the transformation has begun

[Sticker Monster]

working on removing all the tan and gold on the exterior. new headlights are in the works too. it took me 4 hours to remove and clean up the passenger side. now i have to do the drivers side. i have some f250 v-code springs coming. it is also getting new ball joints, sway bar links and brake pads all the way around.


2000 ex by bmonkey36, on Flickr


there by bmonkey36, on Flickr


passenger profile 2 by bmonkey36, on Flickr

now i have to find some black running boards.

SM

[dieselcrawler]

What all was involved? I've heard that all that holds on the side cladding is double sided tape, is this true? How's the paint fade, is it noticable where you took off the cladding? I'd like to take ours off, but the wife just wants me to paint it black, we don't care for the tan eaither.

[Sticker Monster]

there are some plastic rivets and a couple screws also.


front fender by bmonkey36, on Flickr


rear fender by bmonkey36, on Flickr


rear quarter panel by bmonkey36, on Flickr

i used a razor knife to romove most of the plastic rivets. they don't hold anything but the trim. the heads pop off pretty easy. the screws go back in to hold the fender liner.


razor knife by bmonkey36, on Flickr

i used a plastic pry tool to lift the edge of the panels and pulled them off with my hands. they came off quite easily. the door panels seemed to come off easier from the bottom up.


plastic pry tool by bmonkey36, on Flickr


front fender removed by bmonkey36, on Flickr


all trim removed by bmonkey36, on Flickr

after 12 years, with just a wash i don't see any noticeable paint fade. there is some light rash or what appears to be scale buildup around some areas of the edges of the trim panels. it's amazing how nice the paint looks, considering how much dirt and sand was under the panels. i think a wet sand with 1500 grit and a buff out will clean up 99% of the remaining marks.


rash by bmonkey36, on Flickr


scale buildup by bmonkey36, on Flickr


scale buildup 2 by bmonkey36, on Flickr


dirt accumulation 1 by bmonkey36, on Flickr


quarter panel dirt by bmonkey36, on Flickr

i have to order up some xlt stone guards for the quarter panel to cover these holes. i think i will get the mud guards for the front and back too.


quarter panel holes by bmonkey36, on Flickr

link to parts online

2000 FORD EXCURSION Parts - Ford Parts Direct Online: Buy Genuine Ford OEM Auto Parts & Aftermarket Accessories, Wholesale Prices


xlt trim 2 by bmonkey36, on Flickr

here is what it looks like after just a wash. i will detail the wet sand and buff in a future post.


all cleaned up by bmonkey36, on Flickr

SM

[dieselcrawler]

Exellent documentation, you're a good man Charlie Brown! Thanks for taking the time to not only take the pictures, but edit/label them as well... Good Show!

I knew about needing the stone guards, others have talked about just welding/filling the holes, as a repaint was in the works as well... myself, I'd get the stone guards.

Guess I'll keep hoping to get to strip ours...

[Sticker Monster]

i am going to try some clr (calcium, lime and rust) cleaner before the wet sand to see what happens.

SM

[Sticker Monster]

using clr undiluted seems to clean most of the white scale off, meaning a light buff and It should look great.

SM

[Sticker Monster]

just to update this thread. I finally found some black running boards that didn't break the bank.


running boarsd by bmonkey36, on Flickr

I removed them from the frames and hosed off all the mud...


new running boards by bmonkey36, on Flickr

then I removed the existing tan covers and hosed off the mud that accumulates under the covers...


mud by bmonkey36, on Flickr


mud 2 by bmonkey36, on Flickr


no mud by bmonkey36, on Flickr

just a few short hours and oh what a difference!...


all done by bmonkey36, on Flickr

SM