A simple yet significant way of customizing your vehicle’s presence is by upgrading the stock grille to a more powerful, more expressive billet grille. AutoAnything carries a huge array of high-quality billet grilles in an almost endless number of designs, so you’re sure to find one that perfectly matches and reflects your individual sense of style.

1. The vehicleswe drive are areflectionof ourownidentities.That’swhyhuntingforanew setof wheelsis
not simplyamatterof choosinganyvehicle that’sonsale downatthe lot.On the contrary, we all have
our owncomplex listof criteriathatguidesusthroughthe decisionmakingprocess.Forsome,nothingis
more importantthanengine size andtransmissiontype.Forothers,it’sall abouttrunkspace.
However,the one unifyingcriterionthatisat the top of everyone’slistisstyle.There issomethingabout
the unique designof certaincars,trucksand SUVs that attracts us,ofteninveryprimal,inexplicable
ways.Like mothsto the warmingglowof a lightbulb,we are drawn inby the curves,linesandcontours
of certainvehicles.And,once they catchoureye,we are driventoacquire them, orat leastanother
vehicle thatlooksquite similar.
Evenafterour thirstfor the rightautomobile isquenched,we stillwanttoprojectourown unique
personalityintoitsdesign.Whilethere are superficialwaysof doingthis(e.g.apairof fuzzy-dice
danglingfromthe rear viewmirror,ora personalizedlicense plateframe thatoftenreads,“I’dratherbe
golfing”),there are more substantial waysof modifyingthe attitudeof yourvehicle.
A simple yetsignificantwayof customizingyourvehicle’spresence isbyupgradingthe stockgrille toa
more powerful,more expressivebilletgrille.AutoAnythingcarriesahuge array of high-qualitybillet
grillesinanalmostendlessnumberof designs,soyou’re sure tofindone thatperfectlymatchesand
reflectsyourindividual sense of style.
Before youbeginsiftingthroughanextensive stockof premiumbilletgrilles,take amomenttolearna
little aboutthe basicsof theirconstruction,installationandother importantcharacteristics.Use this
resource as a guide forpickingyourperfectbilletgrille.
Fundamentalsof BilletGrilleStyle
Billetgrillesare craftedonlyfrommaterialsthatare proventobe rugged,dependableandlong-lasting.
AluminumBilletGrilles

2. The material mostwidelyusedinthe billetgrille industryisaluminum, forgoodreasons,too.Aluminum
isknownfor itsstrength,versatility,low-density,durabilityandresistance tocorrosion.Because of its
malleability,aluminumcaneasilybe rolled,stamped,drawn,spun,hammeredorforgedintoalmostany
shape,makingitthe ideal metal forthe automotive andaerospace industries.While there are 7
differenttypesof aluminumalloy,billetgrille manufacturersuse eitherthe 5xxx or6xxx series.The
difference betweenthese twotypesisthattheyare wroughtfromdifferentalloycomponents.5xxx
seriesaluminumusesmagnesiumasitsprinciplealloy,whichmakesitmildtomoderatelystrong,and
resistanttocorrosion.Inthe 6xxx series, amixture of magnesiumandsiliconare used,producinga
higher-strengthaluminumwithexcellentcorrosionresistance.
StainlessSteel BilletGrilles
Knownthe worldoverforits strengthandcorrosionresistance,stainlesssteelisapopularmetal used
for craftingbilletgrilles.The reasonthatitresistsrustso successfullyisthatithas a highchromium
content.Infact, forsteel tobe consideredstainless,itneedstohave at leasta 10.5% chromiumcontent.
Plus,stainlesssteel isincrediblytough,resilientandeasilyfashionedintoamultitudeof formsand
shapes.
Justlike the aluminum,there are twotypesof stainlesssteel usedinbilletgrilles.The more economical
of the two,409 seriesstainlesssteel,iscommonlyusedformanydifferent automotive accessories
because of itssturdiness.The othertype of stainlesssteel,304,is anotherpopularautomotive metal.It
has a higherchromiumcontentforthe ultimate incorrosionresistance.
ABS PlasticBilletGrilles
The most cost effective billetgrillematerialavailable isthe ABSPlastic.Widelyusedacrossthe entire
automobile accessoriesspectrum,ABSPlasticisalightweight,rigidanddurable thermoplasticmaterial.
While itisnot as strongas stainlesssteel oraluminum, ABSPlastic stillmakesanexcellentmediumfor
buildingbilletgrillesbecausethe plasticisimpervioustorustand quite durable.Foradded
customization,itcanusuallybe paintedtomatchor accent yourstock paint.
To BilletorNotto Billet

