Tailgate Trim Panel

[XLT]

I have been unable to find an aftermarket tailgate trim panel. Any ideas on where to get one or how to make mine look new?

[fordman]

i don't think they reproduce that style of panel. they do reproduce the smaller less fancy version for the ranger package and down. i couldn't see the condition of your panel in those small pics. but something i have done and others have done is to use transmission fluid to rub onto the faded woodgrain of the panel to bring the shine back to it. the shiny part can be steel wooled for a better shine ifit is dinged and dented up. or it can just be cleaned with rubbing compound. the black paint can just be repainted. you do know that that panel can be taken apart and any ding tapped back out? i have taken one apart but have not finished working on it yet. so i don't know how easily it will go back together. inside of it is a piece of black board behind the letters to givethe panel a less of a flex in that area.

[XLT]

The panel was treated with a process from Ford that is similar to a plating process. It gives a hard finish. The plated finish needs to be removed by dipping in acid. After the surface finish is removed, bare aluminum is exposed and can be polished, straighened, then bright dipped and coated. The problem is: the metal panel attached to the rear needs to be removed. When the rear steel panel is uncrimped from the aluminum front panel, can it get recrimped without breaking the aluminum at the crimp bend?

[fordman]

the best wat to try and remove the rear panel is to shift the back panel to one end and then try to get it out of the front panel without uncrimping it too much on one end i think. if it gets uncrimped you probably need to use a large metal brake to recrimp the part that was uncrimped to not damage the aluminum part.

[t-waits]

If it has not been sold already I no of one here in town that is OEM and said to be still in the box. Would you be interested in it? If so I'll dig a little and hook you up with him. You can buy it directly from him to save the middle man $$$.

Let me know and I'll check.

Travis

[dablack00]

XLT,

You are going to have to uncrimp at least one end (short side) and slide out the steel backing. I'm sure you know the F O R D letters are the same as the ones on the hood and are reproduced. You already know about acid dip and polishing of the anodized aluminum. The only thing left is the woodgrain. Google "Woodgrain for wagons" They are a company that makes the woodgrain you need. It isn't too much money either.

I've got an XLT panel that I'm thinking about restoring too.

Austin

[XLT]

If it has not been sold already I no of one here in town that is OEM and said to be still in the box. Would you be interested in it? If so I'll dig a little and hook you up with him. You can buy it directly from him to save the middle man $$$.

Let me know and I'll check.

Travis

Nice truck!

I certainly would be interested in the OEM. Please let me know. XLT

[t-waits]

I did check and he has already sold it. It was a very nice peice and I wish I could gotten it for you.

Sorry to get your hopes up.

Travis

[XLT]

t-waits Thanks for your effort. I think I can do fairly well with the one I have. I was able to remove the aluminum panel. I was real careful to slightly bend the bottom crimp and losen the metal back panel. Once free, the back easily popped out. Thanks again. XLT

[fordman]

let us know how it goes when you put it back together.