7 slot grill conversion? will a 99-01 grill fit earlier XJ's?

[Simon 88YJ94XJ]

Minor customization tid bit, I'm thinking of trying to make a 99 to 01 7 slot XJ grill fit into my 94, I know they are somewhat different dimensions and I can tell from pics that the tabs are spaced slightly different, but I'm still thinking with a little chopping and grinding (and relocating the tabs) it might fit. I'm not interested in swapping the whole redesigned header panel just the grill itself.

Question is does anyone out there with a 99 to 01 XJ mind putting a tape measure to their grill for me? Thanks for anyone who's willing to bother.:helpme:


94 4dr, 4.6L stroker on 33's (RE 3.5" lift with cut fenders), 4.56 gears, limited slip front and rear (trutrack).
88 YJ 4.0 head conv. fuel injection, 5" suspension lift on 33's

[XJEEPER]

Doing my daily good turn.....

http://go.jeep-xj.info/BensXJ.htm

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=84589&highlight=new+style+grill

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=68341&highlight=new+style+grill

BTW, NAXJA Membership will unlock the Search function......where unlimited amounts of desirable XJ-related data awaits you.

[Chero-King]

Nah it wont work, they're too short, there will be a gap at the top and bottom.

[DrMoab]

BTW, NAXJA Membership will unlock the Search function......where unlimited amounts of desirable XJ-related data awaits you.
Did something change without my knowing it? I always thought users could search too.

[OT]

Well, they used to.
Okay, maybe we used to......

[Menzenski]

Did something change without my knowing it? I always thought users could search too.
x2, we're not Pirate.

[Kittrell]

Did something change without my knowing it? I always thought users could search too.

Doesn't look like that has changed either. Not sure where that came from.........:dunno:

[Chero-King]

I think he was just trying to get him to sign up.

[OT]

I think he was trying to get him to search.





New Guy,
Wrong forum.
If you want straighter answers, next time post it in the proper forum.
In this case, it would go well in the Modified Tech forum, or equally well in the Paint and Bodywork forum.
You can have it moved, just report it.

[Simon 88YJ94XJ]

am a member
did search, lots of hits for replacing the whole front clip, nothing about grille dimensions that I found.
Chero-king: how big a gap are we talking here? I can weld
would anyone be willing to mesure it (I may just buy one cheap off ebay to find out but it would be nice not to have to).
Sorry if this is the wrong forum but the others seemed way too serious to put a minor cosmetic mod question in.

[Kittrell]

am a member
did search, lots of hits for replacing the whole front clip, nothing about grille dimensions that I found.
Chero-king: how big a gap are we talking here? I can weld
would anyone be willing to mesure it (I may just buy one cheap off ebay to find out but it would be nice not to have to).
Sorry if this is the wrong forum but the others seemed way too serious to put a minor cosmetic mod question in.

No, you're a user. Notice your name is in black. I am a member, name is in red.

[XJEEPER]

am a member
did search, lots of hits for replacing the whole front clip, nothing about grille dimensions that I found.
Chero-king: how big a gap are we talking here? I can weld
would anyone be willing to mesure it (I may just buy one cheap off ebay to find out but it would be nice not to have to).
Sorry if this is the wrong forum but the others seemed way too serious to put a minor cosmetic mod question in.



Member or User……whatever.



Not sure what you’re trying to accomplish. The 97+ grill will not match up with the pre-97 fenders and header….without being a scabjob and looking like poo. This is why no one has responded to your request, but have provided plenty of info on how to do it right. If your only goal is to have a 97+ grill on your 94 with the least amount of effort/$, regardless of how it looks........just use some zipties?

[GSequoia]

just use some zipties?
We have a winner!

7 slots is overrated... My red Jeep will soon be sporting 21 slots!

[Simon 88YJ94XJ]

Not sure what you’re trying to accomplish. The 97+ grill will not match up with the pre-97 fenders and header….without being a scabjob and looking like poo. This is why no one has responded to your request, but have provided plenty of info on how to do it right. If your only goal is to have a 97+ grill on your 94 with the least amount of effort/$, regardless of how it looks........just use some zipties?

