I have an XLT with the chrome front and rear bumpers. I hate chrome and like the look of the painted bumpers. I'm assuming you can paint the chrome bumpers without any issues? Has anyone done, this or know if it's a bad idea?

I also have some extra herculiner and thought about applying it to the underside of each of my bumpers to help keep them from rusting on the underside. Any thoughts?

 

A friend of mine had his F150 chrome bumpers stripped (acid bath) then painted with no issues at all. I had my F150 undercoated which incuded the inner portion of the bumper approx 6 months ago and it looks like the day I bought it. Go for it, it definitely prevents it from rusting if that's what you're worried about.

 

I'm not sure how well just using etching primer on chrome would work. You would probably have to get it stripped down to a raw steel finish first, like the monster said. If it were me, I'd just buy a raw, PTM bumper and have it painted, sell the chrome ones and you'd probably be at the same round-about end $$$ figure.

 

tdel10. I keep seeing PTM bumper. What does that stand for? I have someone that owns a body shop and can do it at a good price if I choose to.

Monsta - I just want to help prevent rust. And I bet the herculiner is pretty much the same as undercoating

 

Paint To Match. It's a term, well abbreviation that Ford uses in their parts dept./catalogs. Sorry, i should have just typed it out. I forget that not everybody knows things like that.

 

Lol, Yeah, I just joined and noticed that in some other posts, and was thinking to myself, What the heck is PTM. Thanks.

 

What about Powder Coated?

 

Outside ?

 

I don't understand..what?

 

no matter what, get those things sandblasted down to the nickel underneath the chrome and then paint them. i've done it (painted my chrome xlt bumpers) and they held up quite nice except for the nasty bugs and such that tend to take the paint with them when they end up head first on my nice black painted bumper...:S

 

i got an idea. when i had my stx, they had ptm bumpers and i wished i had chrome. find someone who has your color and trade. you can post on one of the sub forums and prolly get it done. no $$$ spent.

 

You mentioned Powder Coat. I was asking, To do that for the underneath or the outside of the bumper.

 

I was thinking that also. Too bad you have a Blue with chrome. How hard is it taking them off. I think the front can be a pain.

 

another common topic. Chrome bumpers need sand blasted to bare steel, etch primed and a follow up paint process. If you can wait a week sometimes having it 3m coated helps even more for durability.

 

man I'd loveto trade.altho my truck is tuxedo black and I live in kc mo area...