Phase 1 Customizations: First Edition Area 51 - White Grille, Wheels, Mirrors, Stripes, Wrapped MIC Top

[BlueBronco1969]

I want to see this as well. Off-white might actually look better. More retro.

I traded out the white Fifteen52 centercaps with matte black centers. It breaks up the white and gives a bit of a throwback to “locking hubs look”.

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[Bodge Garage]

Yes those black center caps change everything. This looks more "right" to me, nice job.

 

[never]

Curious if you considered wrapping the grille instead of painting? I'm looking at doing mine soon and naturally I'm worried about all the detail work with all the holes and contours.

 

[BlueBronco1969]

I never did consider for the reasons mentioned, But after my roll bars got done, with a good technician I might consider it.

 

[Winkydee]

After much debate over whether it will work, I proceeded with white vinyl wrap of the MIC 2.0 Bronco top.

Installer: SideAfects San Antonio, TX
https://www.sideafects.com/

Material: 3M 2080 Gloss White Vinyl
Type 94 quick tack adhesive/bond.

For purposes of safety and die to the debate, we started with only one panel:

With that done, we put it thru the ringer: 350 mile road trip, dirt/dusty roads, cold front, 25 degree temperature change and full service car wash (foamy mops, high pressure/low pressure water). The results held and so we proceeded:

As an added bonus, we ordered a couple of extra yards and wrapped the roll cage: this to try and achieve some of the earliest Ford promotional photos:

If there is ONE spot I am worried about, it’s the middle of the windshield frame: this speaks more to the quality of the MIC top as there is a VERY uneven edge there that the wrap exposes when white on black. Might need to come up with a solution for that. This spot will take a ton of wind and elements.

Otherwise, very happy with the outcome. She is a good match for her 1969 counterpart in my profile photo.

Happy to answer questions for others who want to go down the road. Installer is confident it will hold. Advised to hit with Maguire’s spray wax four times per year to maintain and protect.

If it doesn’t hold, or I have issues - I will update. Hope the information is helpful.

Super helpful! Thank you so much. I love your ride. I'm gonna hit up my Cactus Gray Badlands 2 door. Might do the handles and roll bars too.

How many yards did you need?

Thanks again.

 

[BlueBronco1969]

Super helpful! Thank you so much. I love your ride. I'm gonna hit up my Cactus Gray Badlands 2 door. Might do the handles and roll bars too.

How many yards did you need?

Thanks again.

I want to say he ordered 9 to have enough for roll bars. I have since orders a roll for patching - I have minorly scratched a couple of times taking the top on and off.

 

[rguest3]

Love the White Wheels. Amazing how much better they look with the black Center Cap!

Looks great!

 

[Leilani]

With excellent help from BlackJack Speed Shop in San Antonio, TX and while deciding if/how to handle the MIC top paint/wrap:

fifteen52 White Aluminum “Steelies“. Color matched grille. Color matched Area 51 letters. Painted horse emblem. Vinyl wrapped mirrors. White D Rings on tow hooks. Bronco fender logos. First edition badge relocated to swing gate. Ridergraphix white graphics door and hood.

Rigid lights on mirrors (Aux 1). Baja Designs pocket lights (Aux 2,3,4). Tint driver/passenger.

Update: killed the white mirrors, with top off.

UPDATE: removed hood graphics, added splash guards to front. Added splash guards. Next: vinyl wrap MIC top. Out at ranch.

Update: top and roll bars wrapped. Black centercaps.

Update: more pictures of wrapped roll bars with tops removed.

With excellent help from BlackJack Speed Shop in San Antonio, TX and while deciding if/how to handle the MIC top paint/wrap:

fifteen52 White Aluminum “Steelies“. Color matched grille. Color matched Area 51 letters. Painted horse emblem. Vinyl wrapped mirrors. White D Rings on tow hooks. Bronco fender logos. First edition badge relocated to swing gate. Ridergraphix white graphics door and hood.

Rigid lights on mirrors (Aux 1). Baja Designs pocket lights (Aux 2,3,4). Tint driver/passenger.

Update: killed the white mirrors, with top off.

UPDATE: removed hood graphics, added splash guards to front. Added splash guards. Next: vinyl wrap MIC top. Out at ranch.

Update: top and roll bars wrapped. Black centercaps.

Update: more pictures of wrapped roll bars with tops removed.

Love this look, I also have area 51 bad lands but live in CA so do you recommend I take my factory grill and rims to be powder coated presuming this is what you did?!

 

[Leilani]

This isn't cactus grey? It looks like CG

What does CG stand for if it is not cactus grey?

 

[Leilani]

Thank you! It’s the stock grill for the FE painted with color match to the Fifteen52 wheels.

Does FE stand for Ford Explorer...I own a 2023 bronco so not sure how to access the grill?!

 

[NeoS281]

What does CG stand for if it is not cactus grey?

That's correct. Since I own a CG (cactus grey) Badsquatch, my question was along the lines of, "this isn't cactus grey because it looks like cactus grey to me". More context here.

 

[BlueBronco1969]

Love this look, I also have area 51 bad lands but live in CA so do you recommend I take my factory grill and rims to be powder coated presuming this is what you did?!

Wheels are Fifteen52 brand and come in white. Grill was painted to color match the wheels. (FE = First Edition Bronco/Trim).

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