3. Afterdecidingwhatmaterialsyouwouldlikeyougrilletobe made out of,billetgrillescanbe divided
intotwo campsbasedon theirinstallationtype:boltoverbilletgrillesandreplacementbilletgrilles.
Theirinstallationisquickandeasy.Infact my 8 yearoldson installedourboltovergrille onour02 Ford
F150 in nearly5 minutes!
Collegeshave beenreviewingfartoomany applicationsrecentlythatshow studentsare addictedto
gettinggoodgradeswhichmeanstheyare continuouslysacrificing the time tofigure outwhatextra-
curricularactivitiesinterestthem.Thesestudentsare becomingmore andmore roboticina greatly
increasingcompetitiveatmosphere.Althoughastudent’sacademiccareeristhe mainfocusof the
applicants,the problem lieswhenthe collegehastofigure outwhatto do whentheyhave toomany
applicantswithagrade pointaverage of 3.8-4.0. There have beenseveral circumstanceswhere the
studentwiththe 4.0 doesnot getintothe college andstudentwiththe lowergrade pointaverage does.
Of course collegesare lookingforthose studentswhocandowell academically,buttheyalsowanttheir
studentstocome witha certainenergytowardsinnovation.Theywanttheirstudentstobe able to
contribute creativelyandreceivesome sortof recognitioneventually.Basically,collegesneedthose
studentswhocan go beyondexpectation.Theyneedthe studentswhohave alove inlife beyond
academics.Theyneedstudentswhocanexcel outside of the classroom;atsports,volunteer work,
dancing,traveling,andthe listgoesonandon. These studentsalsoneedtobe able topresentthisina
4-8 page college application.Now,howdoyoudothis?How doesone go aboutpreparingforthistask?
It isveryimportantthat a studentdotwo thingswhile alsomaintainingagoodgrade pointaverage.
Theymust have personal time tothemselvestobreathe andrelax andtheyalsohave to committo
somethingthattheylove todooutside of the classroom.The studentswhostaycommittedtoone
activityforthree yearsshowa much strongerlevel of commitmentandmotivationthanthe studentthat
whoparticipatesintwentyactivitiesforashortperiodof time.However,the studentswhoparticipatein
twoor more activitiesfortwoormore years show evenmore potentialthanthose withonlyone.
Whencollegesgetapplicationsthatshow variousextra-curricularactivitieswithnoconnectiontoeach
other,theyquestionthem.Some of theseapplicationswill have all differentkindsof activitieslike “one
monthvolunteeringata homelessshelter,three monthsatavethospital,6 monthsindance lessons”
etc.Althoughthese applicationsare full of extracurricularactivities,these studentsshow questionable
motivationanda lackof commitment.Thismay simplymeanthatthe studentparticipatedinthe
activitiesforthe sole purpose of fillingupthatpage in the college application.Sometimesthese
assumptionsare clarifiedinthe student’sessaybutthere are timeswhentheyare notand thisdoesnot
lookgoodfor the applicantnomatter whathisor her gradesare like.

4. Studentsshouldalwayskeepinmindthatcollegeswantthose studentswhocanthinkcritically.They
wantthe studentwhocan pursue anidea,notthe one whosimplyfollowsthe rulesandmeetscriteria.
Collegeswantthe studentwhocanthinkoutside the box.