Painting the lower cladding - 03/04 XLT

[monsta]

I was recently in Vegas and saw a white XLT that the guy had painted the lower cladding. Boy did it look nice!

I know it has been brought up before but I thought resurrecting an old topic could make for some interesting discussion.

So...

Anybody here done it?
Cost?

And lastly, I've been debating whether to paint it to match the body color (mine is red) or paint it black. What do you think?

 

[Keydo]

On the XLT, the lower body cladding can be painted.

Some sanding will need to be done in order to get the paint on evenly and smoothly, but it's possible.

As for matching the body, it's really up to you. Just for me, I'd probably match the body color of the truck.

Good luck and let us know which way you go. If you get it done before October, that would be great. I'll be in Maui by then!

8O)

 

[Guest]

Hey monsta, I posted about this same topic a while back, and I'm finally taking my XLT to have the body cladding painted this weekend. I called around to get A LOT of estimates before actually deciding on which shop to go to, and the prices ranged from $800 if I removed the cladding myself, to $1300 or more. It seemed kind of hard to find people willing to paint it, because with all the prep work involved in smoothing out the plastic, it is apparently a huge pain in the butt for the painter. I actually had a few shops tell me they wouldn't do it because it was too much work()*@!# I ended up going with a shop that is willing to do it for 1000 dollars, including removal of the cladding/bumpers, and putting them back on, and also painting of the mirrors to get an entire monochromatic look. The biggest deciding factor for me was that the owner of this shop has a 2003 Expedition himself, and has recently painted his cladding, in addition to the cladding of an Avalanche, and you know how much cladding is on that truck! If I were you, I definitely wouldn't just go with the lowest price...I'd find out if they have done it before, because i have heard a lot of horror stories of body cladding painting gone wrong! haha Hope that helps!

 

[monsta]

Thanks it does.

I had another thought today...

What about getting the front & rear "bumpers" chromed and painting the door cladding?

Too much? (not money...too much...uh...well...you know...)

I wish I could figure out Adobe Photoshop... Maybe I could alter a picture so I know what it'll look like...

 

[Lowandslow]

well on the 2003 eddie i was quoted 800 to paint out the cladding black. i dont know how that stacks up. This was in carlsbad CA

 

[bluzjamer]

All I want to know is how do you clean the stock cladding and keep it clean?
Bluz

 

[monsta]

Soap and water.

It never stays clean!

I am having the problem with it fading now... I have a body shop giving me a quote on painting it all as I type.

 

[NoMo]

They sure look sharp with color-matched cladding.

I'm pretty fortunate in that the cladding helps contrast the red fire NBX and, despite the fact that I HATE plastic cladding, it doesn't look too bad. I also hate to admit that the plastic does a good job of handling the abuse from stones & road-tar kicked up by the tires.

 

[3 NAILS 1 CROSS]

whats this cladding talk all about ,its plastic body molding who need it any ways just take it off. lol

 

[monsta]

I would but there are mounting holes in the door.

 

[3 NAILS 1 CROSS]

paint it to match then monsta , youll be very satisfied. here in cali we take it off or paint it to match ,we like the smooth look ,it gives a much cleaner looking vehicle with out your eyes going crazy from the old chrome everything look. he he!

 

[Lowandslow]

I am interested in this removal of the lower clading. Do you have any pictures of them removed?

 

[monsta]

No pics yet. I'll gte you some when they swap 'em out.

Why are you interested? You're not considering removing them, are you?

There are like 15 holes in the door where they mount up!!

 

[janz]

I painted the lower cladding on my Xp, I think it looks a lot better now that's all one color....

 

[janz]

From the back...

 

[janz]

New Halo Eyes Head lights...

 

[janz]

Without the low beams on...

 

[monsta]

Looks great! Although I had trouble concentrating on your pictures with your avatar bouncing over there...

I, personally, have decided to go with the 05's platinum cladding for my 03. It is actually cheaper to buy it and put it on myself versus getting it painted by someone here.

 

[janz]

Originally posted by monsta
Looks great! Although I had trouble concentrating on your pictures with your avatar bouncing over there...

I, personally, have decided to go with the 05's platinum cladding for my 03. It is actually cheaper to buy it and put it on myself versus getting it painted by someone here.

How much are the platinum cladding?

 

[monsta]

I'm waiting on prices. It's gotta be cheaper than the 2K I was quoted to paint!

The gray body panels aren't even $400 total. But I have some damage on the rear bumper cover which would dictate that being replaced prior to paint anyway.

So might as well just replace it with the 05 parts since they are factory painted and not some Ford body shop painted.

Over at www.ford-trucks.com we are currently working with a dealer to get OEM parts at a big discount for the members over there.

If you aren't a member over there, head over and sign up.