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chrome or black grill and headlight housings

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snakebite8

chrome or black grill and headlight housings

trying to decide on if I want to go black or stay chrome. so I took an old grill and headlight housing and painted them black really quick. what do u guys think?

Joe from NJ. 1985 F150 shortbed with 4.9 and its a stick. Put some Black FR500's on it. 17X9 upfront and 17X10.5 in the back.

1986F150Six

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

Administrator

With the yellow paint, I like the black!

Gary Lewis

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

Administrator

I agree with David, I like the black.

In fact, I may do that with Big Blue!

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

1986F150Six

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

Administrator

Gary Lewis wrote

I agree with David, I like the black.

In fact, I may do that with Big Blue!

Let the money fly!!!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-OEM-Ford-1980-1986-Truck-Grille-Headlight-Doors-Bezels-1982-1983-1984-1985/143365879547?epid=1923517768&hash=item216145b6fb:g:wcwAAOSwk5NdVyg3

Gary Lewis

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

Administrator

Oh no! Nope! No way, Jose!

I'm talking about just painting already beat-up doors and grille. Maybe even the grille that

cut the back off of so he could get it on after he routed the oil cooler hoses the wrong way - and had to cut the radiator support to do that.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Blacktop

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

In reply to this post by snakebite8

Black😎

1984 F150 XLT short bed 4x4 351w 4speed manual
1980 F100 long bed 2wd 300-6 3speed manual project truck
🇬🇧UK based truck enthusiast🇬🇧

myrl883

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

I vote chrome. I like the bull's grille, show it off!

I did see a black truck with a gloss black grille, that looked good...

Ford Parts Monkey since 1985
1981 F100 Flareside - Black, 302-4V Roller/AOD
1986 F150 Flareside - Medium Fire Red 302/AOD
1989 F150 Standard Cab 4x4 - Dk Shadow Blue 302/AOD
1993 F350 4x4 Crew Cab - 7.3 IDI/ZF-5
I think it's a sickness...

LARIAT 85

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

myrl883 wrote

I vote chrome. I like the bull's grille, show it off!

I did see a black truck with a gloss black grille, that looked good...

I agree! I think the chrome looks better.

Lucille: 1985 Ford F150 XLT Lariat

*Colors: Dark Canyon Red exterior, Canyon Red interior
*Engine: 5.0, CompCams 31-230-3, "Thumper" E7 heads, Edelbrock Performer intake, Autolite 4100 carburetor, DuraSpark II ignition, Thorley Tri-Y headers, Flowmaster dual exhaust, H-pipe.
*Drivetrain: AOD transmission, 3.55 gears, 2wd.

Dan Crowley

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

In reply to this post by 1986F150Six

If your going to go black and your chrome ones are in nice shape, why don't you get some out the junk yard and paint them and save the good ones in chase you change your mind.

Dan Crowley

FuzzFace2

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

I took the best set I had between the 2 trucks and painted the doors & grille a darker silver as neither were chrome to start with.

Now in that bright yellow truck the satin black would pop out but I think everyone would do the black & yellow and why I would not.
Now the chrome may get lost in that bright yellow also so hard to say how I would go?
Dave ----

Dave G.
81 F100 flare side 300 six / AA OD / NP435 / 2.75 gear
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1980-Ford-F100?page=1
81 F100 style side 300 six/SROD parts truck -RIP
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1981-Ford-F100

kramttocs

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

Administrator

In reply to this post by LARIAT 85

Another vote for the chrome.
I like the black accent on the chrome vs the argent myself.

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

grumpin

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

Chrome.

Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona

Rembrant

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

In reply to this post by snakebite8

I bought a factory black (Charcoal?) grill from a local Ford guy to replace my plain grey grill, and it has really grown on me. I like the chrome stuff too, but I was trying to keep my truck on the plain side, but still wanted something other than the original grey grill.

1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

myrl883

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

The dark center looks great, but the trim and headlight doors gotta be chrome! Rembrandt's truck looks GOOOOD!!

Dee1986

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

I think it all depends on what you're going to do for a front bumper. Chrome bumper needs a chrome grill. Black bumper needs a black grill.

Brian,
1986 f250 xlt lariat 4x4/ 460 4 speed
2016 super duty lifted
1949 Ford custom sedan, orig flathead eight

LARIAT 85

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

In reply to this post by Rembrant

Rembrant wrote

I bought a factory black (Charcoal?) grill from a local Ford guy to replace my plain grey grill, and it has really grown on me. I like the chrome stuff too, but I was trying to keep my truck on the plain side, but still wanted something other than the original grey grill.

I think that combination would be the perfect look for snakebite's yellow truck. If it is all black, I think it is going to look "toothless," if that makes any sense.

1986F150Six

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

Administrator

In reply to this post by myrl883

myrl883 wrote

Rembrandt's truck looks GOOOOD!!

I agree!

Rembrant

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

1986F150Six wrote

myrl883 wrote

Rembrandt's truck looks GOOOOD!!

I agree!

You guys are making me and my truck blush...lol.

snakebite8

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

In reply to this post by Dee1986

black bumper!

Joe from NJ. 1985 F150 shortbed with 4.9 and its a stick. Put some Black FR500's on it. 17X9 upfront and 17X10.5 in the back.

snakebite8

Re: chrome or black grill and headlight housings

I am going to go for the black look. I will need to buy a grill and paint it a gloss black because the one in the pic was just to get an idea. grill is in really poor shape. I have a black bumper for it too. if I don't like it I can pick up a new chrome bumper and grill for 200.

Joe from NJ. 1985 F150 shortbed with 4.9 and its a stick. Put some Black FR500's on it. 17X9 upfront and 17X10.5 in the back.