1998 5.0 Explorer Restoration

[98 MERC]

$20k and all that other stuff, no thanks.

However, I remember reading thread from a guy who more or less rebuilt his late 90s Ranger. He didn't go crazy, but it looked great afterwards. I would definitely consider spending a few thousand to bring my Ex back to new-ish.

Yup a ton can be accomplished and not go over board.For me i am going to have a door and hatch and hood installed and rockers and a paint job.Suspension is almost done.Motor was done but needs some tinkering.You can do a light restoration for 10K.You can save a ton on paint jobs by not changing colors and skip painting the door jambs.Strip and prep your own body panels and install and have them paint.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yup a ton can be accomplished and not go over board.For me i am going to have a door and hatch and hood installed and rockers and a paint job.Suspension is almost done.Motor was done but needs some tinkering.You can do a light restoration for 10K.You can save a ton on paint jobs by not changing colors and skip painting the door jambs.Strip and prep your own body panels and install and have them paint.

I'm going to do that with my 99 work truck, minimal body work but change to the factory dark green of the 99-01's, leave the jambs alone etc.

Are you saying my 98 Limited will be expensive to change from black to two tone red, similar to my Mercury? That shouldn't be bad to make it look like a Mountaineer, I already have the Mercury trim pieces and air bag etc. The custom red recipe I haven't decided on quite yet, I have the ingredients for a base/tint/clear though. I found an OEM dark dark red to use for the bottom, from a 2016 GM truck. I never liked the Dark Toreador, it looks almost purple, or a mix of purple and brown.

 

[98 MERC]

I have the same color that you have.

 

[98 MERC]

If you leave door jambs alone.It will save a good amount of money.That can be hard to do if lets say your truck is white and you want to paint it red.That would look terrible to have the jambs still be white on a red vehicle.Now if your truck is black or some other dark color then yea you could leave the jambs alone.

I love the red 2 tone combo.The dark color changes tones depending on the time of day.I have thought about changing the bottom color to a darker purple.Maybe some kind of metallic purple.I also can tell you that a 2 tone repaint is gonna cost more then a single color.In my eyes it is like paying for 2 paint jobs essentially.

 

[CDW6212R]

I love the two toned Mountaineers the best, they are just right, the beautiful dark red and the bottom to contrast it. My Mercury had had a little repaint of the bottom, the poor match they did doesn't help, but it's hardly noticed.

See if you can find a late model Chevy truck, the dark red Z71 I think it was. I asked a customer of mine that owned it, and there is no paint code on the door jambs, no VIN tag at all. I need to get that paint code, and try a little sample to see if it will do the job.

I'm after almost restored, in general appearance, to look like my 98 Mercury. The XP8 wing and bumpers will take away the stock look, but my color choices should be subtle enough to seem OEM. I'll test my red choice on my 91 Lincoln first, I need to get it running again(trans is iffy).

 

[98 MERC]

What year chevy truck are you talking about ? also have you seen ford newer color on their trucks ? Its called ruby red.Its soooo nice.


http://www.f150ecoboost.net/forum/a...-truck-month-contest-lifted-edition-image.jpg

Its also has a darker almost purple color on it too.Its almost like the modern version of my mercury.

 

[CDW6212R]

That's a great red too. I've been hunting a super dark red, to replace the bottom Dark Toreador Red. The Chevy truck I mentioned is a 2016, I think Z71 is the right trim name. It's a very dark red, not quite as dark as my/our lower red. I think it might be enough to work right with the Toreador Red above it. I'm going to use the OEM base color, but add a middle coat, a tint coat. I have a candy concentrate called Blood Red, from ALSA. I just want a slight change, and to add a smidge of gold pearl to it. I'll play with the recipe to use as little of the new color and pearl added, and see if it will work. I want it to look virtually like the original red, but with a slight other character to it.

 

[98 MERC]

Gosh i have also been temped to mess with that lower purple color LOL.Ya know this dark toreador red changes color depending on time of day.In the afternoon its like a pastel purple.At night its like a dark purple.If i could keep that dark purple and throw some metallic in with it.I think that would look great.

 

[98 MERC]

I noticed on your door where they miss matched the purple.If you could have the whole bottom of your vehicle painted that darker purple that they messed up on.That might look good.

 

[CDW6212R]

Here's the candy concentrate color I've got to mix in, I found a picture while hunting the grille.

 

[CDW6212R]

My truck was kind of dirty there in that picture showing the Cobra wheels, 2005 I think. Those were my first wheels on the truck, and the support Americans magnetic sign. I loved those wheels, but they are better on my Lincoln.

 

[98 MERC]

Wow thats pretty no doubt.But would definitely have to be darker to go with the top toreador red.It would clash as is.It might give you what you are looking for indeed if you mixed it with the dark toreador.

 

[CDW6212R]

That's what I want to use for the top, mixed into a tint coat with some gold pearl. Three part paints are still common, even some Mustangs had it. The base and clear are typical steps, the tint though has to be done at the right thickness, as the color changes with more tint coats.

 

[CDW6212R]

Here's a picture of a 2016 Chevy Z71 truck in that dark red I referred to. It's dark enough I think it may be a fine substitute for the Dark Toreador Red paint. I want a simple base/clear for the bottom of my truck, which will cover the bumpers like the stock scheme.

 

[98 MERC]

Oh yea i have seen those.I think they are a special edition or a sport package for that truck.They have fancy wheels and the trucks come in many different colors.All you would have to do is take that picture to your local chevy dealer and ask them what the color is.I bet the parts department has touch up paint and could tell you the codes and color.

 

[CDW6212R]

They are good looking trucks. That's what I'll do when I get to working on my truck's body work. Lots to do with other things first though.