Since the PTMed surround on my 6 bar was starting to look bad due to chipping, plus painting over the chrome, I said screw it, and did what I should have done a couple years ago. Bought a FX PTM grille, and a chrome "C" clamp. Combined the two after having the surround PTMed, and blacking out the silver mesh on the "C"clamp. And then sold the FX black "C" clamp, and the chrome surround to another member. Recouped some of the money.
Anyway, here's photos, I like it much better than the old 6 bar.

 

Nice looking and very clean....great job.

 

Thank you! Wondering what to do with that "boost bar" now.

 

good job, while not a fan of the all chrome C-clamp, yours looks great.

 

Thank you! Ya, Ford could have done much better if they didn't insist on that chrome grille surround.

 

I kind of want a black C-clamp. I've already got a PTM surround, so I'm assuming I can just replace the center section?

 

Wondering if maybe I can just remove my grille and paint it gloss black too.

 

Yep, if you want a black "C" clamp, you'll need a grille for an FX. '09-12, and '13-'14 surrounds are slightly different, so ya gotta be a little careful. But the complete grille for any 12th gen is interchangeable.
Don't buy a grille for an XL though, the grille and surround are all one piece.

 

Yep, you could do that if it's not a one piece, I don't know what the Platinum grille looks like on the back side.
Wait, isn't your grille chrome or polished or something? Photo?

 

Mine is this one, specific to the 13-14 Limited:

https://www.f150forum.com/attachment...oadtest_1e.jpg

I actually just took it off and looked it and it's multiple pieces. The outer bars actually come off and have a black textured frame underneath that hold them. I'm thinking of just painting the chrome bars and putting it back together. I like the idea of keeping the truck a "Limited" instead of changing the grille to something else. I just want to get rid of all the chrome on the outside and make it more of a "sport truck." With the truck being white the chrome really clashes.

I was going to use the FX Appearance badges but would have had to cut the bars off them, so I just painted mine gloss black outside and bright red insides. Also, the tow hooks were painted the same red as the badges to add some accent to the front. Originally I had them black but decided it was too much black with the bumper valances. I also painted the Ford oval completely gloss black, but will eventually go back over the raised letting with red. I can't find an aftermarket emblem for the tailgate camera with the red and black theme. The Limited lettering on the bed was also changed to gloss black. The last pieces were the grille and handles. The handles will get PTM'd eventually.

So at this point I'm thinking I'll just do the grille bars and emblem in gloss black to match the rest. White was also a thought, but the truck already is mostly white, and I think it needs some black to tone it down a bit. Basically I'm taking a Limited and making it like an FX4 Appearance (but better). I love the FX4 Appearance exterior (besides the decals) but the interior isn't my bag of beans. I also wanted the power boards, heated rear seats, 4AWD transfer case, and a few other things the FX4 didn't offer. Plus, I'm not a huge fan of the FX4 wheels. I knew the 22" Limited wheels would easily sell, and they did with no tires for 800 bucks. Paid for my aftermarket wheels.

 

OK, that chrome can be painted, but it's not something that's going to last. My old grille surround was chrome, and I had it painted. Lasted 3 years. May be a little hard to find someone to do it.
On that badge, emblem, thing. Look up DeVries Signs, they made my custom Coyote badge overlay, and could make you whatever you'd like.

 

Yea, I'd have to get an overlay for it. It doesn't seem that anyone makes the full badges for the newer trucks because of the pegs, clips, and mounting holes. I plan on scuffing the **** out of the grille, using adhesion promoter, and painting them there. I thought about a primer coat but I feel with adhesion promoter it's not necessary. The first time I painted my tow hooks with bed liner I was able to easily strip them with paint stripper. The second time I painted them red with adhesion promoter they were WAY harder to strip. My grille doesn't have any chips in it, mostly just the bumper cover.

 

My body guy and I were talking yesterday about painting over chrome, he won't do it, but he said if he was, he'd scuff, adhesion promoter, primer, then paint. It looks like that was done on my old surround, you peel a paint chip up,and there's definitely primer there.

 

We shall see how it holds up!

 

Oh yeah, good luck with it.