Grill compatibility

[Mark Buckner]

HawkX66, please forgive the somewhat off topic reply, but can you tell me the source of that winch bumper on the black Expy? I have a winch that I'm dying to put on my 2012 with not much success.

 

[HawkX66]

HawkX66, please forgive the somewhat off topic reply, but can you tell me the source of that winch bumper on the black Expy? I have a winch that I'm dying to put on my 2012 with not much success.

Not off topic at all. That's the bumper I ordered. It's from Iron Bull.

 

[Mark Buckner]

Not off topic at all. That's the bumper I ordered. It's from Iron Bull.

Thanks very much. I will call them tomorrow and see if they can make something to fit my 2012 and accommodate the winch salvaged when my Super Duty got totaled.

 

[HawkX66]

Just a warning guys... As of right now I'm going to warn you away from Iron Bull. I had it out with them yesterday. I ordered my bumper in August and nothing yet. They're getting bad reviews for shipping times and such and now I'm getting emails that look like they were written by a Nigerian prince looking to split his fortune with you if you'll cash a check for him. Absolute BS. I called again and had a long "Heart to Heart" with their sales guy who is normal enough to talk to. I'm giving them one more week and I'm going to cancel my order.

 

[HawkX66]

I did finally get my bumper and for the most part I love it. If there is something wrong, forget it. They're idiots to deal with. Johnnie was the only one worth talking to, but he blames everything on "the Boss." In the end, I think it was Johnnie that got the bumper to me. They have someone named Melanie that I don't even think speaks English emailing for customer service. I thought I was dealing with a Nigerian Prince that needed a check cashed for quite a while...
Here are a couple of pics of it mocked up with a grill I picked up for an 07-14. I'll need to do some custom work to it. The lights on the 07 are taller than the 15+. Iron Bull sent the grill without the filler piece welded that goes across the bottom of the grill. It's the one we talked about earlier.

The lines will line up better when I replace the frame... It's just mocked up for now. Everything up there is out of whack.
I love the grill, but it came cracked because they didn't pack it well. The chrome part is just like factory ABS plastic, but the black and the rivets are metal. It's a lot more heavy duty than I thought it would be. The company is shipping me a new one.




They match pretty well. Wasn't even on purpose lol

 

[JExpedition07]

I thought you might be able to get the 07-14 grille to fit once I saw the bumper. If you look at the grille and headlight fitment lines it’s really made for the 07-14 front end but is compatible with the 15-17. Good deal!

 

[HawkX66]

I thought you might be able to get the 07-14 grille to fit once I saw the bumper. If you look at the grille and headlight fitment lines it’s really made for the 07-14 front end but is compatible with the 15-17. Good deal!

Let me finish with it before celebrating lol. It looks like everything will be good for the most part, but I'm thinking I might need to chop the bottom corners of the 07 grill a little down low. The 07 headlights being taller than the 17 might throw a monkey wrench in things. It's hard to tell because of my alignment issues due to the frame being bent. I haven't gone farther than mocking it up for now, so I can't confirm much yet.

 

[5150 pops]

Let me finish with it before celebrating lol. It looks like everything will be good for the most part, but I'm thinking I might need to chop the bottom corners of the 07 grill a little down low. The 07 headlights being taller than the 17 might throw a monkey wrench in things. It's hard to tell because of my alignment issues due to the frame being bent. I haven't gone farther than mocking it up for now, so I can't confirm much yet.

That looks pretty good.

Looks a lot like a fella's Expedition, he had a trailer attached to, not that long ago, that I delivered a massive beast of a bumper to, dat you Mark?

 

[HawkX66]

It's Dave, but yessah. That was me. It was great talking to you that day.

That looks pretty good.

Looks a lot like a fella's Expedition, he had a trailer attached to, not that long ago, that I delivered a massive beast of a bumper to, dat you Mark?

 

[5150 pops]

It's Dave, but yessah. That was me. It was great talking to you that day.

LoL, never been good with names. Have you swapped the frames already?

 

[HawkX66]

LoL, never been good with names. Have you swapped the frames already?

Not yet. I'm getting ready to build a garage. 50x60 with a lift. I think I'm going to wait until it's done for my sanity.

 

[5150 pops]

Not yet. I'm getting ready to build a garage. 50x60 with a lift. I think I'm going to wait until it's done for my sanity.

Dang...I had kicked around the idea of a 28x40 with scissor joists, and thought it was maybe a bit much, though we live on a postage stamp lot, compared to your place.

Good luck, will work for good bourbon, food, both, lol.

 

[HawkX66]

Dang...I had kicked around the idea of a 28x40 with scissor joists, and thought it was maybe a bit much, though we live on a postage stamp lot, compared to your place.

Good luck, will work for good bourbon, food, both, lol.

Never too much lol 28x40 was the size of my last garage in Michigan. The ceilings were to low though. Other than that, it was a great shop. They get small quickly.

 

[HawkX66]

Here's an updated pic of the grill. The panel the grill mounts to finally came in so I was able to mock it up a little better. The headlights are a couple inches shorter and must tip out more at the bottom. Overall I like it though. It's a very snug fit between the lights, but that might be because I haven't sorted out the frame yet.
I'm sure I'll get this grill where I want it just in time for the a/m companies to get off there ***** and come up with a grill that will fit the 15-17s.

20181125_124859 by Dave H, on Flickr

20181125_124921 by Dave H, on Flickr

20181125_124913 by Dave H, on Flickr

20181125_125121 by Dave H, on Flickr

 

[Munkiebunz3]

My grille is stock. Doesn't look too different with the headlights

 

[HawkX66]

My grille is stock. Doesn't look too different with the headlights View attachment 27817

Awesome. Thanks for the pic. I'd say I'll be right on the money then.

 

[Munkiebunz3]

@HawkX66 so would you say that once we have the aftermarket bumper we just need to buy a grille for the 3rd gen rather than trying to get one for 15-17?

 

[HawkX66]

@HawkX66 so would you say that once we have the aftermarket bumper we just need to buy a grille for the 3rd gen rather than trying to get one for 15-17?

I really don't want to confirm that yet. Mine still has a bent frame. I do feel like that's the case though. You might need to do a little bit of trimming on the lower corners where the mount meets the bumper though.