PDX1953

Hi - I didn't find a particular section for interior upgrades so please feel free to shove me in the right direction if there is one.

I have an '05 XLT SCAB with the OEM tow package with 90k & am the 2nd owner. I bought it from an estate in April '18 with 59k on it for $10k & have all of the invoices showing it was dealer maintained (meaning the owner was ripped off routinely...) as well as the widow sticker. I put in a bed slide along with a color matched contractor style cap but w/o windows or tool boxes on the sides - I needed the barn doors. Mechanically it's in fantastic shape with new plugs, COPs & HD shocks because I drag a 4500# trailer to AZ in the Winter but the belts, tensioners & pulleys are next - not making any noise but I consider them to be preventative maintenance items. I asked in another post about a ticking noise but got the correct diagnosis - a small exhaust leak that goes away after about 3 minutes but I don't think it's worth fixing now since it's such a small leak.

The truck isn't in perfect condition but being an Oregon truck there's no rust so a couple of small dings & light scratches don't bother me. If you get a drip of water on the OEM fabric interior it stains immediately so I'm looking at replacing the material but Katskins & the like are crazy money. I don't want covers, I want the OEM fabric replaced with something similar & am open to all suggestions. I live in a rather small town & there are two upholstery shops with only one of them having a great reputation. His suggestion was quilted pattern nylon covers b/c that's the normal "fix" for contractors & farmers in the area. Not interested in those.

I replaced the 20% center seat with a large console but would like to upgrade the gauge cluster at minimum & change to a center console with shifter ala Lariat if possible. Has anyone done that & how big of a PIA was it? Being somewhat disabled & older than dirt (67) I'd need to have my mechanic do it so it takes more than 3 hrs I'm not too interested b/c he charges $105/hr & complete consoles on eBay run $500+. As a side note I see those center consoles (w/o the shifter) on eBay for $475 & I got one in mint condition for $170 DELIVERED to OR from VA in mid 2019. Steal of the year!

I can do the cluster swap myself & have found a few sellers on eBay that'll also flash the software to show my current mileage & they're in the $250 range for a newer desgn cluster. Or, I could just buy new white overlays for approx $30. I made the horrible mistake of replacing the OEM radio with a "Boss" brand & the Nav software comes from the UK so it's crap. I only use it for my phone, the backup camera & the USB port for music & am considering swapping to a better unit, again something I can do. I use Google maps / Waze on my iPhone & occasionally connect the phone via Bluetooth so I can hear the directions better.

I looked at grille changes & am on the fence about the Raptor style. New headlights are a strong possibility as the lenses on mine are beginning to get "crystalized" inside at the top. If I swap them I want bright but not blinding lights & prefer LEDs. The halos / eyebrows are nice looking.

My budget is $1000 - $1200 total so I'll sell a couple of pew pews from my rather large collection that I never shoot. If anyone in the PNW / Yamhill county area wants to chat just PM me.

Jay Leno say's he the President of the "More Money Than Brains Club" & I'm probably a club member.

laterongc

My opinions:

- be very careful about decision to replace cluster. If you have no erroneous warning lights I wouldn’t do it. Read up on the connector to cluster and how it can create false brake warning (or other) lights. Also, some incompatibility issues from different levels.

- sears and lights: is keep my eyes out for oem take offs being sold on CL or FB. Might be able to upgrade all to leather if patient. It’s bolt in/out, and probably better at resale time if OEM.

- shifter: obviously personal preference, but consider the downsides to console shift.... I’ve had both and much prefer on column. Can’t think of a single ‘pro’ to console shift unless somebody prefers the “look”. But if you google you’ll find threads on people who have done the swap.

PDX1953

Thanks for the advice. The floor shifter is a "look" thing so although I like them and have had many vehicles with them I'll pass.
As far as the instrument cluster I'll probably buy some overlays. I've seen a variety of designs that other members have used so I'll look around & see what I like.

Great idea on the seats - I'll start looking at eBay & wrecking yards (,,,, sorry, auto parts recycling centers...). I doubt that I'll ever run across the absolute STEAL I got on the larger console but who knows?

I really appreciate the feedback & ideas.

Thanks!!

laterongc

re seats: prices seem to be MUCH lower when finding an individual selling on FB or CL. But if not in a metro it might be much harder to find. What I saw of your seats they looked pretty good, so you could probably turn around a sell them and recoup some of your upgrade$

PDX1953

Yeah - They're actually in perfect condition but I'm OCD about water stains - even relatively small ones. The local upholsterer said Ford uses/used recycled materials and it's a common problem. I could sell them but HATE advertising on Craigslist b/c of the idiot low ballers & scammers. The good news is I have soooo many pew pews in two large safes that I've never even fired so with that market so hot right now I'll probably bite the bullet (pun intended) & sell a few & spring for leather. The back seat (it's a SCAB) isn't used except to haul a few things - drone cases, pew pew cases, etc so I don't need them covered.

I'm dreading and procrastinating to list a dual fuel Champion inverter generator on CL & since I dumped FB a couple of years ago & don't have access to their Marketplace. It's super quiet at 50' away, has only been run on propane & has maybe 20 hrs on it. A refurbished unit sells for nearly $800 but mine comes with full 30# tank so I'm betting if I list it for $650 I'll be low balled. A-holes!!