2005 FX2 lower grille, Stealth style...(BIG PICS)
 

I decided to fool with my grille today. I bought a lower piece of an FX2 grille from fomoco446 with the intention of making my own FX2 grille for my 05 F150 supercrew.

I already had the Roush bumper grille piece in there but was never happy with it. I liked the idea of having the FX2 grille piece closer to the face of the bumper, not behind it like most grilles are.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...th/photo-2.jpg

I removed all support material and the Roush piece. Did it without removing the bumper, with a little persuasion, and I held my tongue just right.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...h/DSC00221.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...h/DSC00210.jpg

I took the FX2 grille piece and started cutting it around the edge with a hacksaw blade, since I could control it better that way. After that I touched it up with a rotary file and a flat file.

Then I held the grille up to the bumper opening and made my marks, then cut the ends off with the hacksaw, touching up again with the rotary file and flat file.

I filed and sanded the edges flush to make a good fit.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...DSC00214-1.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...DSC00215-1.jpg

It had a series of tabs to trim so I touched up with the rotary file and flat file. I then cleaned and taped off the area, and hit the top with Krylon Fusion black.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...h/DSC00217.jpg

Then I tinkered with the license plate bracket and the grille piece with intentions of seeing how I'd have to make some mounting brackets.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...h/DSC00213.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...h/DSC00212.jpg

I did a bit of trimming to the back of the license plate bracket with angle cutters to accommodate the FX2 grille piece a little better.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...h/DSC00211.jpg

I wiggled the assembly around and snapped the license plate bracket into the bumper. To my surprise the license plate bracket held the FX2 grille in there snugly, since I had cut it to fit into the bumper opening.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...h/DSC00219.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...h/DSC00220.jpg

It's in there, and needs a bit of fine tuning to make it just right, but I'll live with it how it is for now. I may mess around with it again tomorrow morning or Labor day morning, when it's cooler out.

My upper bumper cover looks deformed, the result of an accident (I have a new one to put on soon), which makes the FX2 lower look like it's going uphill in the middle as well. I may make some brackets for the ends eventually, and I'll edit the thread if and when I make them.

All in all, I'm happy. This took about an hour or so to do, but I think it's worth it. :)

*****See post #31 for my bracket re-mount.*****

Looks great!

I like how it turned out, I hate having to run a front plate. Especially after living in PA where it wasn't required

Did ya ever get the smoked third brake light on?

I like it, it looks like ford put it there. :drool:


Now go wash that filthy truck. :lol:

I already had a smoked led 3rd on, bought another because this one was leaking. I just pulled the old one and siliconed it back on so it won't leak. Now I have a recon smoked in the garage as a spare. ;)

I really need to wash my truck too, but it keeps on raining here. :o

Looks good, really glad my state has no front plate though

Looks good man!

Looks good, and it really hasn't rained that much. No excuses.

Looks good but I would loose that plate and roll the dice. :thumbsup:

Plate's staying. I'm too old to play that game any more. :D

You'd be fine. Nonchalantly flash your work I.D. and then tell them your waiting on your new bracket. Who know's, you may never get pulled over. :D

I'm in Texas and haven't run front plates on any of my vehicles in years. No problems so far...even from the state inspection sticker folks. Take it off and make a birdhouse out of it.:thumbsup:

I've been pulled over in my home city before for not having a front plate.

That looks really good Stealth!

Thanks Blue!!! And Thanks Blue!!!