The Repair, How's it Look? Painted Mirrors and Cowl.

[spindlecone]

Laser sight mounted in foglight location

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

LOL, oh man, ya killing me. ROFL. Too funny.

Well guys, I like my truck, allot. I like the 2 tone, I like the pin stripes, I like the Eddie Bauer Running boards. The things I didn't like I have changed except for bucket seats in the rear instead of a bench seat. That may never happen though. I would rather have Hartman's mags than mine, but oh well. I have new exhaust to put on still. I am talking to the painter to shoot that little antenna popper thing. They say it won't stick, but may try and shoot it anyway for me but with no guarantees. I love the job the body shop did. I have known them for many years and they know what I expect. They just missed some silly little things that I caught and they are going to fix them for me.

And thank everyone for the compliments and suggestions. I do like solid colored Explorers, but just not on the Eddie Bauer Editions. Do plan on doing something with the roof rack, probably take up Al's suggestion and just remove some of it, like the parts that show. It is in dire need of a good cleaning, but won't happen till the stereo is installed which is coming up real soon now. I feel it. And for right now, I bet my wife thinks I have spent more than enough money on that "stupid" truck, LOL. Any bets?

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

That looks awesome. Now all you need is some diamond cut headlights.

That will happen when they come out with matching diamond cut clear corners. I just don't think it looks right with diamond headlights without diamond clears on the side, but that's just me.

 

[jayhawkexplorer]

Paint the wiper arms too; the truck is looking amazing Ronnie, congrats

 

[LiKuiD]

I love your truck!!! You got an awesome look going there Ronnie!

 

[Flounder]

Ronnie,

The same method used by body shops to paint the lower cladding on non-Premium Sport Tracs can be used on the antenna base. It's basically the same plastic (wouldn't surprise me a bit if it's the exact same plastic) as the cladding. Sand a bit, prime with something with flex in it, and paint with flex in it. It should hold up fine in the end.

 

[etc]

Looks good, except the vertical bars on the grill, bleh.

 

[expo5.0]

i agree on the vertical bars.

i think it looks great though for being an eddie bauer explorer. Your not gonna do much better unless you start really cutting stuff up and truly modifying it.

 

[TAS98xlt]

Looks great, Ronnie! I need to use sunglasses when looking at those pics. Very shiny!


btw, you want my antenna base?

 

[XLT4X491]

i think you need Hartman's wheels! has that been photoshopped by anyone? btw it looks great!

 

[expo5.0]

my opinion- the way it is now the style is completely different than if you got hartman's wheels. to me you can get away with leaving the two tone paint, and the mild drop, and the stock body as long as you keep the conservative but modified theme throughout the truck. However, when you step up to the larger rims your going to be thrusting yourself into another world of customization. Those other things that at this point you think you've modified-- they just aren't gonna be at the level your on the door step of. thats just my opinion, and i'm not trying to say you shouldn't move up to the bigger rims (they'd look as nice as big rims on anything) but you need to be aware of what you may be getting yourself into.

 

[jimbo74]

nice......looks so much better, and you cant even tell it was in an accident

 

[LDCExploder]

A truly beautiful truck! Way to go!

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Looks good, except the vertical bars on the grill, bleh.

You know, I never noticed those until in these pictures. You think someone snuck into there shop during the night and welded those 3 suckers in there? I agree, they talk away from the truck's grill. I guess that was a $150 thrown away cause I will soon be looking a new billet grill that doesn't have those bars. That's why that sucker is so heavy, those 3 steel bars, LOL.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Looks great, Ronnie! I need to use sunglasses when looking at those pics. Very shiny!
btw, you want my antenna base?

LOL, you are the main reason behind all of this you, you, you, sunglass getter LOL. I love your truck and I didn't want to copy you by any means. Yes, I want that antenna base. You need my mailing address? Now I know I gotta make a phone call this morning. The windshield wipers will stay black. I tried that on my last red Ranger truck and it looked, well terrible to me. But you guys definately have some good ideas as usual.

Ted, did you ever consider painting the panels between the 2 doors? The flat black ones that look like crap all the time. I am just wondering what your thought on that is since you have the same color truck as mine.

And Expo5.0 you are right. I think I am about where I want to be right now. Once the stereo get's finished, it will be about complete except for some small stuff. I am not going into major mods on it. I just want it nice and shiney and a little different from anyone else's truck.

 

[jimcom]

Looks great to me!
One tiny thing though, it looks like you still have the stock corner bulbs?, not the 3157 but the little one, what is it 194 or something?, anyway they make a chrome bulb to go there so it doesn't reflect the amber in the day, but it shines amber at night. It looks great though, you should be proud.

 

[TAS98xlt]

Ted, did you ever consider painting the panels between the 2 doors? The flat black ones that look like crap all the time. I am just wondering what your thought on that is since you have the same color truck as mine.

IMO, I think it wouldn't look right. Like someone said, the black blends well with the tinted windows. Sort of like one big window. If they were painted red, then there would be the black rubber strips at the tops and bottoms separating the colors.

 

[Hartman]

I don't know why they would say that the paint wouldn't stick to the antenna base considering it is made out of the same plastic as the wiper cowl.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

I don't know why they would say that the paint wouldn't stick to the antenna base considering it is made out of the same plastic as the wiper cowl.

Just got off the phone ordering the job to be done, yall killing me ya know. But they have to add flex to the paint is all and there is always a chance that in places it won't stick properly is all. It's just a way of covering there butts because they have been doing my business for over 20 years now and they know how I am. But even if it didn't stick, I could still take it back to them and they would repaint it. From my explanation I recieved, they like to sand things down, then primer them and then paint then clear coat. Well on this objects like the mirrors, cowls, and this antenna base, it can't be sanded like normal so they can't follow there normal steps. I looked close at the mirrors and hey, they look good. It wouldn't have bothered me if they would have sanded them down smooth. But oh well.

So bottom line, you guys caught something that I didn;t see, and thanks to all. It will be taken care of and painted like it should be. Now to get some 303 stuff for the tires before the next pictures, LOL.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Looks great to me!
One tiny thing though, it looks like you still have the stock corner bulbs?, not the 3157 but the little one, what is it 194 or something?, anyway they make a chrome bulb to go there so it doesn't reflect the amber in the day, but it shines amber at night. It looks great though, you should be proud.

I have state inspection coming up soon. So I think that most are amber right now. But right after the inspection, then bulbs will be changed like crazy everywhere, LOL. I haven't looked at all the bulbs in the clear corners to see the sizes needed yet, but will read the manual and have the right bulbs to install after the state inspection. Just can't figure out what to do with the tail lights other than leave them alone for awhile. Maybe someone can do a photochop for me on those tail light lenses I Posted askings for opinions not long ago since we got a good rear end shot now. How about it guys, anyone interested in trying?