Decide the fate of the front end...

[draft]

Well, I had planned to get a rollpan made starting early summer, but some unexpected events happened with a worker in our shop - Got the notice 2 weeks ago that he was going to be sent to Pendleton in 2 days. Right now, we believe he's still in Kuwait, but it's been rough on us, hasn't talked to us since he left. Another one of our co-workers had left for Iraq already and came back safely, we just hope this ends in the same way. Anyways, sorry for going offtopic.

So, the front end is my next focus. Take a peak.

There's been quite a few ideas being tossed around, but reality is now into play. Some of the ideas have been:

1 - Ranger Big Mouth bumper (look alike to the Lightning bumper, but will make a tight fit with some angle grinding)

2 - F150 Lightning bumper (this would have to be remolded and everything, yeah?)

3 - EE airdam, even though I'd like to stay away from this one.

4 - That ED Platinum front bumper off the bodykit (known to have some "rice" in it)

Please toss some ideas over this way, this needs to be done by the end of the first week of July as I'll be going out of town for a good part of the summer, then classes start again.

Thanks.

 

[Trckmagik]

Even adding a new (2001) bumper to the front would make a night and day diff.

I would say either the Ranger bumper or a newer model Explorer bumper.

 

[boominXplorer]

EE airdam or a 98-01 mountaineer bumper painted bodycolor

BTW: Embelms are done will be on the way to your house tomorrow

 

[Hartman]

IMO a shortened F150 bumper just looks too big for the front of an Ex. I'm not a big fan of the Xenon big mouth bumper and definately not a fan of the Extreme Dimensions crap. You'll have a tough time finding an EE airdam because they are out of them so you'll have to get one from another person.

I say do something custom or get a 99+ front bumper.

 

[MONMIX]

Let me know what you decide, I am less than thrilled with my front end and I have no fancy ideas.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Since you asked for opinions, I will give you my 2 cents worth, if it's ok.

I would do exactly what truckmajik suggests, get the new front bumper from an 01 and put it up there with a new grill. EE airdams are a rare commodity right now. If I hadn't just gotten the last EE airdam for my 98, that is exactly what I would do. But since I haven't seen mine with an airdam or billet grills or PIAA Pro90's yet, I am going to stay in that direction for now. But I love your truck, nice and clean and love those wheels. So go with a new front look all togeather. Look at BlackMagics truck from the front. How can you argue with that? Picture the front of your truck like that one. GRRRR, Mamasita, LOL. (citibank commercial)

 

[Trckmagik]

You could also look at doing the following:

2001-2004 Front clip from Sport or Sport Trac

Hood, Fenders, Headlight Header, Headlights, Bumper, Bumper Cover, Etc.

I think this would look even better on a four door explorer as they never made a 4 door explorer with the new front clip. If my Limited didnt have the limited running boards I would be buying the parts for the above mod right now. I think it would look sick.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Nah, it wouldn't look sick, it would look good. ROFL, but I agree 100%. That is the option to take and you would be different from ALL the others. Unless you decide not to do this and I do at a later date because someone offers me there first born for my EE airdam and PIAA Pros. LOL

 

[Trckmagik]

Come on BBQ.. Bring my thoughts into reality You can store the EE airdam until someone needs it and make money on it

 

[IAmTodd]

Have you looked into the Performance Products air dam? They are pretty nice looking and will incorporate the stock fogs along with another set. And then maybe filling in the hole in the bumper? Kind of like what expo5.0 did?

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Come on BBQ.. Bring my thoughts into reality You can store the EE airdam until someone needs it and make money on it

It's tempting I tell ya. I REALLY like that look allot. You don't know how tempting it is right now, so please don't push, LOL, it could easily become a reality. Hopefully someone here will listen and try this one on THEIR 2/4 door, LOL.

 

[Trckmagik]

Quick look at what you would expect to do the Sport Trac clip.

Fender (RH) 123.95
Fender (LH) 123.95
Bumper Cover 259.95
Header panel 123.95
Hood 222.95
Corner Light (RH) 43.95
Corner Light (LH) 43.95
Headlight (LH) 79.95
Headlight (RH) 79.95

You will also need the structural bumper that mounts behind the Bumper cover. Couldnt find it. You would then have to have all the above painted. I am serioulsy thinking about it now.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

WOW, you have put some thought into it. LOL, hmmm maybe I need to push you a little bit and then see how it looks. LOL. You would also need some spruce green ford emblems to set it off. ROFL and those corners, you could get clear corners at half that price. Or go to a junk yard and do some heavy duty shopping till you found the whole thing for about 250 - 300 to go. If you looked long and hard, I bet one could be found that was in perfect condition.

 

[Trckmagik]

Thats what SVO and myself are doing right now. Searching

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

But both of us have running boards that prevent us from doing this without either removing the running boards or making a major modification. You have a limited and I have the Eddie Bauer.

 

[draft]

You could also look at doing the following:

2001-2004 Front clip from Sport or Sport Trac

Hood, Fenders, Headlight Header, Headlights, Bumper, Bumper Cover, Etc.

I think this would look even better on a four door explorer as they never made a 4 door explorer with the new front clip. If my Limited didnt have the limited running boards I would be buying the parts for the above mod right now. I think it would look sick.

That's what I was looking at today though my Ford parts catalog for the Explorer I have sitting here. This could become costly, but definately very unique. I'm going to take a drive over to my friends Mike house who owns a repo lot and salvage yard, gonna see what some of these pieces go for, as well as new from Ford. Will be pricing this out.

Have you looked into the Performance Products air dam? They are pretty nice looking and will incorporate the stock fogs along with another set. And then maybe filling in the hole in the bumper? Kind of like what expo5.0 did?

Got a picture? Not at the dorm right now, I'd fill in the bumper like expo most likely, I can glass easy stuff like that with no problem, have a few DA sanders in the shop as well.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, and yes, this has to be done within a relative month. Because the rig gets lowered when my JDM Lowering shocks come in, and my leave for Arizona (Havasu) for 2 months, need to get this done before I start classes again, just won't have time.

 

[MONMIX]

Okay I don't want to get that involved. ( or costly )
This is what I have currently,

 

[kfkodiak]

Just another idea..
Has anyone ever thought of using an '01-'03 Ranger front end on an ex?
It may look too much like a 3rd gen ex, if it would even fit, but maybe:

 

[draft]

I ended up tabling this till the winter, I just can't find something I can fall in love with other than the XP8 kit, which I've tried vigorously to find one in town willing to let me borrow the kit (of course I'd tip some cash down) for a few hours to get some molds done at our shop, but that's returned null. The lowering should be done within the week, and that'll do it for the summer it looks like.

Hrm, not sure on the 3rd gen front of the ranger and X.. no clue how'd they fit.

 

[IAmTodd]

Have you seen Hartman's Honest Charley's Air Damn? Its pretty good looking.