Painted the headlights and grille on my 2011

[Tucker1154]

I decide to dress up the truck a little this week. The huge headlights and grille on the '11 always bothered me, so I split the headlights, painted the chrome insert, tinted the marker lens and painted the outer grille surround body color. I think it looks much better.

Splitting the headlights is a PITA in my opinion. Some say to put them in the oven @ 250 for 10 minutes and it's easier, but all I had at the shop was a heat gun. It did the job, just took a while.

To get the grille out there are 4 10mm bolts up top and 5 clips on the bottom. Once you take out the bolts reach down with a screwdriver to release the clips.
Then the headlight comes out with 4 more 10mm bolts.

The surround is held in with clips and some plastic rivets, I just replaced the rivets with push pins from the auto parts store.

Here's some pics of the process:

Before and after

[8mpg]

how hard was it to open the headlights? F150 headlights are a *#($& to open because of the permaseal that Ford used.

I really want to get my front end painted

[Rammstein1224]

What kind of paint did you use to smoke the lens?

["Stroker 8"]

OP, very nice. I like the outcome looks better than factory.

[barobbin]

looks great man!

[2000-7.3L]

Originally Posted by Rammstein1224

What kind of paint did you use to smoke the lens?

Why cant i do the same to mine?

[Tucker1154]

Thanks guys.

Splitting the lights was a pain in the a$$. Not something I'll do again, but worth the effort!

To tint my lights I use a tinted base coat. It's a clear base with some black in it. I then spray 2-3 costs to get the darkness I want. I did the same to my tails and markers.

[2000-7.3L]

Originally Posted by Tucker1154

Thanks guys.

Splitting the lights was a pain in the a$$. Not something I'll do again, but worth the effort!

To tint my lights I use a tinted base coat. It's a clear base with some black in it. I then spray 2-3 costs to get the darkness I want. I did the same to my tails and markers.

Where did you get the paint? brand?

[Tucker1154]

We paint stuff all the time, so we mix it ourself, but any body shop and do it or your local autobody supply.

I think some parts stores sell a spray tint too.

[fosterelli]

What paint did you use for the color-matched parts?