Painted grille today!

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OlBlue

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Well, I got the FADED out grill of the expedition, and put some black enamel spray on it. It was defiantly an all day affair. Ford really didn't design the front clip to come off easy. Not as easy as the ranger, for sure.

On to the pics

Before

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Looks faded and crappy. Looks worse up close

During-

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Had absolutely NO IDEA what I was doing. Lol

All taped up and sprayed with adhesion promoter. It already looked better
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50/50

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All done!

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Tape off
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POS fawking headlight wouldn't go back in

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Lol
But it went back in after that. :p

All put back together!
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It was defiantly something I hope I don't have to do again for a long long long time.

And yes, I know the grille was never black from the factory on this gen expedition (or atleast I'm pretty sure), but IMO it looks the best in black

:D





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IAExpy

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looks good, is actually on my list for next week... did you need to take the headlights out after all? have't looked into it too much yet, how exactly did you remove the grille?
 
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OlBlue

OlBlue

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Thanks guys!

IAExpy, I will PM you with some links to websites that I found helpful for removing the grille after I get off work and can get on my real computer.


I see the 5-lug conversion on the fox, but what did you paint blue on the rotor?

Those are actually 4 lug replica wheels. Lol. I'll have to ask my dad about what's painted on there. I think it's the caliper

Unfortunately, that's his toy. Not mine :(



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toms89

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I did not find it too bad removing the grill. The clips in the center held pretty tight though.. It is a bit of a PITA getting the headlight studs to line up perfectly when reinstalling.

The black looks great!! May have to do that.
 
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OlBlue

OlBlue

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I did not find it too bad removing the grill. The clips in the center held pretty tight though.. It is a bit of a PITA getting the headlight studs to line up perfectly when reinstalling.

The black looks great!! May have to do that.

Yep, those clips are a PITA. WD40 helps some. Lol. And as for the headlights..... I hate those things. It's the same on my ranger. Telling them who was number 1 helped. Haha


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Big Red Monster

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damn it now i want to do this but I REFUSE to attempt removing that grille. I KNOW I WILL BREAK IT.... may have to do it ON the truck lol
 
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OlBlue

OlBlue

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damn it now i want to do this but I REFUSE to attempt removing that grille. I KNOW I WILL BREAK IT.... may have to do it ON the truck lol

Just take your time and it can be done without any damage. I left mine in the chrome piece to paint it, so if you can atleast get that out, your good.


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Big Red Monster

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yea but for me to do that it also involves removing my fog lights and grille guard....neither of which i want to have to install again, specially the grille guard seeing as its all one big piece lol. I may attempt to do this with a foam brush and a can of black rustoleum, I have had good experiences with the foam brush and rustoleum lol
 

Big Red Monster

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bought the paint, taking off my fog lights on wensday and then just gonna mask off EVERYTHING. I hope the gloss black looks good
 

workman8505

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looks good watch out for the bug gaurd my chrome was faded where water ran behind the bug guard so i did mine all black lol. and yea once you get a brush gaurd on there big red its a real PITA but you can take out all but 2 bolts and let it swing down thats what i do when need it out of the way. i would say also always use the adhesion promoter i had to do mine twice cause the first time around i didnt use it.
also olblue what part of ga you from wouldn't happen to be in the north ga dalton area would you lol
 
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OlBlue

OlBlue

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thans for the complements everyone!

What did you paint it with? Plasti-dip?

The black really looks good.


thanks, and NOOOO dont use plasti dip. it wouldnt last on the grille. I used duplicolor adhesion promoter and duplicolor flat black enamel. no clear coat either
 
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