BD's 2000 Explorer Limited

[BrianDye]

Now that my bumpers just about done, im wondering how much Maaco will want to paint it! Macks bodyshop wanted like 400$ I think they said awhile back when I had called for a quote!

And on another note, after my bumpers almost done (I had wanted to get a roll pan but didnt really have anyone who would weld it for me besides shops which would charge up the wazoo. My uncle moved, and has a huge garage now with welders and all kinds of tools and hes a great welder)....BUTTTTT I would still have to get it painted

 

[BrianDye]

Can I get some input here from anyone who has/or has used the projector fog lights?

Im looking to replace my foglights, and fit an HID kit in them, but I can get an OEM set, or a projector (w/LED Halo) set for around the same price.

Ive seen PLENTY of pics installed, but NEVER a beam shot of them...

And it scares me the fact that they're the same price as regular housings, it leads me to think that they are just a cheap eBay projector with cheap LED Halos. (Not worried about the Halos, although it would be cool to have them)

Im also wanting todo something a little custom, and get some 5w amber LEDs in there to flash with my blinkers...which is why im leaning more towards the regular housings.





(Just got back in from about 2 hours of bumper work Shes coming along great! Should be prepped for paint by Wednesday!!)

 

[BrianDye]

This was hell!

 

[BrianDye]

New project

And all credit for the console goes to Joe Dirt, I would have never thought this piece would just snap in, I like it so much better than the 2nd gen consoles. Thanks for another GREAT idea Joe!

Even snagged some badging

Im gonna use the "Explorer" in the interior somewhere, I have a few ideas im debating on.

Theyre all out back cleaned and in the process of getting painted.
I scored all that for 10 bucks at the JY!

 

[BrianDye]

The letters were in pretty bad shape, alot of the chrome was peeling off so I finished them off and decided to paint them black. (For now), and the console piece is looking great! Its got the OEM texture, but with a glossy finish, I love it.

 

[shadowless127]

Ditching the message center??

 

[BrianDye]

Yea, I thought it was awesome at first, but now id rather have the space. Im planning a custom stereo install, moving my HU, and climate controls down into this new piece, and putting a large (Not sure what size, 13" or so) screen in the bezel, OR an iPad.

Definitely gonna take some time, and bumper comes first, but I couldnt pass grabbing these today.


Plus I bought an Ultra Gauge, which shows everything the message center does (AND TONS MORE) (Besides the doors being closed, volts being good, oil life, etc, which I know without a screen telling me

 

[shadowless127]

Yea, I thought it was awesome at first, but now id rather have the space. Im planning a custom stereo install, moving my HU, and climate controls down into this new piece, and putting a large (Not sure what size, 13" or so) screen in the bezel, OR an iPad.

Definitely gonna take some time, and bumper comes first, but I couldnt pass grabbing these today.


Plus I bought an Ultra Gauge, which shows everything the message center does (AND TONS MORE) (Besides the doors being closed, volts being good, oil life, etc, which I know without a screen telling me

That's one of the main things I miss about my 03, is having the message center neatly tucked away in the dash. I too really miss the space, but I like having the message center too. I'm at a crossroads.

 

[BrianDye]

I wish the message centers were like the 3rd gens, small and built in somewhere, not taking up valuable space

 

[BrianDye]

This is really just a test fit for now, and a quick coat of paint. I wanted to get an idea of what its gonna look like, how much depth I have, etc. I have saturday off, so hopefully I can get a dremmel by then and start marking it up and cutting it to fit the radio.

You should see my test bezel

(My cutters battery died, thats why its half-assed cut)

Ive used that thing to see if the rubbery coating was paintable, how my push button start would look in place of the 4x4 switch, shaved the button holes, and now how big of a screen I can get in it

 

[BrianDye]

I was worried about the curve of the bezel, but I doubt it would look too bad if I just added some bondo/glass to the bottom to fit the flat panel monitor.

Whatever I get, definitely wont be this long, but im sure it will hang down farther than the curve of the bezel. That might not make sense, so heres a sideshot

^Basically meaning ill have to fill in that spot between the cardboard and the bezel, not hard at all.

 

[BradR]

Might cover you climate controls, no?
Or are you moving those too?

 

[BrianDye]

Moving them down in the console also...thats gonna be the hardest part lol

I may just leave them there, and make some kind of hinged install on the screen so I can flip it up, but that would be a PITA

 

[BrianDye]

So to replace my headunit, im thinking of using a Kenwood KDC-X794. Reviews seem excellent to say the least, and it has the rear input like I want.

Im 90% sure ill be going with an iPad in the bezel, with a patch cable going from the headphone port of the iPad, to the back of the headunit. I can charge the iPad via the USB connection from the radio (Which awesomely is also on the back).

I love the music player on the iPad, which is why I dont want to connect the iPad to the USB for music purposes. Ill also be able to send out WiFi from my phone to it (Ill have navi, Netflix, iTunes, and anything else that requires an internet connection) Its gonna be awesome!

 

[BrianDye]

Quick shipping on these new foglights! 2 days! And picked up a dremmel finally, theres been umteen times that ive said "Damn I wish I had a dremmel" lately.

These look so much better than the old ones

AND THIS IS WHY YOU ALWAYS "SEAL" LIGHT HOUSINGS WHEN YOU BUY AFTERMARKET!

I was literally taking the outside casing off these to put them in the oven to bake them and open them up, when I noticed 2 tabs on the outside. I was like theres no way in hell that these hold the glass against the housing. Sure enough:

Theres a rubber ring but I doubt that would have done much! Im really happy that they are like that though, gonna make it so much easier to get the leds in there for my blinkers.

 

[BrianDye]

Going to pick up the iPad tomorrow before work, so works gonna suck! (9 hours til I can get home and start!)

After some more thinking, and thanking Ford for having steering wheel controls for my HVAC, im not gonna move the HVAC controller. Im gonna leave it where its at. Ill have enough room to hit the buttons, (Max AC, Vent, Floor, Mix, Defrost, etc) and ill use the steering wheel to control temp and fan speed. I either have it on 90, or 60. (Full heat, or full cold, I never set it anywhere else so im not worried about the screen either)

So its basically gonna be like this.

Its gonna be tilted up about another inch than what this is showing.

 

[BrianDye]

Had to make it look a little better

 

[Joe Dirt]

Not too much air is going to get through those dash vents...

 

[BrianDye]

I'll fix em when I get off work

 

[sean99]

im not gonna move the HVAC controller. Im gonna leave it where its at. Ill have enough room to hit the buttons, (Max AC, Vent, Floor, Mix, Defrost, etc) and ill use the steering wheel to control temp and fan speed. I either have it on 90, or 60. (Full heat, or full cold, I never set it anywhere else so im not worried about the screen either)
.

Running max settings puts added stress on the blend door.