Newbie Question
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New User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Bel Air, MD
Newbie Question
Hey I'm a newbie to this forum but everything on it looks great. I am just now getting my permit and my mom is giving me her V10 7.3L 2001 Excursion and I'm looking to get it loud and black it out. My first question is how can I go about painting the grill and rims black? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 30,595
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From: N. IL
Send mom out shopping for the day. Get a rattle can, masking tape and get busy. Use water color 'cause you're 16 and next month you'll think flourescent orange is the next loud color. We can all relate 'cause 16 seems like yesterday...
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,420
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From: Ouray, CO
Wow, I can't imagine learning to drive using an Ex.
(You don't happen to live in Alaska do you?)
Good luck and don't use your Cell phone while in that thing!
It requires a lot more concentration to drive an Ex vs. a "regular car".
It has much bigger blind spots where cars and motorcycles disappear.
I hope you practice parking and backing up a LOT too.
I learned to do minor dent and scratch repairs to my first 2 vehicles
as a teenager
(You don't happen to live in Alaska do you?)
Good luck and don't use your Cell phone while in that thing!
It requires a lot more concentration to drive an Ex vs. a "regular car".
It has much bigger blind spots where cars and motorcycles disappear.
I hope you practice parking and backing up a LOT too.
I learned to do minor dent and scratch repairs to my first 2 vehicles
as a teenager
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New User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Bel Air, MD
Oh I will have plenty of practice trust me. I live in Maryland and they just changed the law for permits where you have to have 60 hours of driving and hold your permit for 9 months and 10 of the hours have to be in the dark. So I have plenty of time to get used to the truck haha
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: N. IL
Here's what you do. Grab that steel wheel / spare tire from the backend of your Ex and rough up that ugly grey paint with some scuff pad (3M makes it at your local auto store). Do a good job, should take an hour - both sides. Pick a quality spray paint (use a disposable paint mask for your lungs - else you'll be coughing up lung pieces in 40 yrs (sooner if you drink whiskey)), tape off / newspaper around the tires so you don't turn them some wild color. After drying, (don't rush the drying process) mount. If you like the look, get 3 more used steel rims and do the same. If you paint Mom's aluminum rims, they'll look like crap in 6 months and she won't be happy. Take home lesson here: happy Mom = happy teen.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Southwest VA
Here's what you do. Grab that steel wheel / spare tire from the backend of your Ex and rough up that ugly grey paint with some scuff pad (3M makes it at your local auto store). Do a good job, should take an hour - both sides. Pick a quality spray paint (use a disposable paint mask for your lungs - else you'll be coughing up lung pieces in 40 yrs (sooner if you drink whiskey)), tape off / newspaper around the tires so you don't turn them some wild color. After drying, (don't rush the drying process) mount. If you like the look, get 3 more used steel rims and do the same. If you paint Mom's aluminum rims, they'll look like crap in 6 months and she won't be happy. Take home lesson here: happy Mom = happy teen.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 229
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Another option is to buy some black steel wheels. I bought 16X8 black steel wheels (I believe from Cragar, not sure). I bought 16X8 because I knew I was going to put on a 4" lift and upgrade to 35" tires (which I've now done).
I've put on black wheels, the basic black grille from the '05 with some minor cutting, a black rear bumper from an '08 Super Duty and I painted my front chrome bumper black. I used a grinder on the front bumper to get the mirror finish off, then used 1 can of etching primer, 2 cans of regular primer, 2 cans of flat black, and 2 cans of satin clear coat.
I like the blacked out look, just wish I had a black Ex instead of brown/tan. Still like it though. It's definitely different than anyone elses around town.
Good luck getting your new ride looking like you want.
I've put on black wheels, the basic black grille from the '05 with some minor cutting, a black rear bumper from an '08 Super Duty and I painted my front chrome bumper black. I used a grinder on the front bumper to get the mirror finish off, then used 1 can of etching primer, 2 cans of regular primer, 2 cans of flat black, and 2 cans of satin clear coat.
I like the blacked out look, just wish I had a black Ex instead of brown/tan. Still like it though. It's definitely different than anyone elses around town.
Good luck getting your new ride looking like you want.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 306
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From: Canada
Krylon Fusion will stick to anything, 50% glue 50% paint. If you must do the chrome ruff it up real good first then use a degreaser before paint. They a make a arylic gloss that will make them shiny black and help with chipping
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12,237
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From: Florida
Good luck and a bit of advice to echo the advice above...the Ex has LOTS of blind spots so when you are changing lanes...check multiple times before moving over...those little ferrin' cars like to hide where you can't see them!
Joe.