Running Boards removal

[Carguy3J]

Umm, guys, you do know that you can just get a set of lower rocker trim pieces from the junkyard, off an Explorer that came stock without running boards, right?

 

[Mounty 09]

dersch6221992: This thing with just using the paint is that its not a very thick coat and I think it would show where all the little squares of aluminum tape are.

mchilse: The truck had a tt/shackles at the time of that picture. It now also has a 3" bl.

Some new pics... When I removed the running boards there was rust starting on the rocker panels. I didn't do anything about it and over time it got worse. Last summer I replaced the rockers and painted all the gray. Love the way it turned out. Still have a little finish work to do but ran out of time with school. So this summer I plan on getting it all "nice" again.

and as she sits now (minus the brush guard)

 

[happyjack87]

I like the new look.

 

[mchilese]

I love how that grill looks. Did you just paint that or is it an aftermarket? I still have the stock grill on my Ex. I wonder how coloring my grill and bezel to match the lower trim would look. If you did paint it, what paint did you use? Sorry, this is kind of thread jacking isn't it?

 

[Mounty 09]

Yes its the stock grill painted. I used just regular plastic paint but its not working out to well. It is starting to get lots of rock chips.

I love how that grill looks. Did you just paint that or is it an aftermarket? I still have the stock grill on my Ex. I wonder how coloring my grill and bezel to match the lower trim would look. If you did paint it, what paint did you use? Sorry, this is kind of thread jacking isn't it?

 

[YoungMounty]

I took the running boards off of mine the other day. Still have the little holes and everything. Working on a solution as I type this.

excuse the mud gotta wash her off soon

 

[MadScience]

Put it in the hole

On my old x I just got Crome lag caps (nuts not tapped through), Crome washers, and 1/2 short bolts(standard zinc). Tightened em in.... Looked like it belonged there serving a purpose. The trick was to find a washer with the right inside and outside. you want the hole tight so it stays center ( of course) but you want the out side as tight to the out side of the nut as you can, so you dont hit the bend. the washer was a hair smaller than the **** of the nut but still visible in the slots. I didnt crank em to tight i was afraid of scratching paint behind them which although not visible could rust over time. I used thread lock red

 

[Sbyrne97]

problem with the aluminum tape

it has been on my truck for about a year now, it seems that when things hit it, it can tear. I went offroading one day and a tree branch tore off about a 3" piece...now there is a large spot where the bedliner used to be and it looks kinda funny, I am going to try to use foam to fill the hole and cut it off with a razor blade, like moutaineergreen did

 

[MadScience]

dude spray foam will so crumble off on its own. need less what the weather and road will do to it if you want to seal it and paint it use bondo... or even better go to your local home depot and go to the paaint isle with the epoxy you will see a couple brands of steel putty.. not liquid epoxy that would be a nightmarish mess. doesnt leave residue and putty mixxes in your hand lasts forever and can be drill and tapped for future bolt up mods. can be sanded and painted 30 min after applied. just let it buldge a bit in the back and smooth it on the visible side. it goes on like playdoe but in 15 min you cant break it with a hammer. ( can be drill and tapped for bolts)

WARNING THAT JUNK DRIES HARD AS METAL IN 6 MIN kneed 2 putties with hands only 1 hole at a time.

 

[james_c17]

This is what I did to cover my holes

sorry bout the image being so big, forgot to resize.

 

[MadScience]

Looks good james goes with the green. Did you doit your self or go somewhere?Now no one will see your hole when they look at the bottom, of your truck that is

 

[Mirge]

dude spray foam will so crumble off on its own. need less what the weather and road will do to it if you want to seal it and paint it use bondo... or even better go to your local home depot and go to the paaint isle with the epoxy you will see a couple brands of steel putty.. not liquid epoxy that would be a nightmarish mess. doesnt leave residue and putty mixxes in your hand lasts forever and can be drill and tapped for future bolt up mods. can be sanded and painted 30 min after applied. just let it buldge a bit in the back and smooth it on the visible side. it goes on like playdoe but in 15 min you cant break it with a hammer. ( can be drill and tapped for bolts)

WARNING THAT JUNK DRIES HARD AS METAL IN 6 MIN kneed 2 putties with hands only 1 hole at a time.

Loctite brand any good? Part of my comp chair broke, I'd like to repair it since it was a $200 chair that I found quite comfy over the past 3 years...

 

[james_c17]

Madscience- yes i did this, well a friend and i did, i just ordered it and we stuck it on.

 

[MadScience]

doesnt do well as a glue being its a putty and meant not to leave residue. If liquids are what you need. I hope you arent trying to glue a structural part of a chair.... this could lead to to an ouch although if a tubing cracks you can fill the 2 sides alot then mash em together with a glue.... lol explorer4x4.com serious chair repairs...:roll::

 

[Mirge]

doesnt do well as a glue being its a putty and meant not to leave residue. If liquids are what you need. I hope you arent trying to glue a structural part of a chair.... this could lead to to an ouch although if a tubing cracks you can fill the 2 sides alot then mash em together with a glue.... lol explorer4x4.com serious chair repairs...:roll::

Well, a hole where one of the wheels (caster) goes in cracked. So I was just going to fill the entire area with something like that (steel putty), then drill a hole just big enough to get the caster securely in it lol.

 

[MadScience]

Ya should work then..
Hey naxel sorry for they temp hijacking!

 

[Mirge]

Ya should work then..
Hey naxel sorry for they temp hijacking!

Indeed! Thanks for your help MadScience, back to the original topic now I suppose