pj07Limited
Member
- Joined
- October 18, 2009
- Messages
- 21
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- Springfield, Mo
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2007 Sport Trac
I purchased an 07 sport trac just about 4 months ago and I really like everything about the truck except that on overcast days the chrome trim reflecting on the windshield is just unbearable, one week of cloudy weather and I had to do something about it. (I have been lazy about writing up this post).
Anyway I thought I would share how I solved the problem without resorting to some fugly dash cover, or spray paint.
First remove the trim:
The trim around the instrument cluster is firmly secured to the dash, I do not recommend attempting to pry it off. Instead, take the whole panel off, there are only 2 small screws at the bottom of the panel that need to be removed.
After removing the bottom screws, there are two tabs that secure the top of the dash, simply pull the panel straight towards your chest and the clips should come out. Also there is a hose-like thing(circled in red, no idea what it is) attached to the panel in the lower right-hand corner, it is attached with the standard black clip-together that Ford likes, you need to un-snap it.
To get the vent trim off is a little tricky, I recommend removing the driver-side trim fist because the dash seems to be more flexible and allows the trim to pop out easier(I actually just pulled mine out with my hand). You can then examine it to better understand what you are dealing with on the passenger side. The vent trim has securing tabs on 3 sides (top, left, and right, the bottom is not secured). To remove the passenger side trim I used a small screwdriver and pulled the trim outward while pushing in on at least one of the tabs with the small screw driver. I'm warning you, it's tricky and frustrating.(the securing tabs are circled in red below)
Here is what the trac looks like with the trim removed.
here is the trim.
This is the point where you need some carbon fiber wrap(google it if you are not familiar with it). I am not going to cover the details of using the stuff, there are instructional videos on youtube. I will give a couple of tips though; For the circular vent trim I recommend cutting out the center and securing the carbon fiber wrap to the inside of the circle and then heating and stretching the wrap to the outside. I tried working from the outside to the inside the first time and had to redo it. The good thing is that if it doesn't look good you can peel it off, it peels off cleanly. Heat is your friend, I used a hairdryer and when you heat the wrap it takes the shape of the trim. On the vent pieces I wrapped the trim over the back, but on the instrument panel trim you have to cut the wrap off at the edge of the trim since you can't separate the trim from the panel.
I used 3M DINOC carbon wrap which already has the adhesive back. (it is actually vinyl but looks like carbon wrap). I have had it installed for at least 3 months now and there are no signs of it attempting to peel off or anything.
Here is the result.
For the door handles I made a template with a piece of paper and then used it to cut out the carbon wrap and simply stuck it on. I left a little chrome showing around the edges for two reasons. The door handle are confusing enough, I think a little chrome showing helps identify it, also by not putting the carbon wrap up to the edge I think it is less likely to get peeled off. I also did not wrap it all the way down the front of the handle, just about 2/3 of the way.
I attempted to carbon wrap the top of the shifter but I do not know how to remove the chrome top and it didn't seem like it would hold without being able to wrap the carbon wrap around the edges of the chrome cap. If anyone knows how to remove the shifter cap and the chrome trim around the base of the shifter please post it here. I would like to wrap them in carbon as well but I more than happy with my results. The carbon wrap seems a little shiny in the pictures but I cannot see it reflected in the windows at all, even if I search for it. My chrome-trim induced migraines are history.
P.S. Make sure you pay attention to the direction of the pattern on the carbon fiber, the trim only goes on one way and you want the pattern to go in the same direction on all pieces.
Update:
I had some time so I carbon wrapped the chrome trim around the shifter this weekend. This piece is easier to wrap than the dash trim because it is flatter.
The shifter trim can be pried up with a flat screwdriver or something similar.
Merry Christmas.
Anyway I thought I would share how I solved the problem without resorting to some fugly dash cover, or spray paint.
First remove the trim:
The trim around the instrument cluster is firmly secured to the dash, I do not recommend attempting to pry it off. Instead, take the whole panel off, there are only 2 small screws at the bottom of the panel that need to be removed.
After removing the bottom screws, there are two tabs that secure the top of the dash, simply pull the panel straight towards your chest and the clips should come out. Also there is a hose-like thing(circled in red, no idea what it is) attached to the panel in the lower right-hand corner, it is attached with the standard black clip-together that Ford likes, you need to un-snap it.
To get the vent trim off is a little tricky, I recommend removing the driver-side trim fist because the dash seems to be more flexible and allows the trim to pop out easier(I actually just pulled mine out with my hand). You can then examine it to better understand what you are dealing with on the passenger side. The vent trim has securing tabs on 3 sides (top, left, and right, the bottom is not secured). To remove the passenger side trim I used a small screwdriver and pulled the trim outward while pushing in on at least one of the tabs with the small screw driver. I'm warning you, it's tricky and frustrating.(the securing tabs are circled in red below)
Here is what the trac looks like with the trim removed.
here is the trim.
This is the point where you need some carbon fiber wrap(google it if you are not familiar with it). I am not going to cover the details of using the stuff, there are instructional videos on youtube. I will give a couple of tips though; For the circular vent trim I recommend cutting out the center and securing the carbon fiber wrap to the inside of the circle and then heating and stretching the wrap to the outside. I tried working from the outside to the inside the first time and had to redo it. The good thing is that if it doesn't look good you can peel it off, it peels off cleanly. Heat is your friend, I used a hairdryer and when you heat the wrap it takes the shape of the trim. On the vent pieces I wrapped the trim over the back, but on the instrument panel trim you have to cut the wrap off at the edge of the trim since you can't separate the trim from the panel.
I used 3M DINOC carbon wrap which already has the adhesive back. (it is actually vinyl but looks like carbon wrap). I have had it installed for at least 3 months now and there are no signs of it attempting to peel off or anything.
Here is the result.
For the door handles I made a template with a piece of paper and then used it to cut out the carbon wrap and simply stuck it on. I left a little chrome showing around the edges for two reasons. The door handle are confusing enough, I think a little chrome showing helps identify it, also by not putting the carbon wrap up to the edge I think it is less likely to get peeled off. I also did not wrap it all the way down the front of the handle, just about 2/3 of the way.
I attempted to carbon wrap the top of the shifter but I do not know how to remove the chrome top and it didn't seem like it would hold without being able to wrap the carbon wrap around the edges of the chrome cap. If anyone knows how to remove the shifter cap and the chrome trim around the base of the shifter please post it here. I would like to wrap them in carbon as well but I more than happy with my results. The carbon wrap seems a little shiny in the pictures but I cannot see it reflected in the windows at all, even if I search for it. My chrome-trim induced migraines are history.
P.S. Make sure you pay attention to the direction of the pattern on the carbon fiber, the trim only goes on one way and you want the pattern to go in the same direction on all pieces.
Update:
I had some time so I carbon wrapped the chrome trim around the shifter this weekend. This piece is easier to wrap than the dash trim because it is flatter.
The shifter trim can be pried up with a flat screwdriver or something similar.
Merry Christmas.