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What can i do to make the outside appear       #: 132
 Moderated by: NoPower, Mike69, MaDMaXX, Page:  First Page Previous Page  1  2   
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 Posted: Fri Dec 8th, 2017 01:43 pm
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TheArcticWolf1911
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Here's some suggestions, a couple of 'em may be a repeat of what others have said, but it's what I would do if I had your truck.

1. Ditch the wheels and go for perhaps a set of nice looking teardrops, tenslots, or the 'd cut' looking wheels, if you want to stay OEM. Clean and polish them, and if you chose either the tenslot wheels or teardrop wheels, paint the inset portion black for some extra flair.

Stamped wheels, imo, really detract from the look of any car/truck/suv.

2. Swap the front and rear bumpers from the painted metal to chrome. Either retain the body-matched plastic or paint it black.

Having almost every component the same color really 'washes out' the look of a vehicle. Breaking up the color by adding either an accent or chrome helps.

3. Purchase a set of blacked out headlights and corner markers, stuffing some LEDs inside them. White LEDs would look smashing against a white truck.

4. Do the 2 to 3 bulb conversion that I detailed (shameless self-advertisement) and slap in a set of either 98-99 tail lights, or use the 93-97 tail lights. All are a bolt on fit, again adding some LEDs for extra street cred (is that still a thing?)

A splash of amber on the rear really makes a big difference.

5. Add some aux reverse lights. Not only do these allow you to see better, be seen better, but also add an extra touch in the looks department.

6. Wash with a fairly heavy mix of dawn and water to strip off any old wax and gunk, clay bar and wax it! The gloss that comes out when you're done is just stunning.



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 Posted: Fri Dec 8th, 2017 03:34 pm
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MaDMaXX

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I typed out a whole reply in the QR box, on my phone, couldn't see reply button and because my reply was larger than the box, i couldn't copy or reply with the invisible button, lost the lot :(

Anyway....

1) I have looked at wheels a lot, i would like some alloys for sure, and i do like the stock ones, i gotta stay 15" as i have new tyres, but i can't see any round here, even if i do find some suitable ones, they're stupid prices :(

2) I do like the look of yours with the chrome, but i'm not sure it would work for mine, i like the body colour stuff at least for now, it makes it stand out locally. I might go with black fender flares if the paint gets bad.

3) I can't justify a new set of housings just for the black look, but i do want, and have started to go LED - i've replaced the corner lights with them and it's a nice look, but i'm still struggling to find a good (perf/price) replacement for the 3157's (indicators&running lights) i'll also be linking the corner lights to the indicators when i get around to it.

4) Not sure about the retro look on the tails, i'm actually more inclined to do the 06+ tail update, there is certainly something a little weird looking with the current tail lights, so that should help.
Again with the LED's on the rear, need to find suitable 3157's.

5) I briefly considered the additional reverse lights, but figured for my use and areas where i use it, a decent set of LED's to replace the stock reverse bulbs would be better, esp if i upgrade to 06 tails.

6) This is certainly on the cards, the paint condition is clean, but full of dints and scratches, so it's not going to get any better, but will need a decent bath when i've got the other more practical upgrades completed for this winter.



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 Posted: Fri Dec 8th, 2017 03:52 pm
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TheArcticWolf1911
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If you want to stick with your current housings, inspect them thoroughly for crazing. If they are starting to craze, and you want to continue on with the mod, you can easily restore and polish them for cheap.


Have you looked at rockauto for wheels? Rockauto has some good prices, but I don't know how they compare to your local prices.

If you wanted to, you could go a step further and swap out the header panel on yours for a 98-00 panel. The 98-00 has several aftermarket options up front, giving you a broader range to work with.

In both cases though, when you have your lenses apart, you could consider retrofitting projectors in and stuffing in a pair of HIDs. I think your truck could totally rock a set of projectors. Mine on the other hand: ....eh.



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 Posted: Fri Dec 8th, 2017 04:49 pm
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RiggerWings
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I think some clear corners up front would make it look better too. 

I may do that to mine, not too expensive either. 

