Finally got time to put my new valance on the bumper I had laying in the garage for over a month now. $14 for the chrome bumper at the junkyard and $64 for a new valance of ebay. Also a good side shot of the explorer springs on and fyi I have no lift in front. Love the look now since no more getto lean. Have OEM fogs on my way to me. Then all I need is to get the hood and surround painted. Sorry the truck is dirty.

Does the surround look good grey or should I paint it black?

Here is a shot from before for reference of the old bumper and no expo springs.





And new

 

Lookin good! Going all red for the hood or something different?

 

Thank you sir. Not sure how I want to do it yet. Either center painted or paint the raised part. Guess I need to see if someone could photoshop is and see what I like.

 

looks good, bumper is a HUGE improvement. I think your wheels are a little too wide though.

 

Looks good. If it were me I'd paint the valance and grille black, get the hood and surround repainted, and lift up the front just a bit to level it out.

 

Thanks guys. Hope to get the front lifted a little at some point but don't know how much since my choices aren't very good. Either coil spacer or lift springs but that hurts the ride. If I go spindles, then I have to go 3" and that's to much for those tires. The way it sits, I'd only want like an inch. Wish I had a fleetside so I could run flares to keep from slinging crap all over the paint.

 

Looks great, Rob! I didn't even know you lifted it! lol.


Shoulda painted that valence before install. Scuff and shoot rattle can bedliner. Anything would have been better than gross stock XLT gray! lol.

 

Looks good! Flares on a stepside look sweet!

 

Thanks guys. I painted it black this evening. What ya think? Gonna put some mesh in the bumper opening between the fogs and repaint my surround cause it looks horrible in person.

The flares don't look bad. I really just need them for purpose over looks. I have been looking but haven't found anything '01 and newer at the yard.

 

I didn't realize the springs were in the first time I looked at this thread. I think the stance is perfect! Makes me want another regular cab stepside!

 

Looks sweet.
What do you plan on doing with the old bumper/valance?

 

I put it on craigslist and sold it locally. Asked $50, got $35 for it. Worth it to me just so I didn't have to carry it up the stairs to the attic.

 

Modified my old license plate bracket to fit this new bumper since my old one was a little different. Also added some mesh in the lower area of the valance to fill the space. What's everyone's thoughts?

Picking up fogs tomorrow at post office since they said they couldn't figure out what house is mine even though there is a huge rock in the yard with the numbers on it.

 

I wonder what it would look like if you cut up one of those 01-03 grilles like you have and put that there.

 

You know when i was putting it on i was thinking about that for the grill. I'd need to find a bigger piece of mesh since the bottom is gutter guard. Was like $2.39 at home depot.

 

Yeah I used that in my grille back in the day. It was one of my first mods. lol

 

Me too. Figured i need to incorporate something from the old front end

 

 

Looking good man