97 Front Valance removal

[1997XLTcustom]

I recently came across a picture of a truck strikingly similar to mine. I noticed he had removed the front valance and it really gives the front end a new look. I don't have any before pictures but here are the results of my front valance removal, let me know what you guys think.

http://s1315.photobucket.com/user/jmb03051/media/1997%20Ford/explorer_valance__zpsfd5e68f2.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

 

[DjDom]

I like it.
How'd you paint the grill?

Also, you should paint the bumper trim black.

 

[1997XLTcustom]

I used dupli-color spray on bedliner, I need to redo it though. I was planning on doing the same thing with the bumper trim aswell! Thanks for the reply.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

I like it without the lower Valence, if I was going for the lifted look, I would for sure take mine off.

 

[sanjez5]

I did the same thing to mine (because the Ice here in Indiana ripped it up pretty good) but once off I really liked the way it looked. Almost makes it look like you have lifted em because more of your tires are exposed I guess. Looks like you did away with your foglights? I removed the stock ones and put HID Projectors in place Really changed the look.

 

[sanjez5]

http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/john_sanchez3/slideshow/

Hope that works to show you mine. It's dirty and the paint on my grill is coming off. I plan to pull the whole grill off and replace with a metal mesh. We shall see how that goes though lol.

 

[1997XLTcustom]

sanjez5 how did you mount those lights in your grille? and yes im in the process of repositioning my foglights with new brackets from speedtech lights.

 

[sanjez5]

It's been awhile but I want to say that they are 3M double sided foam tape. Once you get that stuff on it really holds. Mind you it's best to clean the surface with rubbing alcohol first to get a nice bond. Ran the wires through the grille and have had it wired once to the parking lights and currently to their own toggle (the headlamps have halo's that run on the parking lights and with those fogs also on it prevented the halo's from getting enough juice to fully light up).

 

[sanjez5]

Ill try to get a pic up sometime with the lights on, I have to say I truly enjoy lighting things up with my trucks. Id do it now but my wife is already giving me crap for being on my laptop in bed now lol. If you don't mind can you add a link for your foglight brackets? I am using the stock bracket with after market lamps spot welded in place (best ground possible without running a line to the battery lol) Id like to upgrade the lamps to legit projection style HID's but without better mounts it would be a waste of money.

 

[1997XLTcustom]

https://www.speedtechlights.com/mounting-brackets-consoles/ I purchased the signal pro brackets although i might not even be using them haha. I might have to just go with that 3M tape because i like that spot better.

 

[sanjez5]

yeah it was under $10 for a roll and you will find plenty of other uses for it lol. I work in IT and got my hands on a metal grate from a server rack (about an 8th in thick metal mesh) pretty solid stuff that I am hoping to fab a new grill with and put those lights behind it. Plan is to get it so that only thing showing other than the grille is the headlights and blue oval. After that I have a brush guard from a toy-a-duh tundra that a buddy just gave me I want to fab onto the X. Should be a rather nice front end if I ever get around to it.