OK, the bad news is over a Thanksgiving road trip, some 19 year old kid in a Bonneville turned in front of me under my green light. ALMOST got stopped, but ended up bumping pretty good on my front pax side corner, just the bumper, sheet metals OK.

Good news is I had 5 others in the car with me and noone was hurt, plus I've been thinking about changing the grill and bumper from the black/tan Eddie Bauer trim I have to either all black or chrome/black. Was supposed to be a Spring project, but since his insurance company is paying for new bumper anyway...I'm looking at my options. I like the black/tan EB trim from the side/profile, but never really liked the front with black outline and tan honeycomb grill with different shade of tan bumper, a little busy looking.

So here's my question, since many of you have customized or seen it done: (1) Go with the chrome (XLT style bumper) and aluminum or stailess billet style grill to look "different" from other EB or Limiteds on the road, (2) Go all black, Limited style black bumper and grill by painting or replacing the tan honeycomb parts on mine black, or (3) Black Limted style bumper with the alum/stainless grill. I really like the all black when it's clean, but scratches show so easily, and there's something to be said for the chrome bumpers when you can actually "bump" things in the garage, etc and not have to use touch up paint... Thanks for the ideas, opinions and pics if you have some.

 

First, glad no one was hurt. last year after I first got my truck a lady in a kia minivan ran a stop sign and I hit her in the drivers door. barely hurt the truck and totaled her kia. I hit her at about 25mph and pushed her sidways about 20-30 feet. these truck are one of the best vehicles to be in an acident in.

anyway
back to topic, when I have the money I'm getting the Road Armor bumber check out their website there are several options. you can alos get it without the winch mount. and with or without brushgaurds etc. it is my favorite the I've seen. My brother got one for his 04 Ex psd 4x4 and it looks real sweet.

 

I need to replace my stock grill too. On the top, right smack dab in the middle there is a fin broken off from a road rock or something.

 

Sorta off topic, but I bet that was a terrifying experience for the other driver.....
.....having something as big as an Excursion barreling down on them!

 

Yeah, I think it had him more shook up than me, maybe because he knew he's at fault. After we hit, he actually completed his turn, think he was not planning on stopping untill I turned after him and turned on my brights. I'm sure it was his first accident, and still on parents insurance!

As for the bumper, I'm leaning toward black, and will ask the body shop next week at time of estimate, but black or brown covering/paint should be the same price, right? If anyone knows, let me know. Top part is a plastic cover and bottom part is painted metal feels like.

 

if anyone is interested, i have my grill from my X, its a black paintedwith a chrome mesh center. i replaced my front end with the 06 sd front..pm me if interested.

 

Racer,
Looked at the pics of your conversion, nice work! The black painted grill you have was original? I know they changed grills/headlights in 2005 - so I didn't think that's swappable, but could be wrong. Do you know?

I do like your front bumper though, chrom on bottom portion where things are more likely to get 'bumped' and black on the top, plastic covering. That's what I'd want if went chrome/black theme, but it may be easier and better match the rest of the EB to stay all black.

 

2005x, yeah, by your screen name, you have an 05 X. the one that i have for sale is an 01 grill. it wont fit your truck. and the bumper that is on mine now, its and 06 super duty. all the front end parts are 06 super duty parts. the grill is an 06 sd chrome package grill. sorry for the confusion..

 

i don't know if you want a stock bumper or not, but the ranch hand bumpers look pretty sweet and are pretty cheap when you compare them to road armor ones, which do by the way Xhunter, really do look pretty sweet!

isaac

 

When I was re-thinking the color scheme, I just had in mind a black or chrome (rather than tan) bumper, but now that you have brought this up, it would be nice to have something a little more "rugged" looking and be able to step up on it when changing fuel/oil filters, etc without having to worry about scratching up the shiny paint.

If I decide to stay "stock" and just change the color, I'd assume the body shop/insurance company will not care if I have the new parts black or tan. I'm guessing if have them do it as same year (2005) but limited rather than EB, it would just be all black, right?

 

I agree. I say go with an aftermarket 'rugged' bumper. They are going to be a lot tougher and make your X stand out too, especially if insurance is gonna cover part of it! If i had the money/parental permission, i would totally do it too!

look around, because it seems that everyone makes a bumper now.
warn, road armor, ranch hand.... just to name a few.

But if you park your X in a garage, check the extra size of the bumper before you buy... I don't think my X would fit in the garage if I got a bigger bumper.... I have to take off the trailer hitch as it is...

isaac

 

yeah, but if your bumper now is chrome and ..., and the new bumper comes chrome with the top part having to be painted, the body shop will not be able to easily paint the chrome bumper without some stripping. if you want an all painted bumper, they need to order a primer finished bumper.

 

Racer, when you did your '06 conversion, did you change your bumper, or is that the stock. Yours looks like chrome with black on top, so I'm wondering if the body shop could order one similar (chrome bottome with that top "cover" in primer, to be painted). Just wondering if yours was stock Ford or updated?

 

2005X, yes i changed the bumper. its a must when you do the conversion. its a bumper from a 06 super duty. its a chrome bumper and then you have to buy the top piece that clips on the top of the bumper. thats the piece that needs to be painted. no other paint work. i am not sure if the new bumper comes with theblack air dam at the bottom of the bumper. since yours is an 05, it might be there already. if not you will have to buy that also. hope this helps. if you have any other questions, just ask..

 

OK, talked to the body shop today that will be working with the insurance co. They will be replacing the lower part of bumper (I was sure from the pierced metal) but will reuse the top, plastic portion, it is only scuffed. This is OK as it will need to be repainted anyway, so they can paint it black for me rather than going back with the EB tan, up to me so they are easy to work with.

I'll either get the chrome bumper for bottom so it's chrome/black from the front or go all black, which I like because the tow hooks and other "stuff" that are there blend in more. Racer, mind if I ask where you sourced yours from? Dealer of aftermarket? Would it bolt up to my 2005? I may come out cheaper w/ the chrome since it will not have paint time at the shop which will give me a refund or pay for them to do the grill... I have looked at some of the above mentioned off-road types, but it's too different looking from the rest of the vehicle for me.