Mock vents/intakes?

[BronxBroncsFan]

Hey again fellas.

As noted by my new threads lately, I've been trying to fix up the appearance my Ex on the cheap (scratches, taillights threads). So far so good.

On my pass. fender there is a series of tiny little dents. I tried to pull them out but no good. It is the upper part where the 'fold' is, and the metal is more solid there than on say, the doors. So a pull won't work.

What I thought about doing was getting some of those adhesive chrome mock intake vents. I never even knew they existed, but when I was in Pep Boys searching for some scratch removers, I saw them. I thought they would cover that lil' dent instantly and give it a custom look.

Then the other day I saw them on a newer Ex, but I knew they were mock and not factory or custom work.

They are on more and more cars and trucks lately, but said cars and trucks are out of my league...

My question is, WILL IT LOOK STUPID? Will it look out of place?

Thanks for the brutal honesty!

 

[X~FACTOR]

Don't do it. It looks cheap. It looks fake...wait, it is fake. Don't do it.

 

[storlied]

I agree, anyone who knows anything about vehicles and has been around getting parts and supplies will know they're fake. I think it's great you're fixing up your truck and making it look better but just don't go this route.... That's my opinion anyways. You COULD always get decals which might "hide" the dent. Some good ol Ford decals or something. =P

 

[BronxBroncsFan]

Thanks for the advice and the honesty.

As for the decals or something, idk... It's in a weird place and decals or something would look out of place. It's about 6" from the antennae on the pass. side, right below the curve where it meets the top of the fender. Most people who have seen it said 'it's nothing'... but it wasn't there before, I KNOW it's there and it bothers the hell out of me!

I think some guys were doing some scaffolding work and when the ytook the ladders off their truck, they dinged up mine. Great.

 

[wrigley_1285]

I have to say that those are one of the stupidest things I've ever seen, right after rims that bigger that 18 inches

 

[BronxBroncsFan]

Meh. On certain cars they'd look OK, like a Mustang maybe or a Charger. I know I was reaching with the idea, just wanted to save $250. I'm not bringing it to a body shop, the fender is flawless otherwise. Damnit!

They have the metal Ford logo with the flames on it, but I thought it looked not only cheap but trashy... Not to mention having fire on a truck that I drive like an old man now to save gas!

I appreciate all your help and suggestions too. Thanks.

 

[kslhol]

Yeah, nothing good can come from fake - stick- on anythings. Dings on 4x4's are like scars. They add character.

Plus when you have your first ding or dent, the second through twentieth don't feel as bad.

 

[BronxBroncsFan]

"Plus when you have your first ding or dent, the second through twentieth don't feel as bad."

That's what I am trying to avoid. I am just trying to catch up on everything.

It just came out of the detail shop and looks fantastic. I took all the old bumper stickers off the newly polished chrome bumpers. I want it to look better for not much. Trying to figure out ways of doing it a little at a time, even using odd ideas such as the vents... which I will not do, though it provided the solution, concealing the dent. Can't even call it a dent, a tiny ding that bothers the HELL out of me!

Thanks again.

 

[dogfriend]

I'm gonna say go the other way and install about 50 of them all over the vehicle. No one will ever wonder if you are trying to cover a dent; they will be too busy laughing their a$$ off. :

 

[kslhol]

The main thing to do is what you think looks cool. If a vent looks good to you, do it.
My suggestion would be thick pin stripes or vinyl.

My mother in law scraped the side of her jeep on a gate, so I covered it with these stripes. Can't even see the scrape.

My Expedition used to have a business logo on the side and back lift gate. Once again some pinstripes, a little vinyl and a little creative lettering did the trick.... looks better than stock.

Paint was flaking off my Intrepid, so I threw some vinyl and stripes on it.

Maybe something like that will help you. Like I said, do what you think looks good. But you can do alot of nice work with $20 worth of striping or a little vinyl.

Good luck.

 

[BronxBroncsFan]

WOW. GREAT WORK THERE MAN. Especially on the Expedition!

Now I know I am not the only one with a lil' creative thinking to avoid the Body Shop! I will have to browse around and think a little more creatively and I'll come up with something.

As for the striping, it has a thin double pinstripe already... Meh.

Like I said (regarding Dofriend's sarcasm), besides a few scratches and this little ding, the paint and body is in excellent shape. After seeing how nice it came out of the detail shop, I will hand wax it every few months myself.