Gauging interest on the CJ / JL grille overlay for the TJ

[reddvltj]

First and foremost, the credit for the design of this grille goes to @jscherb.

He and I are in discussions right now about me brining this grille (and some of his other products) to market and manufacturing them. However, before I get ahead of myself, I want to gauge the interest for something like this.

The grille would look identical to the grille in the photos and be made in high quality fiberglass. It would come trimmed and ready to install, you'd just have to have it painted.

The other issue (and perhaps this could be an option) would be how many people would want it with the provision for CJ style turn signals, and how many people would want it with no blinkers at all (like a JL grille)?

So when you respond to this post, please answer the following questions:

1. Do you have any interest in this grille being produced?
2. What would you be willing to pay for this grille?
3. Would you want one with or without CJ turn signal provisions?
4. Are you willing to put down the money upfront (after manufacturing costs are determined) to secure one?

If this does happen, it's going to be crowd sourced so to speak. In other words, I'm going to talk to various different places that specialize in fiberglass (@jscherb has the molds) and get costs. Once we determine a cost for a run of X amount of grilles, I can then come back with a real world cost for the grille.

If there is enough interest and enough people are willing to pay upfront, we can get these made.

Looking forward to the responses!

1. Yes
2. $150 to $200 (Prefer that it comes with either the epoxy or automotive urethane adhesive.)
3. Either with the prevision or with template to cut the holes for surface mounted lights later
4. Yes (depending on when/if this comes to fruition.)

 

[toximus]

Is this a grill replacement (the entire frame) or some sort of overlay like it sounds by reading everything?

 

[reddvltj]

Is this a grill replacement (the entire frame) or some sort of overlay like it sounds by reading everything?

Just the overlay. @jscherb explains in on this post....

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...l-grille-overlay-for-the-tj.34905/post-571165

 

[jscherb]

1. Yes
2. $150 to $200 (Prefer that it comes with either the epoxy or automotive urethane adhesive.)
3. Either with the prevision or with template to cut the holes for surface mounted lights later
4. Yes (depending on when/if this comes to fruition.)

About the adhesive, I recommend West System Six 10, it comes in a tube that fits in a standard caulk gun and comes with a tip that automatically mixes the two parts. It's available in many places for $20-$25 per tube and one tube is plenty to do the job.

 

[TrueTexas]

Hey @Chris. Personally, I would be interested in a stock overlay that just fit well over the current grill and looked stock. Paintable and/or black

I just ended up buying an entire used grill from eBay to fix the bashed in grill on TJ#2. It's still 20 years old and far from perfect but 90 percent better.

On TJ#1 an overlay would cover 20 years of rock chips and bug juice deteriorated paint. All I could find were angry eye ones and I'm not doing that.

BTW, if I wanted to make my TJ look like a JL, I would just take an air chisel to the track bar mounts - jk.

 

[reddvltj]

About the adhesive, I recommend West System Six 10, it comes in a tube that fits in a standard caulk gun and comes with a tip that automatically mixes the two parts. It's available in many places for $20-$25 per tube and one tube is plenty to do the job.

View attachment 158788

Perfect, that addresses my concern about what would be best to use. It would be great if it came with the overlay when shipped but if not it's good to know what the designer used!! Thanks!!

 

[Rick Flair]

Not my thing, but others have nailed the pricing for you.

I’m rather fond of the classic TJ look at this point. Hell I’ve even grown to respect YJ’s and their horrible square lights. Yuck, but I wouldn’t put a CJ front end on one.

 

[sourbluff]

I was just looking to see price for chrome overlay (to price when comes off not add). They are $300 or more YIKES.

1. Do you have any interest in this grille being produced? Yes
2. What would you be willing to pay for this grille? $200 - $250 assuming that includes shipping and is well designed kit with clear instructions and everything unique (i.e. adhesive, fasteners) needed to complete install
3. Would you want one with or without turn signal provisions? recessed option
4. Are you willing to put down the money upfront (after manufacturing costs are determined) to secure one? Yes

Maybe silly question but headlights are same size right?

 

[jscherb]

...Maybe silly question but headlights are same size right?

Yes, all of the factory components are used.

 

[sourbluff]

Yes, all of the factory components are used.

I thought so but best to confirm. If adding turn signals would any wiring be required? If yes including provisions for that might help with mass appeal. Probably not needed for people on this forum.

 

[RustyAutoholicGuy]

Haven't read the entire thread yet but I'm in for at least one, possibly more!!!!

1. Yes
2. 175 - 225
3. Either, if both are done I'll grab both!
4. Yes!

 

[jscherb]

I thought so but best to confirm. If adding turn signals would any wiring be required? If yes including provisions for that might help with mass appeal. Probably not needed for people on this forum.

Wiring changes would depend on your choice of turn signals. If you keep the factory turn signals in the fenders then no wiring changes are necessary. For either CJ turn signals or JK turn signals there are multiple threads here and on other forums where people explain how they installed those and what they did with the wiring.

 

[AndyG]

I love this concept and am bummed out that my grill is obscured by my winch and KCs. It really fixes the TJs' only major aesthetic flaw. @jscherb , I don't know your background, story, or anything , but man you are a whiz at things many of us wouldn't attempt. Keep it coming.

 

[jjvw]

@Chris, it may be helpful in the intro post to link back to the original design thread to give everyone some context on what this is all about.

At the same time, a link over there to here would be good to catch all those who were interested but have not found this new discussion.

 

[Chris]

@Chris, it may be helpful in the intro post to link back to the original design thread to give everyone some context on what this is all about.

At the same time, a link over there to here would be good to catch all those who were interested but have not found this new discussion.

Are you referring to the AEV thread? I assume not. I'm trying to keep that totally separate.

Is there an original design thread for this grille? If there is, I must have missed it. I'm posting this thread due to an email conversion @jscherb and I have been having back-and-forth. If you provide link to said thread, I'll interlink them though.

 

[jjvw]

Are you referring to the AEV thread? I assume not. I'm trying to keep that totally separate.

Is there an original design thread for this grille? If there is, I must have missed it. I'm posting this thread due to an email conversion @jscherb and I have been having back-and-forth. If you provide link to said thread, I'll interlink them though.

There is long thread on the design of the JL grill overlay. This is from shortly after jscherb found his way over here.

 

[Chris]

There is long thread on the design of the JL grill overlay. This is from shortly after jscherb found his way over here.

I found it and interlinked them

 

[Goatman]

I would love to have this except for having to trash my stock grill. It is (other than a few rock chips) in perfect condition. How much does a typical TJ grill cost? I'd have to figure that into the total cost for the overlay. I am in awe of his talent to produce these concepts. The one at Chris Durham is a complete grill replacement and hood also if I read it right. That price reflects that. Again, if there was a way to not trash my original grill I would be very interested. Otherwise I can only wish I had a crappy grill to start with. Sorry.

 

[TJ_2000]

I actually really like this. And for the $150-$200 mark I would definitely buy one with the turn signals in the grille. That’s how Jeep should have made the TJ grille originally.
And I think the description is a little off. Some folks calling it’s JL grille with JK turn signals need to touch up on Jeep history. I see a TJ grille with CJ influences. Nothing JL or JK about it.

 

[crackedcornish]

I'd be much more likely to do something like this on my YJ than my TJ

easier for me to just cut the holes for the blinkers in my stock TJ grille than to install this overlay thing