So some of you may have read my post about me asking what was missing from my truck in the air dam/grille area. I had already purchased a grille to fill the space, wondering why Ford would leave such an open space there. Without the factory grille, there wasn't anything to mount the new grille to. So I got creative. I made two brackets out of carbon steel and measured and bended as necessary, then drilled holes and mounted the grille to it. I did not need to drill anything on the truck itself as I used factory holes that were already there. Its very secure, and I think it almost looks like a factory job. I'm just happy the space is covered up with something at the very least. Here are some pics. I need a new chrome bumper as well, the previous owner obviously bumped into a few things and dinged it up.

Here is the right side (drivers side) bracket


Here is the left side (passenger side) bracket


Here is a shot of all the open space I wanted covered up


Here is the finished installation


Not very good pictures, probably would have been better taken at daytime...but I was happy I finished the job this evening.

Cory

 

That area had a partial grille on either side with the middle open. It looks like the type grill I had on my '04, two like wing nut things you put through your grille and tighten them to the grille.

 

My friend at work also has an 04 and his didn't have the factory lower grille pieces either (like yours) for some unknown reason. Mine does. It's just a partial grille consisting of a small honeycomb section on each end of the opening like where you installed your brackets.