I need to buy some trim pieces for my 96. My wheel arch trim needs replacing. I just bought the headlight trim from LMC and not real impressed with the quality. Is there a difference from other vendors? I would like the wheel trim with the black plastic liner but Dennis Carpenter only carries the non liner trim. I'm looking for better options than LMC. I also need a grill and wonder if there is a preferred Mfg.

 

LMC is a good location to get parts for these trucks. Also Rockauto.com, ebay motors and others. You just have to shop around.

 

From what I understand the aftermarket chrome wheel arch molding is not made the same as OEM. I think it does not have the black rubber piece along the top but I’m not sure since I have picked up used OEM trim from the junkyard.

I have no idea what “headlight trim” you bought since the chrome around the headlight is part of the headlight assembly and not available for purchase separately.

 

Sure they are.

I have a feeling a lot of stuff branded differently is all made in one place in China. I got about a decade from the Evan-Fischer branded headlight bezels. After that, they didn't look horrible, but it was clearly time. I recently freshened up both trucks with new headlights and bezels after their paint jobs. If not for fresh paint, they wouldn't have stood out really. Just kinda fading more than peeling if you will.

 

The wheel arches from LMC are aluminum, with no rubber trim. I’ve used them a couple of times, Chevy and ford. From a distance it’s ok. They don’t stand up to salt and sand, they corroded quickly. As mentioned, junkyard is best for those trims if you can find them.

I used headlight bezels and grille off eBay, Amazon, LMC, maybe RA. I’ve used tyc light assemblies a few times, no issues, my oldest set is approaching 8-10 yrs, still working fine and not faded yellow. Ime, aftermarket trims are not perfect as oem, but they all worked and look fine for a daily driving / working trucks.

I think I bought my ‘96 light bezels and grille off Amazon or eBay. I’m not a huge fan of LMC, great back in the day when they were the only place, but not so sure now.

 

Years ago (March 2013 according to my records) I got Putco Stainless Steel Fender Trim #97211 for the F250.

For those interested, it's stainless trim and much wider than oem, so you are either into it or not. If you are, you've got it made because this stuff being stainless lasts and lasts. Mine still look like new. They come in a kit front and year. Years latter, after painting the F450, I was going to order another set, but I looked up overhead in the garage, and see I kept the rears (My trucks have stake body beds). So I said, what the heck, let me try the rears on the front of the F450. Though, they crinkled just a bit, the rears fit the front too, so I didn't have to buy another set and got to make use of the whole set. Anyway, for those interested you can google that and if you look, you'll see other co's probably making them (again, probably made in the same place, who knows.) on any and other places.





That side molding that you can get about anywhere like amazon, that comes in a roll, holds up very well also. About a good decade from that before the fake chrome center starts to looks nasty. Not bad for the price!


The grille you see there on the F250:

Though I like those ok and it's been awhile, so I wanted to go with something fresh, I didn't think it fit the truck, so I put one made by PITT66 traditional chrome style, but black center rather than the oem dark gray (I always thought they should be black instead). Looks sharp. I don't see it on amazon anymore. That brand might have already stopped making them, cus all I see now are whole chrome, or whole black options. That's a bugger cus log trucks has the oem faded one still and I was going to grab another one. I guess I shouldn't have hesitated. The billet grille might look good on that truck anyway actually.

Evan Fischer front bumpers on both trucks (I'm pretty sure that's what I put on the F250 years ago. I forgot to put brand part # in my records, just shows new bumper 2012 - For sure on log truck, just got it). They seem to hold up well over the years also.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/232572133412
You can get the black plastic trim for it all over amazon/ebay.

 

LMC is very costly in my experience for the same bits others sell and their freight was very high for me. Used them once and only once.

 

My bad. It was thinking about the ‘87-91 headlights.

Maybe the quality of the ‘92-96/7 headlights is better. I have a set of headlights for the ‘89 in the shed. The vertical adjusters didn’t do anything.

Their quality has definitely gone downhill. Now I only buy oddball items from them like fasteners and retaining clips that I haven’t found anywhere else.

 

Nope same problem. The aftermarket, at least the clears that is, (9th gens) come with very, very low quality adjusters too. It was the same years ago with the "depot" brand I think it was called, now most of them are "pitt66". looks just the same place from China. You're best served to remove them and use your oem adjusters. They look good, but after about 5-7 years you'll need to sand and clear them to get the yellow out of them and after about a decade, they're spent and need replacement too. That's my experience with those. Again, for the $ it's not too bad. For being low quality China stuff, they could be far, far worse haha. I mean if you compare this stuff to oem which lasted a "good" solid 20 and another "decent" 10 years, it's not all that good, but when you compare it to no other option, for all we can get; low quality China crap, for the $ and a decade or so, it's not horrible hahaha, hey, gotta be positive, at least it keeps the trucks on the road.... and it's not so bad that you have buy it every other year either....at least not so far.


Good thing too, cus changing those headlights on the 9th gens is a PITA! Once a decade is often enough. Hence the sanding and clearing them to milk them haha