DIY Customized Side Fender Vent, Badge, Light

[Bluebel]

FIrst post here and a nod to @jewc75, and I am sure a few others, for inspiration and instructions. Got my Mav a week ago. Had a full year to think about this modification. The side badge disturbed me as a black piece of non functioning plastic stuck on the fender.

- Sanded only the "XLT"to give it the brushed look, sand in one direction. Did not sand anything else or use primer. The paint is from R&E Paint Supply in Mountain Home, AR. They offer most if not all of the Maverick colors. I think it is a perfect match and reasonably priced. https://repaintsupply.com/​

-Stripes are pinstripe tape from AutoZone​

-After painting I chipped paint off the "XLT" with light touch on a razor blade. It flaked right off from lack of primer. Did not want to use sand paper to avoid hitting good paint. The paint is definitely stuck to the black plastic. I then added the stripes and applied Dupli-color gloss clear coat from AutoZone​

-Light is a three wire LED from Amazon- Partsam 2pcs 3/4" Mini Amber LED Marker Clearance Light Turn Signal Light Air Dam Lights, 3 Wires, 12V. The light has two intensities, the brighter I wired for the turn signal. Drill a 3/4" hole in badge.​

-Lens is from GadCad at Etsy. Stuck on with 3M tape. Was concerned with how well it would seal so I drilled a small hole at the bottom point for drainage just in case.​

-Wired it by tapping all three wires into the front running/turn signal lights. Yellow/black on drivers side is turn signal, blue/white on passenger side. Definitely use black cloth tape to wrap/re-wrap wires.​

- Badge is a lot easier/safer to reinstall if you take the metal clips out of the fender and slide them on the tabs on the badge prior to reinstall.​

I am pleased with the results and now have a more visible side turn signal.

Nice Job, looks fantastic,

Sponsored

 

[Ozarkbeard]

Looks great! Can you post a more zoomed out photo showing the entire side of the truck?
Hint: turn your phone horizontally.

 

[Bobbyleep3]

What Color is your Maverick? Looks great.

Cactus Gray

 

[Ford Motor Company]

FIrst post here and a nod to @jewc75, and I am sure a few others, for inspiration and instructions. Got my Mav a week ago. Had a full year to think about this modification. The side badge disturbed me as a black piece of non functioning plastic stuck on the fender.

- Sanded only the "XLT"to give it the brushed look, sand in one direction. Did not sand anything else or use primer. The paint is from R&E Paint Supply in Mountain Home, AR. They offer most if not all of the Maverick colors. I think it is a perfect match and reasonably priced. https://repaintsupply.com/​

-Stripes are pinstripe tape from AutoZone​

-After painting I chipped paint off the "XLT" with light touch on a razor blade. It flaked right off from lack of primer. Did not want to use sand paper to avoid hitting good paint. The paint is definitely stuck to the black plastic. I then added the stripes and applied Dupli-color gloss clear coat from AutoZone​

-Light is a three wire LED from Amazon- Partsam 2pcs 3/4" Mini Amber LED Marker Clearance Light Turn Signal Light Air Dam Lights, 3 Wires, 12V. The light has two intensities, the brighter I wired for the turn signal. Drill a 3/4" hole in badge.​

-Lens is from GadCad at Etsy. Stuck on with 3M tape. Was concerned with how well it would seal so I drilled a small hole at the bottom point for drainage just in case.​

-Wired it by tapping all three wires into the front running/turn signal lights. Yellow/black on drivers side is turn signal, blue/white on passenger side. Definitely use black cloth tape to wrap/re-wrap wires.​

- Badge is a lot easier/safer to reinstall if you take the metal clips out of the fender and slide them on the tabs on the badge prior to reinstall.​

I am pleased with the results and now have a more visible side turn signal.

Love the mods!

 

[SLingbarT]

I'm not sure they can, are they even legal in that position? I thought side mounted lights like that could only be on the lower half or on the side mirrors.

My '04 Scion xB has side markers on the fenders that alternately blink with the turn signals, everyone at an intersection can see my turn signal unlike most Ford and Chevy Trucks, GD irresponsible of MFG to make lights you can't see someone's intensions at a glance. Oh and new Hyundai and Kia tail lights are miniscule and downright Atrocious!

