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I have a Badlands and was never in love with my grille...and I was jealous of the base model grille simplicity/retro vibe. Unfortunately the base grille didn't have a camera provision, and I was hoping for small Ford letters versus the Bronco letters. I had been searching for an alternative, and just about the time Xipex released their white retro grille (and I was waiting for them to become available) I realized the Heritage grille was added to the Ford parts catalog.
While it was on infinite backorder, I did some research and found that along with the grille a rear support bracket was required...and the Ford letters. Unlike many if not most of the aftermarket grilles, the OEM grilles have rear brackets that not only structurally support the upper portion of the OEM grilles but also direct airflow. They also differ by grille shape. For example, if you have a base model, your bracket should fit the Heritage grille because the holes in the grille are the same. The Badlands is different so I was on the hook for buying the bracket.
I used the Bronco6g discount at Ruxer Ford and bought the grille, letters, and bracket. I later realized I also need 9 5mm PAL nuts to secure the letters to the grille...and bought them from a local dealer (at full price, unfortunately). While my parts were shipping I learned a lot about preparing ABS plastic for painting (I know a lot of members like white on the Heritage grille, but I prefer a dull black).
After an informative conversation with a representative from SEM, I went with SEM Plastic/Leather Cleaner and SEM Sand Free. The grille is molded in black, and appears as if it can simply be bolted on without painting, but it apparently is primed. When I used the SEM cleaner, I was initially concerned because the surface started to get gummy...but then I realized that either primer or a mold release agent (or both) was slowly coming off on the rag. I soon realized that the most effective technique was spraying the rag, not the grille, and rubbing (a lot) until all the coating was off (which took some time).
The easier part is spraying the SEM Sand Free adhesion promoter and then the paint (while the promoter is still wet). For paint, I went with 1-stage 2k SprayMax Hot Rod Black. They have a patent on the can that mixes the paint and the catalyst.
Pics of the grill and bracket reference and PNs:
While it was on infinite backorder, I did some research and found that along with the grille a rear support bracket was required...and the Ford letters. Unlike many if not most of the aftermarket grilles, the OEM grilles have rear brackets that not only structurally support the upper portion of the OEM grilles but also direct airflow. They also differ by grille shape. For example, if you have a base model, your bracket should fit the Heritage grille because the holes in the grille are the same. The Badlands is different so I was on the hook for buying the bracket.
I used the Bronco6g discount at Ruxer Ford and bought the grille, letters, and bracket. I later realized I also need 9 5mm PAL nuts to secure the letters to the grille...and bought them from a local dealer (at full price, unfortunately). While my parts were shipping I learned a lot about preparing ABS plastic for painting (I know a lot of members like white on the Heritage grille, but I prefer a dull black).
After an informative conversation with a representative from SEM, I went with SEM Plastic/Leather Cleaner and SEM Sand Free. The grille is molded in black, and appears as if it can simply be bolted on without painting, but it apparently is primed. When I used the SEM cleaner, I was initially concerned because the surface started to get gummy...but then I realized that either primer or a mold release agent (or both) was slowly coming off on the rag. I soon realized that the most effective technique was spraying the rag, not the grille, and rubbing (a lot) until all the coating was off (which took some time).
The easier part is spraying the SEM Sand Free adhesion promoter and then the paint (while the promoter is still wet). For paint, I went with 1-stage 2k SprayMax Hot Rod Black. They have a patent on the can that mixes the paint and the catalyst.
Pics of the grill and bracket reference and PNs:
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