This is how I upgraded to a 2009 CD6 stereo in my truck. Your results might differ. See below for fender badges.

STEREO
My Truck: 2000 F250 Lariat SD 4x4 5.4L V-8 Gas
My Stereo: Original CD/Cassete w/4 speakers
Donor Truck: 2009 Ranger XLT
Donor Stereo: Pioneer-built CD6 w/MP3 & aux input jack (lower dash)
What Works: Used my factory harness w/minor mod (see below)
What Doesn't: Because of "CAN" system on newer trucks, the buttons don't light up. They use a different type of signal than that of my original stereo. The dial lights up fine and the stereo sounds great, just no lights on the buttons. The placement of the buttons does make it relatively easy to find stuff in the dark though. Also, if you want to use the Aux input, make sure you get the harness for it with the stereo.

How I did it:
1. Removed my original radio by inserting u-shaped coathanger pieces into the holes in the front of the radio and prying outward to release the clips while pulling out on the radio.
2. Unhooked antenna and wiring harness.
3. Cut the blue/red (illumination) wire 3-4 inches from the connector and taped off both ends (to prevent short to ground).
4. Hooked up antenna and wiring harness to new stereo.
5. Pushed the new stereo in until it snapped into place.
*NOTE* I am not using the aux input harness, remember to route the wire and hook it up if you are going to use it.

I bought this stereo for $75 from a guy who bought the truck new and immediately put in an aftermarket stereo.

The dial lights up and everything (am/fm, cd) works great, just no lights on the buttons. I have a picture of this, but I don't know how to add it to the post and I don't like image hosting websites (unreliable).

FENDER BADGES
This is how I upgraded from original (so 1980's) 2000 fender badges to the newer '05-'07 style. *NOTE* I ordered my new badges from www.lmctruck.com and they were ford parts with adhesive already on them.

How I did it:
1. For the first part of this adventure, I did not have a heat gun, so I left the truck out in the sun (did this last summer) until the paint was nice and warm.
2. Then I gently pried off the old emblems, leaving behind a nasty mess of adhesive. However you decide to do this, be very careful not to scratch the paint.
3. Lo and behold, the wife bought me a heat gun for Valentine's day, so I used it to heat up and remove the leftover adhesive.
4. I also washed and dried the fenders before applying the new badges.
5. Since the new badges already had adhesive and the alignment tabs matched perfectly, all I had to do was remove the plastic covering the adhesive and gently push them onto the fenders.
6. For good measure, I put on a glove and ran my hand back and forth on the badges while applying pressure to help seat the adhesive (don't want them falling off anytime soon).

Combined with some other mods (headlights, etc) they make the truck look just like the '05's and are a huge improvement over the originals. Note that they are a different size (longer, more slender) than the originals, but the tabs fit the holes in the fenders, so as long as you get all of the old adhesive off, they should look great.

For my F250 LARIAT SD, I used LMC Truck Part #42-3156 (2 each) and the price for 2 was $59.90 ($29.95 each).

I hope someone finds this useful, if anyone can help me post the pictures, let me know.
-*o*- REWASDRTY

 

LMC is rather high priced. I recently bought the 05-07 badges also and they were $14 each plus $10 shipping so $38 delivered from an online ford dealer.

 

Not gonna lie, that website has me seriously excited about life.

 

I went ahead and shelled out 20 bucks for the premium membership, so now I can add pictures:

 

Here is what 05 Fender Badges look like on a 2000 F250 (also has custom headlights, etc.). I will also try to do the tailgate badge soon, I'll post back later with results. Here's the pic:

 

That radio looks great, actually so does the whole truck. Nice.

 

Actually looking at the front end pic, your front bumper does not have the lower plastic valance Im used to seeing. Is that a bumper from a platinum edition I believe ?

 

Get some '08 mirrors, everything else is really great.

 

Welcome to FTE and good info on your mods!

Curious about the emblem upgrade though, what's the difference in the newer ones? Looks like they're a little thinner and don't have the black background? So, pretty much the same, just curious what was "so 1980's" about the originals.

Great looking truck though! Thanks for posting up the info, reps sent

 

Thanks!

I think it's original Lariat model, but I bought the truck used so you never know.

Thanks, I've read some of your tech articles, they're pretty good! As far as the emblems go, everything about the old ones reminds me of my '86 F150 and all the Broncos and F-Series I grew up around. I gotta ask though, on your website there's a picture of your truck with a huge dish in the background, is that Green Bank, WV?

 

Yep, that's the place. Good call!

 

I did a little research on the net , and the front bumper is a 1 year only offering from ford. Its for a 2001 ford f250 or f350 platinum edition only.

 

I was thinking of fender badging like this.

 

Hope they hold up better than the factory ones. Every '05 and up I've seen, the black has worn off of the badge.

 

I acetoned my badges (2000). Took off all the black, look much better.