 

[Deleted member 7089]

Does the bulb really look that hot in terms of brightness? Wrecks the look for me.

 

[Bobbyleep3]

Looks great! Can you post a more zoomed out photo showing the entire side of the truck?
Hint: turn your phone horizontally.

 

[FabMav]

If the light seems too bright for you, try a smoked amber led light instead.

 

[KathyG]

Wow - very nice mod!
Your paint looks great and I really like the aux. side marker/turn signal idea.
Great work!

Kathy

 

[Azmig88]

FIrst post here and a nod to @jewc75, and I am sure a few others, for inspiration and instructions. Got my Mav a week ago. Had a full year to think about this modification. The side badge disturbed me as a black piece of non functioning plastic stuck on the fender.

- Sanded only the "XLT"to give it the brushed look, sand in one direction. Did not sand anything else or use primer. The paint is from R&E Paint Supply in Mountain Home, AR. They offer most if not all of the Maverick colors. I think it is a perfect match and reasonably priced. https://repaintsupply.com/​

-Stripes are pinstripe tape from AutoZone​

-After painting I chipped paint off the "XLT" with light touch on a razor blade. It flaked right off from lack of primer. Did not want to use sand paper to avoid hitting good paint. The paint is definitely stuck to the black plastic. I then added the stripes and applied Dupli-color gloss clear coat from AutoZone​

-Light is a three wire LED from Amazon- Partsam 2pcs 3/4" Mini Amber LED Marker Clearance Light Turn Signal Light Air Dam Lights, 3 Wires, 12V. The light has two intensities, the brighter I wired for the turn signal. Drill a 3/4" hole in badge.​

-Lens is from GadCad at Etsy. Stuck on with 3M tape. Was concerned with how well it would seal so I drilled a small hole at the bottom point for drainage just in case.​

-Wired it by tapping all three wires into the front running/turn signal lights. Yellow/black on drivers side is turn signal, blue/white on passenger side. Definitely use black cloth tape to wrap/re-wrap wires.​

- Badge is a lot easier/safer to reinstall if you take the metal clips out of the fender and slide them on the tabs on the badge prior to reinstall.​

I am pleased with the results and now have a more visible side turn signal.

I really like what you did here. I’ve thought of doing something like this, and you’ve supplied the perfect road map. Thanks!
I just have 1 question: I see the partsam bulbs have a “bubble” lens over them.
Will they fit under the lens, or did you remove the bubble?
Thanks again. Great work!!

 

[Bobbyleep3]

I really like what you did here. I’ve thought of doing something like this, and you’ve supplied the perfect road map. Thanks!
I just have 1 question: I see the partsam bulbs have a “bubble” lens over them.
Will they fit under the lens, or did you remove the bubble?
Thanks again. Great work!!

Yes that bulb fits perfectly under the lens with room to spare. It's been done by others too so I was not the first to do that. One downside to that "bulb", it is an all in one unit, wires, leds, and bubble. If it burns out you will have to unattach the amber lens to extract it. Easy to do and no concern to me with the life span of the leds.

 

[Azmig88]

Yes that bulb fits perfectly under the lens with room to spare. It's been done by others too so I was not the first to do that. One downside to that "bulb", it is an all in one unit, wires, leds, and bubble. If it burns out you will have to unattach the amber lens to extract it. Easy to do and no concern to me with the life span of the leds.

Thank you. I just want to be sure I’m understanding correctly:
The “bubble” stays on the Amazon piece, right?
Thanks again

 

[Bobbyleep3]

Thank you. I just want to be sure I’m understanding correctly:
The “bubble” stays on the Amazon piece, right?
Thanks again

Yes bubble is not removable. Some body on this forum drilled a hole in the badge and installed a bubble led just like it with no Amber lens over it. If you can find that post there is a picture that might help.

 

[Azmig88]

Yes bubble is not removable. Some body on this forum drilled a hole in the badge and installed a bubble led just like it with no Amber lens over it. If you can find that post there is a picture that might help.

 

[Barracuda340]

This is the route I am going. The LED strip will be hidden behind the fender vent honeycomb grille. These I plan on wiring up as turn signals. Everything is just fitted and mocked up. Will start with gluing the screens in tomorrow

Sponsored