Hey, those actually look pretty good bud !


*One suggestion: I know all about being a teen with no money but wanting mods ! Heck, I just was one ! But, there are mods you can do to help the look, but also stay on the cheap. I'd take that front bumper off, start sanding it down. Clean it all up, then go over it with some white primer. Would probably cost you all of $20 MAX. No need for clear coat for now, and would help the appearence as a whole. Also, people would stop givin ya flak about it ! Just my 2 cents.

 

also Raptor im gonna throw this out there.

Go to Advance Auto Parts, they sell a good size can of automotive white paint for paint guns. Pick up one of those as well as clearcoat and some primer, since you will be painting plastic then you will need to get a special primer bulldog is a good one (i think thats the name)

then go to walmart or a pawn shop and get a paint gun (cheap one). They have them for like 30 bucks.

Clean the bumper sand it down, clean off the dust, spray the primer. let the primer dry and spray the primer agian 2-5 coats will do it then lightly sand it down make it smooth not alot of pressure.

Then spray the white on top of the primer. Let that dry then wet sand it all down with 1500 or 2000 grit paper, do this after every coat 3 coats will be ideal.

wait about 2-7 days then add the clear coat (make sure the paint cures) you will want to wet sand after each clear also, wet sanding is optional but i have found that it makes the paint much smoother looking.

Im pricing this out to run you 100-150 and you would have the gradifacation that you did it.

Cheap spray guns are nice to learn how to use them.

When you paint the bumper hang it under a tree limb or your car port!

If i still hunted up there id do it for you... i know i give you crap all the time but its just in fun!

 

Wow, I was thinking about doing it myself but decided against it thinking you guys would give me crap for doing it wrong, but then I check out this thread and see all these suggestions....I'll do it!

I get paid monday, I'll make a shopping list, get the assistance of my dad and friend to get the bumper off, and try and get to work. I'll be pretty excited if it comes out decent PLUS like trimble said, I can have the satisfaction of doing it myself.

trimble, I would much appreciate it if you still hunted up here cause I have no idea how to spray paint. My buddy's uncle has painted before, maybe I can have him do it in his shop. I'll go get on the horn right away

 

painting isnt hard the hard part is blending. which for your bumper i wouldnt worry about it. Blending is where they mx the paint with other lght shades to get it to match your "aged paint" its very very hard to do.

the painting will come out as good as you prep. if you prep it like crap then it will turn out like crap... its really not all that hard really i love to paint and i want to make my own booth but thats $$$$

 

Then save your money - nothing, (not even love bug rust), looks worse than someone's first spraypaint job.

If you can find someone who can help you, then all the power to you.

 

m not sayng rattle can paint job BTW.

another thing to think about is that if you do the prep and have someone else paint it you also save yourself money. I went and got a quote for my truck to be sanded primered and painted and they wanted 700 - 900 i asked them what the price would be if i did the prep myself. One place said the price would stay the same, another place said they would drop 300 off the price.

 

Wow, I might shop around then.

I realized- what about the holes? Can I stick some JB weld in there and sand it down?

 

What about a bumper from a salvage yard?

 

look up an autobody paint supply house. Go with PPG paint if you can get it.
The biggest problem with painting yourself- aside from doing the prep work (because any imperfection you dont correct will show more when an even coat of pain is applied) is the bugs sticking to it. If I were you, I would try and do the prep yourself and have a body shop spray it. Or spray it in a clean (dust free garage- you can use a garden hose to wet down the garage prior to help hold down the dust that you dont remove by sweeping)

If you do it yourself, just make sure you dont get over anxious- put on only thin coats of paint- dont put on a heavy coat.

If you do this yourself, post some pics along the way

 

Just checked my local yard. They have two 97-03 F-150's. Both were totalled- front end collisions, engine gone. all thats left is frame and cab. bed is gone as well.

Will do for the pics. I just talked to my dad and he liked the idea. He's no stranger to paint, he's painted our plane before a while back. I'm going into town today with a list, I'm going to price some things.

 

Glad to hear your doing it yourself bud !

Definately post up some pics as you do it ! If ya got any questions feel free.

For the holes: I hate to say it, but its cheap, maybe some Bondo ? Is your bumper metal ? or had they already changed to the platic crap by your truck's year ? Sorry, really don't play with too many F150's from the gen.

 

The actualy bumper is metal, so I was thinking JB weld or something? I just started a new thread about my whole project where I'll be posting pics and all to keep info in one easy spot for me. Check it out, i listed all the stuff I need and the price, I need some reccomendations on whether its all the right stuff. All and any help is appreciated, guys!

 

I have a very important question.
How in the hell did you get your overlays on straight??? I ordered 2, one for the front and one for the rear. I attempted the front today and ended up having to throw one sticker away... I could not get it to fit to save my life!!!
I was so pissed that I had to throw the sticker away

 

Nice. Would be awesome to find a wrecked from the rear or side 99 - 03 and steal its bumper & grill surround.

 

Hehe....just dont look closely

My front one is a tad skewed, but my rear one (came in yesterday after an order screw up) went on right after I took off the back peeling and then trimming the front sticker around the oval and line it up. Be sure to take a deep breath, and have a steady hand!



Right now I'm buying an HID kit