Billet Grille from EBAY (Need Help!!!)

[XXXPLORER]

Hey Guys,

Does anyone have this kind of billet grille? I got mine for $60 and it's been sitting in my trunk for almost 6 months now. I bought it without thinking how the hell will I be able to reach that release hatch of the hood if ever I install this grille. It says on the instruction to always keep a long screwdriver in your truck in case you want to open the hood. I don't want all that hassle just to open the hood. How did you guys solved this problem?

Thanks,
xxxplorer

 

[XXXPLORER]

help!

 

[sideswipe]

I wish I could help, but my 98 doesnt have the hood latch through the grille like my 95 did.

 

[TheMattDaddy]

Explorer Express sells Billet grilles with the hood latch extension. Maybe you could call them (1-888-EXPLORER) and ask if you can just buy the hood latch extensions.

 

[gbishop]

When I got mine, the instructions suggest carrying a long skinny screwdriver or something similar. I bought mine from ebay also. Here is a pic of it installed...

http://freeweb.pdq.net/gbishop/explorer/grill.jpg

 

[NoBoundaries]

I'm sure you could buy the hood latch set up from a 98+ Explorer and put it on yours. Let us know what you end up doing. I was looking into getting a billet grille and this was a concern of mine as well.

 

[burristracy]

Heres da fix

I was the shop mngr. at AZs #1 aftermarket truck shops 4 and a half years . We sold mostly Stull brand grills along with others. What we did to fix reach problems was ,take a piece of flat stock the same with as the release. Cut it long enough to overlap the end of the original 1 inch .Clamp them together drill two 3/16 holes and bolt together ,with 10/32 machine screws and nuts . Make a twist in the piece and bend so it protrouds between the slats slightly.Dont worry be happy. See ya!

 

[XXXPLORER]

Thanks for all the replies guys, aprreciate it!!!

I emailed Explorer Express and they said they don't sell the extension separately. I might try going to a dealer and ask them about that '98 hood latch, or I might just do some customizing.

Is the '98 hood latch longer than the '95's?


GBISHOP, it does look GOOD!!! But I don't really wanna rely on that screwdriver everytime I need to pop my hood.



If all else fails, I'll see you guys at the "FOR SALE" forum.

thanks again,
XXXPLORER