Plasti Dip 2011 STX Faded Plastics w/ Pictures
 

I love the all black look on the STX, the only drawback is the plastics fade. I've decided to use Plasti Dip to bring them back to life.

I've started with the lower part of my bumper / skid plate, but removed the air dam and the 2 bumper loafs; those remove in 5 minutes by pinching the backside clips, both top and bottom and then giving it a hard yank.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...3308e6237d.jpg

Before Plasti Dip

Removing the air dam takes 5 minutes and you simply remove 2 bolts from the underside. I didn't want to Plasti-Dip the air dam because I have some 3M Professional Grade Rubberized Undercoating that I'm going to use on it, which I will include in this thread at a later point in time. I think it will be a good test piece because my intention is to use it in the wheel wells as well.

I originally thought I could remove the entire lower plastic bumper / skid plate, but 2 of the bolts are too hidden so I opted to paint it while attached. I taped off above the plastics because the gap between the plastic bumper and the painted surface will make for nice clean edges once I peel off the "over spray."

Not that it needs to be said, but I washed the area with dawn soap, rinsed it and then dried the area AND let it air dry for a long while before starting this.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...ff8e581861.jpg

After 3 coats.

Here we are all put back together:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...5703dc6ec5.jpg

Finished product w/ ecoBoost side plate installed




Up next is:

Mirror Housing
Door Handles
Rear Bumper
Front Grille
Wheel Wells
Air Dam

Stay Tuned.

I just use Wipe New. My black plastics look brand new, and have for 2 years.

I spent a long while looking into products like that, but there wasn't one that seemed consistently great. With Plasti Dip I know I won't have any trouble with white run off, greasy doorknob etc.

Yeah, Wipe New doesn't do any of that.

Might have to try it in the harder to reach areas like the fog light housing.

I cleaned the lower air dam with dawn; lots of oily residue washed away, rinsed it and let it air dry.

Before:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...1b603fe44b.jpg

After:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...71ec6b9e5f.jpg

I used 3M Professional Grade Rubberized Undercoating and I really like the textured look. I did 3 coats, all within 15 minutes (wait 3 to 5 minutes in between) and it should be dry in an hour. My plan is to use this in my wheel wells also.

I installed my dee zee tailgate assist, and a backup camera attached to the tailgate handle. I decided to spray the tailgate liner while it was removed for those projects with the 3M Rubberized Undercoating:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...17fa51025a.jpg


I'm really liking this stuff, though it doesn't go very far despite the can being a tad larger than a typical spray can. I was able to spray the air dam, both front and back with 3 coats and my tailgate cover, front only, with 3 coats. I'm pretty confident 1 can could do 2 wheel wells.

Mothers Back to Black or Ultima Tire & Trim Guard.

Wipe off after application (following instructions) and it will look now and not be greasy.

The Plastidip will turn dry looking pretty quickly and you will be back to square one.

Good thing is, the Ultima is safe on plastidip if you want to try it

Many thanks for the input. I've seen where Plasti Dip hasn't held up very well, and where it has for many months. I personally like the matte look, just not the matte multi shades of fade look. d:

I do need to revive the fog housing and am going to look into these products mentioned for those harder to reach areas. I'm also torn about doing the handles in PD because of the moving aspect to them. Definitely something to think about.

So far I've just done the front lower bumper and the plastic bit that surrounds the radio antenna in Plasti Dip and am still pleased with the results. It's been too windy to do much else.

Plastidip holds up pretty good, it just fades. I have actually had Plastidip on my exhaust tip for 2 years and 20k miles... I'm removing all the Plastidip on my truck currently.

https://www.f150forum.com/f38/big-la...-4-ect-250145/