Last edited on Fri Dec 8th, 2017 04:53 pm by RiggerWings



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 Posted: Fri Dec 8th, 2017 05:01 pm
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MaDMaXX

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They have some minor crazing on them, but nothing crazy.... ;) They're good for now.


I have checked RA, but i don't call $100 a wheel cheap for steelies and more for alloys, i think i ended up putting wheels way down the list, i know what i have aren't great, but honestly there some of the best looking wheels for just steelies.

Trying to decide on spacers, whether i should run different amounts front and rear....



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 Posted: Fri Dec 8th, 2017 05:41 pm
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MaDMaXX

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What's the upgrade or change for clear corners on the front?



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 Posted: Fri Dec 8th, 2017 05:48 pm
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RiggerWings
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The clear corners just makes the orange turn signal portion of your front lights clear to match the headlight more. Not sure how it would look on a white truck, but they look good on silver Rangers as well as the dark ones.

It does nothing but change the looks, functionality is the same and you will still have Amber turn signals if you install amber bulbs.



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 Posted: Fri Dec 8th, 2017 05:53 pm
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MaDMaXX

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No no, I meant how is it done?



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 Posted: Fri Dec 8th, 2017 05:56 pm
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RiggerWings
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Oh sorry, it's been so long since I've done it on my old Ranger. I'm pretty sure there's only 2 screws that hold the turn signal assembly on. Remove those and twist out the bulb. Then install the new ones.

You may have to remove the entire headlight though, I cant remember. Again, only a few screws though. Maybe someone on here can chime in and confirm.



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 Posted: Fri Dec 8th, 2017 10:43 pm
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MaDMaXX

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Hmm, maybe i'm misunderstanding, on mine at least, the orange in the corner markers is the lens, not the bulb.



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 Posted: Sat Dec 9th, 2017 12:01 am
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RiggerWings
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You are correct. You see even in your avatar how you see the big orange lens...you can change that out to be clear. Then you need an amber bulb to make it flash orange.

It just makes the front end cleaner looking without the random orange bits sticking out.



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 Posted: Sat Dec 9th, 2017 12:35 am
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MaDMaXX

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Ahh ok - it's funny, some people like the orange more, some like the clear look :)

I actually don't mind the orange look on the front at least, it looks fine with the LED in there - i don't like the running light/indicator near the grille though, they are orange bulbs, and most of the orange has flaked off :(



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 Posted: Sat Dec 9th, 2017 12:58 am
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RiggerWings
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That's an easy fix though. Just reach behind the grille area and swap out the bulb. Either for clear or a fresh orange bulb.



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 Posted: Sat Dec 9th, 2017 01:07 am
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MaDMaXX

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Yeah, I wanted to go LED, I'm just uncertain on a good match for it, I can have white on the front here for indicators, but not sure I should god really bright and white ;)
Might have to splash on an amber LED.



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 Posted: Sat Dec 9th, 2017 03:45 am
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TheArcticWolf1911
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You don't want to wait until the headlight becomes noticeably bad before you repair it.

The protective coating is failing, and the UV rays are degrading the plastic. The longer you wait to restore them and remove the crazing, the less of a chance you have to bring them back.

Granted, this is not an overnight process for them to craze over, but it's worth doing sooner rather than later.



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 Posted: Sat Dec 9th, 2017 08:24 am
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black06xlt
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amazon has a ton of head light and marker light options to choose from. imo i think the clear lenses with black housings would look great on your truck





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 Posted: Sat Dec 9th, 2017 09:40 am
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RiggerWings
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^ That does look great with the white. Especially with his freshly painted grille, it'll go together nicely just as in that pic.



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 Posted: Sat Dec 9th, 2017 12:45 pm
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MaDMaXX

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Hmm, that doesn't look bad actually.



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 Posted: Sat Dec 9th, 2017 03:34 pm
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the best part is the price $79 for both head lights and both marker lights on amazon



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 Posted: Sat Dec 9th, 2017 03:54 pm
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MaDMaXX

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That's not bad at all, did i miss the link?

I wonder what their fit/quality is like.



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