Custom lower bumper grille insert I added to my 2024

Did my DD Fog Light install this week and since I had the front bumper assembly off there was sever other things I wanted to address the bumper the horns and the backup alarm… First it was the large opening on the lower grill.. Have been considering what I could do to make it look better ever since buying the truck in May.. Well last month I came across this 6mm octagon aluminum mesh while searching the web for something to add to my fender badges… It looked like it would work perfect for the lower grill so I snagged some off of Amazon..


First I made some rough measurements and cut a piece to do some more detailed measurements and bends..

I put a bend in the upper portion then marked it and bent the lower…

Then it was onto the sides contouring it around the plastic opening… When I was happy with the fitment I then shot it with some black primer and then several coats of satin black paint…


Now I just needed to figure out how to attach it, had several ideas… First thought was to pop rivet it in place but I didn’t really want to see the rivets… Then I thought why not use some thin safety wire and secure it to the vertical risers on the grill opening, unless you have your face up in my grill you’ll never even see them….

Cut and bent 8 of them hit them with some satin black paint…

Installing it was just that easy just fished the wires from the front around the vertical riser and twisted them tight, trimmed the excess and tucked the wire out of harms way….


Installed ready to go back on the truck…

Great Job !!! Love Diode Dynamics products, great Company and Quality Products. Not all that china shit. Also love the mesh addition. Awesome idea.

Your grill mod not only has aesthetic appeal, it should help protect the cooling fins from any road debris that gets kicked up.

Waterick said:

Your grill mod not only has aesthetic appeal, it should help protect the cooling fins from any road debris that gets kicked up.

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Thanks and yes that’s an added bonus…..

I believe the mesh will significantly reduce air flow through the ac and radiator.
Watch carefully for overheating and reduced ac performance.

The mesh blocks an amazing amount of area, and the small openings reduce the flow further.

Good for stopping rocks from ruining radiator; I did a similar thing but put mine on outside of grill because I'm not smart enough to get the bumper assembly off and back on properly. Great pics you took

Looks great. Not a good idea for the eco boost guys. You dont want to restrict the flow of air to the intercooler. Yes that is a restriction.

Good information to know, thanks

DWV said:

I believe the mesh will significantly reduce air flow through the ac and radiator.
Watch carefully for overheating and reduced ac performance.

The mesh blocks an amazing amount of area, and the small openings reduce the flow further.

Click to expand...

Yes it will reduce the air flow in that area I knew that going in we did not live in an area with extreme temps and I dought I will ever take the truck to the desert or Arizona so we will see…

Can you provide an Amazon link for the mesh you used.

Hey HSBII while you had the bumper off did you see where tow hooks could be mounted ?

Maverick 24! said:

Hey HSBII while you had the bumper off did you see where tow hooks could be mounted ?

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No sorry tow hooks are not on my agenda so I did not really look at the frame .Here is a pic that shows most of the area they would be mounted but there were no mounting holes in the frame in that area. Must be a different frame cross bar that gets mounted there to attach them to…

FabMav said:

Can you provide an Amazon link for the mesh you used.

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Here you go…
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TRCG93W?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

DWV said:

I believe the mesh will significantly reduce air flow through the ac and radiator.
Watch carefully for overheating and reduced ac performance.

The mesh blocks an amazing amount of area, and the small openings reduce the flow further.

Click to expand...

I love the way this looks. But it's correct that a significant amount of airflow can be blocked depending on the mesh design/pattern. I've purchased mesh before and I've seen suppliers provide numbers, letting you know the percentage of open area. McMaster is an example, see here. Some of the offerings block over 60% of the airflow.

Watch your temp gauge! Engine cooling, air conditioning performance, and cooling of the hybrid pieces/parts may be reduced.

Okay, so there is some airflow restriction. I have used galvanized wire mesh for years to protect radiators, intercoolers, transmission coolers, power steering coolers, and all those other coolers on my pickups. The mesh is 1/2" or 3/8" and acts to shread grasshoppers before they contact the fins on all those coolers. All those coolers stacked in front of the radiator are a real airflow restriction, so never worried about airflow from the mesh. The wire slows the impact on the fins and greatly reduces the size of those big bugs. Flattened cooling fins do not allow much airflow where you need it.

I like the mesh you are using. Looks very nice. My wire sits behind the grill and you really don't see it.