Grille Cover

Overlay versus replacement grille

A grille cover or overlay fastens on top of the factory grille rather than replacing it. The stock grille stays in place, so the job is reversible, there is no cutting, and the original mounting and headlight alignment are untouched. The trade-off is depth: an overlay sits proud of the grille surface, and on some trucks the factory emblem has to be removed or relocated. If you want a flush look or a completely different pattern, a replacement grille or insert is the other route; this category is the overlay side.

Truck overlays from T-Rex

Most of the truck parts here are T-Rex Billet Series overlays for GM pickups: the 2005 to 2007 Silverado 2500 HD and 3500, the 2011 to 2013 HD, the 2014 and 2015 Silverado 1500, the 2015 to 2018 Silverado HD and 2015 Sierra HD bumper grille, and the 1988 to 2004 S10 and 1988 to 1994 S10 Blazer. They are machined from T-5 or T-6 billet aluminum bar, assembled in horizontal patterns, and finished in polished aluminum or black powder coat. Two-piece designs split the grille where the factory crossbar runs. Bumper grille overlays cover the lower opening in the front bumper to match the upper grille.

• Polished aluminum is bright and does not rust, but it dulls and needs periodic polishing, especially in road salt.
• Black powder coat over billet hides dirt and suits dark trucks; touch up chips before the aluminum underneath oxidizes white.
• Bolt-on overlays use brackets behind the factory grille bars. Confirm your grille is the standard pattern, since trim levels such as High Country, LTZ and WT can carry different grilles in the same year.

Jeep grille covers

The Jeep pieces are different in nature. The chrome grille cover for the 1987 to 1995 Wrangler YJ, the Omix-ADA chrome overlay for the same years and the Jeep factory chrome cover for Wrangler and CJ are stamped covers that sit over the familiar seven-slot grille, usually with matching chrome headlight bezels. The RT Off-Road stainless overlay kit for the CJ5, CJ6, CJ7 and Scrambler attaches with double-faced tape and screws. CJ applications may need holes drilled, as the listing warns. The Crown Automotive grille moulding for the 1984 to 1990 Cherokee XJ is a factory-style trim piece that sits behind the side marker, there to replace a broken original rather than to restyle.

Fitment and installation

Grilles change at facelifts within a generation, so the year range on a listing is exact, not approximate. Compare the overlay's bar count and spacing with your grille before buying, and check whether the factory emblem stays. Clean the grille thoroughly, test fit with no hardware, then install brackets or tape from the center outward. Tape-mounted covers need a clean, alcohol-wiped surface and a warm day to bond; press firmly along the full length and leave the vehicle parked for several hours before driving. On bolt-on billet grilles, snug fasteners evenly and avoid over-tightening against plastic bars. Recheck all fasteners after a week of driving, since the first heat cycles and vibration can loosen them slightly. Confirm fitment for your exact year, model and trim before choosing.