Anyone know where to get the small grille that goes underneath the big grille? Our XLT did not come with it. Here is what it looks like:

 

XLT's don't come with the small grill, only EB's. Obviously your Ford dealer will be able to get it for you, or you can opt for an aftermarket billet set that includes both upper and lower grills. There are a few companies that make them, and there are always a few different kinds for sale on Ebay.

 

Someone on another site stated the dealer would sell you the lower panel for about $125.00 and you would have to paint it to match. I'm thinking about doing the same thing. The front of my XLT looks unfinished the way it is.

Good Luck.

 

I like my XLT without it. Looks a little tougher IMO. To each his own I guess!!

 

Speaking of that huge gap Ford so wisely chose to leave open;

Just tonight on the way to work, in our 03' with only 3000 miles on it, I must have had some object get into that 'mouth' and it broke the tranny cooler which sprung a leak. I started noticing that the tranny was slipping and stuttering from a stop. I pulled over to find tranny fluid EVERYWHERE

The truck got towed to Ford and they will look at it in the AM. I wonder if this should be covered by warranty since that huge design error allowed the whatever to get in there and damage the cooler??? I wonder if the tranny is toast?? Should I have to claim this on my insurance and pay a deductible??

~ I'll be getting some kind of grill for that damn hole, but Im in a bad spot for now

 

Somehow I don't think the cheap plastic grill would have stopped an object big enough to do the damage to your tranny.

 

If I get a chance, I'll get you a picture. The total indentation on the little aluminum cooler core is about the size of a large fly. The hole is like a needle poked it. The cheap plastic grill could easily deflect most small objects that would otherwise have access to the light weight aluminum cooler. Its a B.S. Ford error. But, of course, they wont cover it.

They just lost a 45k sale; Since my 03 350 is going back, I was going to order a 4x4 350 but now I think I'll take my chances with Chevy. The PSD has the same huge grill openings.

 

You'd be suprised at what a "cheap plastic" grill will stop, or deflect.

4 days after taking delivery of my Expy (ironicly 4 years ago to the day!), a lady chatting with her passenger running down the left lane of the Hwy at anywhere from 45-60 and in and out of the lane (yup, paying a whole lot of attention) kicked up a piece of something metal that was about the size and shape of a pretty good sized book.

It grazed the bumper then took out the grill and messed up the surround pretty good. By "took out" I mean it took about 25% of the grill either out or left pieces folded back in.

That was all the damage. If you heard it you'd think someone threw a 20 steel bowling ball through the front end at 100MPH. Not one scratch to anything inside (radiator).

Of course Estate Green was a new color so it was about 3 months before the grill and prepainted surround was available but the only thin you can see now is a small ding in the front bumper.

A small piece of cheap plastic is a good thing!

 

yep see.


My whole point is that there SHOULD be some type of protection on all frontal openings.

 

what are the color differences between the XLT & EB grill's.

thanks

 

the weird puncture that took out your tranny cooler could have happened on any vehicle. i'm sorry that this happened though (hell my moms supercoupes intercooler was taken out bya rabbit! ($900 dollar fix)

taking your chances on a chevy is a risky proposition at best. have you heard of their "silent" buyback of all v8 99-02 tahoes, silverados, yukons, suburbans, and what not (all thrucks that have 4.8, 5.3, and 6.0 liter engines?

chevy wont admit to huge problems like this. ford and every other car builder will......... remember the pre 88 GM truck exploding gas tank issue they tried to slide under the carpet? i sure do...

 

i found the colors-XLT=medium platinum, EB= satin nickel. fordpartsnetwork.com has the lower grill for $89.99. where to find the paint is the next question.

 

'04 XLT's have a lower grille, BTW.

 

thanks. i'll have to get it. knowing ford they probably changed th color just a hair!

ron

 

Thats not really a grill, its a couple molded in cross bars. But its better than the nothing the 03' has.

I just ordered satin finish aluminum speed grills for the top and bottom of the Expy. to alleviate this problem in the future. ~~Cost me about $200 to correct Fords design flaw