BD's 2000 Explorer Limited

[BrianDye]

I was reading a thread earlier talking about putting a 1st gen bumper on because they rust less?

What exactly is the difference? I dont want to bust my ass to replace mine, and paint it only to have it start rusting real fast again...

 

[Glen4X4]

The reason I said bout the first gen is because the second gen the bottom has plastic covering the step pad where the trailer ball goes and wraps the bottom portion of the bumper also which then keeps moisture there and lets its rust more than a 1st gen. A 1st gen wouldn't look right on yours seeings how you have a license plate holder on your tail gate.

 

[CDW6212R]

You don't want one of those. They bolt on exactly the same, but, the pre 98's have a larger area for their license plates. So it's just a slight change of shape around the middle. I don't think they differ much in steel, for one to last longer.

Find a solid 98-01 part, and spend some time to seal up the backside so it doesn't rust.

 

[BrianDye]

I knew about the license plate holder, I figured if it was that much better, I could just do some fabbing to cover the license plate spot.

Im gonna do some HEAVY coats of rustoleum paint, and maybe some bedliner on the inside, and make sure I seal the plastic off so no water can get in it.


BTW- thats the part I was looking to get the other day, found a few online for 30-50$ but naturally no one wanted to email back.

 

[Glen4X4]

Yeah, you will find more 1st gens with better rear bumpers than 2nd gens because of the plastic, that's why when my 2nd gen rear rusted I went with a 1st gen bumper. Looks alot better. Your truck your choice just not sure how well it would look with having 2 license plate spots.

 

[BrianDye]

I definitely wouldnt put one on there still having the license plate stuff. I would shave it all and fill in the holes before I painted it.

It sounds like a fun project, but im just gonna find a 98-01 and tear ass into it to make it as rust-proof as possible.

I swear the rust on mine has doubled. I cant even find any Dupli-Color (Or simaler) that matches my paint code just to hide the rust for the rest of winter

 

[CDW6212R]

You could try to get lucky and find a Saleen rear bumper cover, they go over the stock 98-01 bumpers. They are super rare and not cheap.

 

[BrianDye]

WOW thats beautiful in black! I remember seeing a whole Saleen kit for the 2nd gens on eBay about a year ago, I think he wanted like 200$ for the rear bumper like that, man would I have been all over that if he was still selling it.

 

[CDW6212R]

I bought that one from eBay, it's rough from a wreck. Those were his spare parts, I got the rear cover and the large service apron. This rear cover had been white, and red before that.

 

[BrianDye]

Nice, I'm definitely gonna keep an eye out for one of those.

 

[EMG7895]

my solution:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=284203&highlight=bumper
Still looks perfect, Turdle did an excellent job. If your bumper is rusting through in my opinion its not worth it to try and salvage the brackets, unless you have a lot of spare time and cut off wheels handy.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Brian- check these guys.

http://myworld.ebay.com/spraycansunlimited

My Deep Wedgewood was discontinued by Duplicolor, so I had them send me some. I think it was about $18/can, but they're the larger cans and about the same price as having a local shop mix them, and they had them on the shelf...

As for the rust, the biggest issue with yours and the sport bumpers are that they're not chrome. The chrome bumpers last a LOT longer than the painted steel ones. That's why the Gen I and Gen II chrome bumpers dont have as many issues. The pads don't help either though.

 

[CDW6212R]

Check with NAPA for touch up paint. They carry most colors in the large spray cans.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Duplicolor doesn't produce it anymore. (At least my color) Even the false hopes of "oh yeah- here's the code" soon turned into "nope, all gone and I cnq't find the new ones in the system, it's discontinued..." I scavanged every parts house in West Michigan. Good luck!

 

[sean99]

Your pearl paint is a tri-coat, WF/M6864 basecoat/midcoat/clearcoat.

 

[Joe Dirt]

It's actually a quadcoat.

rust/basecoat/midcoat/clearcoat







Paint your bumper, Brian, and I'll stop... :

 

[sean99]

Get your grinder out and go at that rusty quad bumper...

 

[sean99]

You could try to get lucky and find a Saleen rear bumper cover, they go over the stock 98-01 bumpers. They are super rare and not cheap.

The Saleen bumper does look great. You would have to modify or get rid of your flares to use it.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, he would have to trim the rear flares to meet the bumper cover. I did that with my 93 Limited door mouldings, trimmed them to meet the 99 flares. My 98 doesn't have those big flares, so I'll have a little easier job to fit the bumper covers.

 

[BrianDye]

I will start on my bumper as soon as I get a new one. Im not even gonna try to work on mine. Plus I dont want to be driving without a rear bumer, that'd just be ugly :

Should I look for a chrome bumper then? And rough the chrome up for the primer?