Has anybody out there ever replaced a King Ranch or FX4 grille? I've spoken to several dealerships and they don't seem to know up from down. They tell me that all of the replacement bar-style grilles are paint-to-match including both the surround and the grille itself. That includes STX, FX4, and KR(except KR has a chrome surround). So based on several semi-lengthy conversations with the dealer parts guys, I purchased a black FX4 take-off at a great price with the understanding that I could paint it Arizona Beige like a KR. I just got back from the dealership body shop and they told me that they can't paint the bars or the waffle because they are textured. They can paint the surround (it's smooth) but not the bars. I had them call their parts counter and sure enough they told them that to replace a KR grille, it's paint to match. WTF?!? Are you telling me that Ford sends OEM parts to their OWN body shops that they can't paint? So, I'm really hoping that one of you has been through this personally and can show me the light. I really want the KR look on my Lariat but need to figure out what the F is going on here.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

does sound like some BS going on there.

as far as painting the textured areas go, there have been a few members that have painted their door handles and/or mirrors. you can shoot them without prepping them, which will let the texture show through, or you can sand the texure out so that it's smooth and have it painted then.

since you're getting the run around at the stealership, why not take it to a reputable body shop. it may be cheaper than the dealer as well.

 

I'v seen lots of threads like you mentioned where guys are painting their handles, mirrors, cowl, etc...So I guess I should know it can be done. I just started at the stealership to get an idea of what it might cost. Plus, I thought they might give me a better price since they would have all the original paint colors and whatnot. I'll ask around to see if anybody I know can point me to a good body shop and see if I get a different opinion. I would like to get a "professional" paint job on it rather than rattle-can it myself. We'll see. Thanks for the response.

 

i've never used them, but a few guys used duplicolor rattle cans with the factory paint code and what they did turned out pretty good.

as long as the body shop you use matches the paint code, it shouldn't matter. additionally, i've heard of more than one horror story about shoddy paint work at dealerships concerning adjacent vehicles and overspray.

 

If you didn't want to go PTM, you could always go chrome...check sig pic.

edit: sig not showing up, here it is:

 

Ford makes a smooth PTM h-bar grill, it's used on the FX4's with the luxury package. They come painted body color on the lux pack. Call Tasca ford parts at 800-915-3141 if any one can get that part for you they can.

 

There is a H-Bar grille for the 07 FX4 Plus package that has a paint to match surround and a paint to match insert (the H-Bar secion) it is part number 7L3Z8200EPTM and is available from Tasca at $208.04

 

Thanks guys. I might look into the smooth PTM FX4 from 2007. I've only been looking at 05-06 stuff and it seems they are all textured. Still, the more I ask around the more I'm told that it is BS that you can't paint textured plastic. I picked up the one I have for a song so if there is any way I can get a good paint job on it, I'm just going to stick with that. If not, it sounds like there is an option out there for what I want to do. That's why this forum rocks! Tons of good info. Thanks again!