97/98 front end or 99-up?
 

well, i have been looking at my lightning and i really like the front end where i was thinking about trying to find parts at the junkyard to do a conversion. but im still not sure if i want to do it. it may "take away" the character of the older truck. but the newer front end seems to flow together smoothly. so i wanted to get some opinions from you guys. i know there are plenty of guys that have also done the conversion also. regret it? love it? im just on the fence right now. i mean, either way, i dont have the cash to do it now, but i dont know if i should even start saving up for it. im just not sure what direction to go with my truck, and im wondering if you guys could sway me in one direction or the other. :thumbsup:

Personally, I wouldn't do it. They are just so similar. I'd do a 04-08 F-150 conversion instead.

I would go for 99+.

x2

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/DSC05783.jpg

definately change the front end

the 99+'s are cool
but the 04-08 convs look freakin amazing!

is there a lot involved with swapping out to the 04-08?

I've seen about three trucks with the 04-08 conversion. I believe it's basically the front sheetmetal, bumper, grill, lights, etc. I've also seen a couple with an 03-08 Expy conversion.

99+.. its a straight bolt on swap.. the 04 + looks sweet but there is alot more work involved..

Just wondering, how much custom work is needed to fab up the 04+ front ends to our trucks? As much as I love my truck and want to drive it into the ground, seeing the newer style trucks really makes me :drool:

I'd sure like to see a photo of a '97 - 03 with the 04 - 08 front end on it. Never heard of such a swap.

I was trying to find companies / info on the swap when I came across this

and a write-up here

Kinda neat (but spendy)

EDIT:
another place where it's less price but the older style

(still can't find the f150 swap - i know truckin magazine or someone did it)

Here's a link to a thread at FTW on a 08 Expy front end swap with pics and the FTW member with the 03-07 Expy swap. I havn't found any 04-08 F-150 conversion pics yet.

http://fordtruckworld.tenmagazines.c..._swap_complete


http://fordtruckworld.tenmagazines.c...ry.asp?id=5090

That 08+ swap is schweet :drool: Mmmmmm decisions decisions...

I got a sweet deal on a 97 4x4 bumper with the driving lights. I'm going to have it sandblasted and painted body color. I took of the plastic valance and will be reusing mine and painting that body color as well.

Should be a cheaper version of the lightning. I'm still looking for a 99 style but this is all I found so far...

ok. im bringing this back from the dead. wanted to get some more opinions. im definitely not going to do an 04-08 front end swap as the cash is not there for that. but, i got an extra grille for my lightning, so the old one could be used for this swap. there is a complete bumper that i found which would be about $350 shipped. so this is a definite possibility. but i just dont know if i should swap it (im thinking it would be kinda cool to match front ends on the trucks) or leave the 97 the way it is?