewing the small screws.

How-To: Install a Custom Billet Grille
Project Sentra gets a real facelift from T-Rex.

By Dick DeLoach
Photography: Marco Patiño

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Those of you who saw Abel's rendering of our Project Sentra in the last issue of LRE know that we planned on replacing the factory plastic honeycomb grille with a custom billet aluminum grille to give the car a real facelift. Yet, when we went looking for a grille, we found that there weren't any available for the new model. However, in talking to Robert and Dom at Action Autosports (Corona, California), a huge retail/mail order parts and accessories store and LRE advertiser, they said that they sell and install high-quality billet truck grilles from T-Rex (also in Corona) and maybe they could help us.

Project Sentra gets a real facelift from T-Rex.

Install a Custom Billet Grille

Well, as luck would have it, the T-Rex factory is located directly behind Action, so we contacted general sales manager Ernie Salazar about the Nissan Sentra. He said that they were already interested in expanding their line to include sport compact grilles, and they would prototype a grille just for us. Naturally we were excited; the world's first billet grille for a 2001 Sentra! Plus, they also made cool billet inserts for the lower bumper openings, giving the front end a real custom look.

"All T-Rex grilles are built with an emphasis on quality, fit and style; all grilles must meet strict quality control standards," said Ernie. "Constructed of 6063-T6 aluminum, our grilles are carefully welded using TIG welders to ensure clean and splatter free welds." We noticed that brackets and fittings are double welded to maintain strength and long life. There are more bars in each grille for a high-class look and each grille receives a thick layer of high-grade powdercoating. The grilles are all hand-finished and, as a final touch, grilles receive either a brushed or highly polished face.

Comprehensive step-by-step instructions allow easy, hassle free installation (we only needed a Phillips screwdriver, an electric drill with a 1/8-inch bit and a pop rivet gun with smooth-top rivets). Follow along now as Eugene Gonzalez makes quick work of the installation. Call Action Autosports to purchase a grille directly or have one installed; contact T-Rex for a dealer in your area. (Special thanks to T-Rex general manager Mike Targett for his help in compiling this article.)

Then depress the clips holding the insert and remove it from the shell. (A pair of needlenose pliers may make it easier.)	Here is the new billet grille insert, curved and tapered to fit the contour of the grille shell perfectly.	The backside of the new billet grille shows the TIG welds and three vertical bars instead of two like some aftermarket grilles.

Lay the billet grille into the grille shell from the backside. Locate the flat bracket in the center of the grille at the bottom and, using the original screw, fasten the bottom of the billet grille at this point but do not tighten yet.	Notice the four round dowels that line up under the top of the grille shell. Using the 1/8-inch drill bit, drill through the top of the grille shell and into the two outboard dowels. Then rivet the top of the billet grille to the shell and tighten the screw at the bottom of the grille.

Here's how the finished grille/shell looks. (Note the smooth top rivet.)		Re-install the grille onto the vehicle, put in the other two pop rivets and the installation is complete.

The finished billet grille looks great and makes the car look wider.	Next install the billet bumper inserts. There are four identical billet pieces that make up the bumper billet.	Hold the top billet insert in place in the bumper recess and put the black flat bracket found in the hardware kit behind the grille and line it up with the small flat welded brackets on the backside of the grille (there are two on each grille).

	Place the screws through the billet grille and through the flat brackets. Install the nuts and washers onto the screws and tighten securely. Repeat the steps with the other inserts and the installation is complete.	The finished grille and bumper billet inserts look great. A regular application of aluminum polish will keep the finish bright and shiny.

SOURCES
Action Autosports 2410 Wardlow Rd., Ste. 103, Dept. LRE Corona, CA 92882 (909) 738-0520	T-Rex Billet Grilles 291 Bonnie Ln., Unit 102, Dept. LRE Corona , CA 92880 (909) 270-5388 trextrucks@aol.com

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