Opinions on limited cladding/flare painting

[sharpe97]

I'm sure someone on here has already asked this question before or done it, but after hours of searching, I have yet to find it. So here goes, I have a 97 Limited, Black with the tan cladding and flares, etc, and to be honest I can't stand it. Has anyone painted their cladding black, or whatever other color? I just hate the black/tan combo now, and since I'll be upgrading front and rear bumpers in the near future, I want to change colors of the flares and cladding because IMO tan cladding and flares with black bumpers just looks awful. Any suggestions/pics?

Oh, and I forgot to mention that the previous owner put the 99+ front bumper/grille on it for whatever reason, which I hate. Just another reason to upgrade the bumper soon. :thumb3:

Any input will be helpful. Thanks!

 

[JayRolla]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/101391-painted-limited-fender-flares-pic-request.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...2-photo-journal-build-maintenance-thread.html

 

[SCRunner12]

I've done it. You can see in my build thread linked in my signature.

BTW, are you sure it's a 97? Sounds a lot like a 99 since no 97 Limited had tan cladding/flares. Post some pictures.

 

[sharpe97]

I've done it. You can see in my build thread linked in my signature.

BTW, are you sure it's a 97? Sounds a lot like a 99 since no 97 Limited had tan cladding/flares. Post some pictures.

Yeah, I'm positive. I actually got curious the other day if it was actually a 97 or not, opened the door to check the plate, and clear as day said 02/97.

Here are some of the pictures I have of it. I'm not really much of a picture taker. Lol.

Day I bought it





Lost a flare... ooops


I don't have one of the plate that says year model and such, I'll grab one once this storm heads out.

Oh, and sorry about the mud, I don't have many of her clean..

 

[SCRunner12]

Hmm that's interesting. Nice looking 4runner though. I painted mine with plasti dip then gloss spray paint. I used the plasti dip so I could revert back to stock color if needed. Been holding up great for the past 2 years or so.

 

[sharpe97]

Hmm that's interesting. Nice looking 4runner though. I painted mine with plasti dip then gloss spray paint. I used the plasti dip so I could revert back to stock color if needed. Been holding up great for the past 2 years or so.

Thank you good sir. I like it. Just needs to get farther off the ground and armored. And I've never thought about doing plasti dip then spray paint... Only thing I would be worried about is that since the truck itself is black, that without getting them professionally done like BrianSD_42 did, that the gloss spray paint wouldn't match the stock paint very well and look goofy.

 

[Kryptoroxx]

I painted mine with bedliner. Relatively cheap and tough as nails.

 

[busmup808]

He might have upgraded the headlights along with the grill/bumper.

 

[sharpe97]

He might have upgraded the headlights along with the grill/bumper.

I was actually wondering about that the other day. I haven't looked into it, but they seem to be the clear headlights. I don't know. I guess I just have a Frankenstein runner. Lol.

 

[TXRick]

Maybe car fax it?
Fat lip bumper and cladding might have come from a wrecked or dead runner.

 

[Offroad_Medic]

I wonder if they color matched the cladding to the new fat lip bumper when they put it on.... My '97 has the gun metal grey cladding on black

 

[busmup808]

I was actually wondering about that the other day. I haven't looked into it, but they seem to be the clear headlights. I don't know. I guess I just have a Frankenstein runner. Lol.

If it's the clear ones, you have the upgrade. If it's the ones you can't see through, then you have the stock 96_98 headlight.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Thanks for the shout out!

 

[sharpe97]

If it's the clear ones, you have the upgrade. If it's the ones you can't see through, then you have the stock 96_98 headlight.

Then they are the upgraded ones. Just went out to double check. Odd..

Thanks for the shout out!

No problem. You've got a gorgeous runner. Love the all black. :thumb3:

 

[kammando808]

I painted mines using black plasti dip, I sprayed 5-6 coats and used about 6 cans. It's been about a year and it's still holding up good. The best part about it is if you don't like it you can just peel it rite off

 

[miami_matt]

I am going to plasti dip the cladding on my 03 for sure. I'm debating if I should buy the sprayer or just use cans. I can definetly use the sprayer for other projects but is there a benefit over the cans?

 

[Coopsdaddy]

I'm going to have mine painted the body color(desert dune).i think it looks so much cleaner than black,just not as durable.