Three of my fender mouldings and front bumper valence have a healthy dark grey, almost black color. The fourth fender moulding has been replaced and is a much lighter grey.





The fourth fender moulding has been replaced and is a much lighter grey.



In order to keep the darker mouldings looking good, they need to be Back to Black'd every 1-2 months, and then three look great and the one is still faded out.

I have been thinking of painting the fender mouldings and bumper valence black. Would this look strange on a white truck? Any recommendations for specific types of paint? Gloss or flat?

 

the problem probably started with you having a 04+(black) truck, and one 01-03 flare(grey).

WowMike2001 has a white 01 Xlt and black flares and valence...let me have a look...

 

paint them. several guys on here have done this. like shane said, WowMike did it on a white truck and it looks great. Make sure you paint your valance so it matches

 

WowMike2001's truck...

 

OH...forgot too........

WowMike2001's project thread on painting flares. CLICK ME.




I scuffed up my bumper, valence, and flares with 220 grit, sprayed on Duplicolor Adhesion promoter, then sprayed on Duplicolor Bedliner in a can. Looks great. The reason i went this route rather than the Krylon Fusion: i previously painted my flares and was stupid and didn't prep then correctly, so there were paint chips on the leading edges...so sanding to get the chips out resulted in a smooth flare which i didn't want. got the bedliner in a can to add texture to it. sprayed on the Krylon flat black, wasn't very happy with the outcome. Did a flare in bedliner, and LOVED IT!

 

I'm fairly certaint that's the issue.

I was thinking, the valence, mouldings, and rear bumper top pad. I will pull the bumper off soon to put the Level 2 tow hooks on, I'm thinking it would be a great time then.

 

Looks good, I think you just made up my mind for me.

 

It is easy to paint them... Take them off and buff them a little... and put duplicolor andhesive promoter and some duplicolor bumper coating and paint em up.
DId mine.

 

ya...i think it looks good. do it!!

 

Probably next Saturday, I'll get some pics up afterwards.

 

Shane your kinda sorta right sorry buddy...

he does have one Grey flare.. and 3 black they can be ordered at the dealer around $75 each...

where your wrong is the black is from 02-05 any level II its listed in the part index.

now the grey is 01-05 any non Level II flare..

personally just go buy the right fender flare.... painting will work also

 

WowMike2001's truck looks soo good. Do it up!

 

Krylon Fusion black paint will solve all your problems.

 

I can agree to a certain extent...

take a look at a 04+ rear bumper...the plastic...is black...not grey. take a look at 04+ valences....they are black compared to 01-03 grey valences. Take a peek at a 04+ XL...the painted steel bumpers....they are black. Wouldn't you figure Ford would match all the exterior plastics like they've done previously?? I'm not talking about FX4L2's...those are the exception as they are black exterior plastic already, no matter the year.


**not to hack...but i'm distracted by the Fast & Furious 4 trailer on the boob tube!!***

 

20 minutes before those pictures were taken, the "black" flares looked like this, Zebra striped and faded. In about a month or so, they will be starting to look horrid again. Painting would be cheaper, and low maintenance. I like low maintenance.

 

My black flares on my Mazda are beginning to fade and Zebra stripe after 7 years.

 

The flares on my truck aren't 5 years old yet.