Accident = Upgrades

[CP11EXP]

My wife hit someone, so I decided to take the opportunity to upgrade the front end and hide the damages:




First I pulled out and "stitched" the front bumper cover:


Then replaced the broken parts. New headlights, grill, and "bull bar":



All in all it looks fine from 5 ft away and that's all I need.

 

[Plati]

I like that, especially the stitching. Creative!

I've heard the "my wife did it" story a few times before.

 

[JExpedition07]

Very nice

 

[Flexpedition]

I've never seen that mesh grill before. Where did you find it and would you care to share a few more shots?

Great job fixing it back up.

 

[Big Brian]

you know they make a epoxy to fix that bumper cover with

I used it, works well

 

[CP11EXP]

I bought the grill on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019ECGCYC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

However I think this is the same one:
https://www.protuninglab.com/20foexmestfr.html


Its just ABS plastic, not stainless steel, but the mesh is a bit larger sized than what I saw more commonly and I liked the larger spacing better.

The badge I also bought on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y8R531D/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Stuck and bolted to the grill.

 

[DF5.4]

If the wife did it she can't say anything about how you fix it.

 

[CP11EXP]

If the wife did it she can't say anything about how you fix it.

She could care less, as long as its not all mangled up when she goes through the pickup line at school. It is a full on Soccer Mom Assault Vehicle. This is not the vehicles first encounter with other stationary objects.

I mostly made the changes how I wanted it as I am considering keeping it as my daily once the time comes to update her vehicle.

 

[cekkk]

Thank goodness for the photos. I thought you were referring to the DW's front end.

 

[CP11EXP]

Thank goodness for the photos. I thought you were referring to the DW's front end.

I did say new headlights....

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

I've heard the "my wife did it" story a few times before.

I've had my truck for 3 years and have let my wife drive it maybe 5-6 times. Her car looks like she pulled it out of the wrecker at the junkyard. Seriously.

 

[_Kendra]

Nice upgrades for sure!

Can I ask where you got the bull bar as well? I like the width of it, most you find are pretty narrow across the bumper.

 

[CP11EXP]

Nice upgrades for sure!

Can I ask where you got the bull bar as well? I like the width of it, most you find are pretty narrow across the bumper.

The bull bar is not a direct fit, but the narrow ones would not cover up the damage I had on the bumper cover, so I made it work.
It is actually a Westin Contour bull bar for a 2500 Silverado which I got from Westin outlet (Ebay) for $110.



I was lucky that one hole for the brackets fit the hole where the Expedition air deflector bolts to the frame and lined up almost perfect. I did have to cut slots in the bumper cover to allow the brackets to come through.
I then welded the bracket to the frame since I didn't have a second hole.
I also had to modify the other brackets that are supposed to bolt in around the grill and just welded them to the crash bar on the Expedition and went straight through the bumper cover. My bumper cover was toast anyways so I didn't mind hacking it up a bit.
Like I said, its not a direct fit, but it was close enough that no major fabrication was needed.