Project Refresh - part 1

[eluther3]

After looking at the price of new trucks, I decided to refresh my 97 5.4L 1st gen. I never really liked the chrome grill surround, so I took it off an painted the grill black and the surround to match the body color. I also repainted the bumper and straightened some damage from when my son put it in a ditch. Added new headlights to finish the look. Here are the before and after pics.

Next step is the interior. Found some nice seats from an 01, and have some weathertech mats on order.

 

[poorboy1964]

Big difference changed to a more modern look

 

[eluther3]

Thanks. Looking for a set of foglamps I can put in without having to do any rewiring. I noticed a set of connectors already in place I assume for foglights but truck didnt come with any.

Any of you retrofitted fogs? Did you get them off ebay?

 

[knewblewkorvett]

Love the new look! Good job.

 

[whitelightning99]

Much cleaner look,not a fan of the chrome mirror caps though that's just my opinion

 

[eluther3]

Much cleaner look,not a fan of the chrome mirror caps though that's just my opinion

I'm on the fence about those. Toying with the idea of doing a white plastidip job on them.

 

[whitelightning99]

id say go for it but really it's not about what others think it's about what you like

 

[eluther3]

Update - Just did an upgrade to the interior

Old torn seats before:

Took out interior pieces and repainted. updated interiorDid the complete back section with bedliner paint and added weathertech cargo mat

 

[whitelightning99]

seats look great, you got lucky finding a drivers that's not ripped.Thinking about doing my radio/heater trim bezel in bed liner paint cause factory paint chips off way to easy.Did you do yours ?

 

[eluther3]

seats look great, you got lucky finding a drivers that's not ripped.Thinking about doing my radio/heater trim bezel in bed liner paint cause factory paint chips off way to easy.Did you do yours ?

No I haven't. Actually working on the front dash and radio bezel this week. I had originally planned to do the bezel and dash in bed liner paint, but decided against it after seeing how well the trim parts came out. Used the Duplicolor gray interior paint and it match my factory color almost exactly.

I did do the center console insert in bedliner paint and pleased with that. If you do choose to do the bedliner paint, make sure you prepare the surface and let the paint harden before reinstalling (found that out the hard way)