There's always someone, for every single thing you can do to a Jeep there's someone who doesn't like the idea and thinks he's got to save the other person from making a horrible mistake. As for what I'm trying to acomplish... well lets see, enjoying myself, changing how my Cherokee looks in a subtle way that pleases me more than how it looks now. Why do I need to justify it to you? You know there are people out there who would ask you what you're trying to accomplish by putting big tires and a lift on your Jeep.

Thanks for the "advice" anyway but I'm asking someone with a 97 to 01 to take a moment and slap a tape measure on the grille insert, I'm not really interested in your ziptie fabrication skills.

[Kittrell]

Hey, you asked. Don't expect every reply to be what you want to hear. If we all agreed, all of our rigs would look the same.

[OT]

There's always someone, for every single thing you can do to a Jeep there's someone who doesn't like the idea and thinks he's got to save the other person from making a horrible mistake. As for what I'm trying to acomplish... well lets see, enjoying myself, changing how my Cherokee looks in a subtle way that pleases me more than how it looks now. Why do I need to justify it to you? You know there are people out there who would ask you what you're trying to accomplish by putting big tires and a lift on your Jeep.

Thanks for the "advice" anyway but I'm asking someone with a 97 to 01 to take a moment and slap a tape measure on the grille insert, I'm not really interested in your ziptie fabrication skills.
Then, TRY A TECH FORUM!!!


Have you seen this?
http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/BensXJ.htm

[Simon 88YJ94XJ]

We have a winner!

7 slots is overrated... My red Jeep will soon be sporting 21 slots!


It's not really the 7 slots, so much as the way grill openings and bars look to me. I want a beefier looking grill, to each their own.

[rocklandxjer]

IT WONT FIT

they did tell you out right.

the body styles changed, you would need the new fenders, header and all other plastic pieces. that would cost alot of money. just settle for the 8, whats so bad about that. there are seven thin bars in the middle... if thats any condolence

[OT]

if thats any condolence
Consolation?:D

[rocklandxjer]

?? condolence, where did that come from ???

long, very hot day thats where,

CONSOLATION ;)

[XJEEPER]

There's always someone, for every single thing you can do to a Jeep there's someone who doesn't like the idea and thinks he's got to save the other person from making a horrible mistake. As for what I'm trying to acomplish... well lets see, enjoying myself, changing how my Cherokee looks in a subtle way that pleases me more than how it looks now. Why do I need to justify it to you? You know there are people out there who would ask you what you're trying to accomplish by putting big tires and a lift on your Jeep.

Thanks for the "advice" anyway but I'm asking someone with a 97 to 01 to take a moment and slap a tape measure on the grille insert, I'm not really interested in your ziptie fabrication skills.

Here you go Simon, just for being you-nique....I bring you a condolation prize.

These measurements were taken from my 2000 XJ Sport just moments ago:

7 Slot Grill section-36" Wide X 10.5" High
56" Wide overall included headlight bezels
Headlight bezels taper to 10" high

You know nothing of my ziptie fab skills, of which I'm well trained.

Please document your grill mod with photos and a tech writeup so other that follow will benefit.

One more thing, I searched "beefier grill" for you and came up with these options.......not sure what that means, but I'm suddenly craving Peppercorn London Broil.......

http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-driving/mitsubishi-lancer-evolution-viii-mr-fq-300-1003815.html
http://www.aas.com.sg/features/archive/f08014.htm


Good luck, stay cool and have a fun summer............

[Simon 88YJ94XJ]

thank you! maybe you saved me the trouble of making a mistake :) maybe not I'll go out and measure after posting, I'm on vacation (yep that's right the Wife lets me work on my Jeeps during vaction... well at least ones where I have to take mine or lose it, and she can't take hers at the same time!) and looking for more projects.

[Simon 88YJ94XJ]

Zip ties are wonderful my YJ's front plate is being held on by one because I couldn't find a nut and bolt combination at the time I put it on.

Looks like the later grille insert could be made to work using the old insert as a frame to match up the headlight bezel trim to it. It would fit almost exactly inside the upper and lower portions that meet the bumper and the first bars that meet the headlight bezels... Epoxy and some filler and paint.

BTW if it's any 'condolation' my YJ has the Grille of a TJ with the YJ's hood and fenders which was a lot harder to make happen than this mod looks to be. So I guess I have a thing about grilles. I will post photos