Salvage Yard find

[LAexpy]

I finally got around to looking to replace my rear bumper on my '97 XLT, that had a dent from some knucklehead running into me. The local year had about ten (10) Gen 1 Expeditions. I found a 2000 XLT, with a clean (undamaged) rear bumper, along with a grill with a billet insert - so I took them both.

I had just touched up all my trim (borrowed idea from Explorer Tom), and had paint my fading honeycomb grill insert, black. It came out pretty good, but now thinking of installing this billet grill.

I want to add some off road lights behind the grill insert - does anyone have a billet grill with light behind it, and would you do it again?

 

[craig sargood]

If your mounting lights behind the grille, your cutting off airflow to a/c and radiator. Unless you live somewhere that’s cold, I’m not sure I’d do that.

 

[ExplorerTom]

The problem I found with mounting them behind the grill is that the “beam” you mount them to isn’t very solid. It’s not horrible but I could see the lights bouncing around as I was driving.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

I finally got around to looking to replace my rear bumper on my '97 XLT, that had a dent from some knucklehead running into me. The local year had about ten (10) Gen 1 Expeditions. I found a 2000 XLT, with a clean (undamaged) rear bumper, along with a grill with a billet insert - so I took them both.

I had just touched up all my trim (borrowed idea from Explorer Tom), and had paint my fading honeycomb grill insert, black. It came out pretty good, but now thinking of installing this billet grill.

Would love to see some pictures

 

[LAexpy]

Yeah, a pic would've helped. View media item 7260 The grill w/billet insert in laying on the ground (not a great pic)

 

[LAexpy]

The problem I found with mounting them behind the grill is that the “beam” you mount them to isn’t very solid. It’s not horrible but I could see the lights bouncing around as I was driving.

Craig and Tom, thanks for your responses. I live in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles - it can definitely get hot here (high 90s/low 100s), it isn't Phoenix/Vegas hot. Behind the grill is not the easiest accessible location, if I do put lights there, to deal with light issues, but was trying to stay away from light bars. Maybe I'll end mounting some light pods on the hood, or wait to see if I get an hi clearance winch bumper

 

[Petesexpy]

What paint did you use for the trim?

 

[Petesexpy]

What paint did you use for the trim?

Never mind, just found your other post.

 

[LAexpy]

I was in the Lake Tahoe / Reno area for the past week, and didn't take my laptop. I did install the salvage yard grill just before my trip to see how I liked it over the course of a week. Here's a pic of my Expy with the swapped out grillView media item 7269

 

[craig sargood]

I added light bar to the bumper and the roof. The one on the bumper is solid and doesn’t shake at all, and it’s barely above the lower grille line.