How To remove and paint your front grille

[nickelphillips]

I realize this is an old post, but just in case:

• Can you swap a 2006-2010 Iron Man grille/bumper trim onto a base 2006-2010 XLT Explorer with little/no modification?
• Can you swap a 2006-2010 Sport Trac grille onto a base 2006-2010 XLT Explorer with little/no modification?

Thanks for any/all help! (Mine is a 2007 base-model XLT.)

Phil

 

[ThunderbirdSport]

Yes, the opening is identical between all models and trims, from 2006 through 2010, '11, if you count Sport Trac trucks.

I painted the grill of my 06 3 years ago but didn't use self etch primer, and couldn't find the exact shade of white. Didn't clear it either. Later this summer I'll go back and redo it. Maybe find another stock grill and start over, and try to find the same paint via the code on the door sticker.

Says the OP was last active in 2017. Hope he's with us, still..

 

[FatzLebowski]

Finally did it!!! Sorry for the wait!!!
How to take off your front grille ant paint it.

If you have ANY questions about the process, feel free to ask... i'll do my best to remember everything!

The first thing you need to remember is to take your time!... And do it in a place where theres no wind or dust that could damage the final result.


Equipment used:

A philips screwdriver
A flat head screwdriver
A hard but still thin ruler
Pliars or ratchet
Self Etching primer(on the picture below) 1 can
Krylon spraypaint(on the picture below) 2-3 can
Dupli-color clear coat(on the picture below) 1-2 can
3M sanding paper(on the picture below) 6-8 sheets
View attachment 217709
View attachment 217710

These are a group view of all the places where you need to unscrew/unclip the grille:
View attachment 217711


First of all:
Unscrew these plastic screw that hold the top of the grille to the body(8 on top and 4 at the bottom)
View attachment 217712

The plastic screws you should encounter look like those:
View attachment 217713

Then, unscrew the screw at the bottom of the grille:
View attachment 217714

One that is done, you can now take your ruler or anything really strong but thin and unclip the last pieces on each side and bottom of the grille (4 on each side and 6 at the bottom):
View attachment 217715
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The grille should be in your hands at this moment.
Its now time to remove the chrome lip on the hood.
With the pliars, unclip the 4 clips as seen on the picture and then unbolt the 3 plastic bolts.
View attachment 217717

Now that everything is taken apart of the truck, you can remove the FORD emblem by unscrewiung the two bolts at the back of the grille.

It's time to find a clean and safe place to work.

Then you start by using a greace and wax remover to take of all residue on the grille.(I used gasoline and it worked well)

You can now sand everything with the 3M sandpaper I used 800 grits for the whole project. This is what it should look like after the sanding.
View attachment 217718


Once the sanding is done, you start painting with the self etching primer. Normally, you put as many layers as you want, nut as soon as you cant see the chrome anymore, you're ready to move on to the next step.
This is what the primer look like once it's all done:
View attachment 217719

You can now carry on with the black paint.
I reccomend at least 3 layers and a good 2-3 hours for drying before the clear coating.
View attachment 217720

Last step before tyou replace the grille in place is clearcoating.
The first layer you put should be a little bit more thicker than the other ones tu make sure the surface is even.
Allow a good 45-60 min to dry and then put the second one on.
30 mins later, you put your last coat and then let everything dry for a good 2 hours.

Here's the result(On the picture, you can see I was also doing the black housing of my headlights):
View attachment 217721


And now, the final product and a couple pictures of the truck at the moment... before I painted my roof rack.
View attachment 217722
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This week i'll be adding a brush guard by Hunter truck parts and I will also be doing my custom safari rack.


Hope You like it!!

Thank You!!!

 

[FatzLebowski]

Holy **** boys, that's a thing of beauty. I am about to do the same thing to my 2010 XLT. Do you happen to know if the Sport Track Grill will fit a regular explorer. All of the fitment guides say no, but The grills look identical. I see you have the Eddy Bauer grill on yours.

 

[FatzLebowski]

Yes, the opening is identical between all models and trims, from 2006 through 2010, '11, if you count Sport Trac trucks.

I painted the grill of my 06 3 years ago but didn't use self etch primer, and couldn't find the exact shade of white. Didn't clear it either. Later this summer I'll go back and redo it. Maybe find another stock grill and start over, and try to find the same paint via the code on the door sticker.

Says the OP was last active in 2017. Hope he's with us, still..

Thanks bro. That's exactly what I needed to hear. I will just get a new Gloss black Ironman grill and hood trim and call it a day. My truck is Charcoal so the black grill w/ the Black headlight lenses I found will set it off. now just need a small lift and those knobbies in the original post, and I will be in the pink.