Out of the box, we found the...
Out of the box, we found the most luxurious and well-packaged grille we've ever seen. Strut prides itself on making sure the grilles arrive in perfect condition.
What bolt-ons can I add that will really make my truck stand out? This question, and many like it, is what we are bombarded with constantly. In this story, we'll show you several mods that no truck should be without. While putting our Project Sinatra F-150 together, several key parts were on our wish list. New HID headlights were at the top of the list, and one call to Xtralights.com quickly answered that question. For hundreds of dollars less than we had thought we were going to pay, we received and installed a set of 8,000K digital HID lights that perfectly complement the Lincoln Navigator front end. It also helped to make the front-end swap look more legit. In addition to the awesome lights, we installed a Strut crimped-wire mesh main and lower grille to the VIS Racing front end. This style of grille was a fresh alternative to the typical billet or race-style we usually install, and it added to the elegance of the truck transformation. Finishing off the basic bolt-ons, we called Sport Truck Direct for a pair of Matrix LED taillights and a third brake light. Having the latest in light technology on the front of our truck meant the rear had to follow suit. The power for all of this extra lighting came courtesy of a 200-amp high-performance alternator from Powermaster. Check out the photos below to see just how easy it can be to make your truck really stand out.
With the factory grille unbolted...
With the factory grille unbolted from the VIS Racing hood, we used a screwdriver to snap the out-slotted grille out of the chrome shell.
Using 7/16-inch studs, the...
Using 7/16-inch studs, the new Strut crimped-wire mesh grille frame was installed onto the factory chrome frame.
A symbol of luxury, the Strut...
A symbol of luxury, the Strut badge replaced the factory Lincoln emblem by simply sticking it in place with double-sided tape.
The end result was a look...
The end result was a look that stands out in a crowd. Notice how well the lower grille matches the primary and completes the front end.
Moving on to the Xtralights.com...
Moving on to the Xtralights.com Xetronic digital 8,000K HID headlights, we opened the box and made sure all of the contents were intact. Xtralights.com included new HID bulbs, ballasts, wiring, terminals, and detailed instructions.
After we removed the factory...
After we removed the factory Lincoln headlights and set them aside, the halogen bulbs were removed and discarded. Then, a hole was drilled into the back of the screw-on bulb cover, which allowed the new wire grommet for the HID bulb wires to slide through. The rubber grommet keeps everything nice and watertight.
Next up, the new 9006 HID...
Next up, the new 9006 HID bulb was inserted into the bulb housing. We made sure not to touch the filament with our hands.
With the bulb in the housing,...
With the bulb in the housing, we slid the wires through the supplied grommet and secured the grommet to the screw-on bulb cover.
We were then ready to cut...
We were then ready to cut and splice the positive and negative wires of the headlight to the positive and negative wires coming off of the digital ballast.
All it took were two simple...
All it took were two simple connections to make sure the ballast received the proper 12.6 volts to engage the HIDs.
Xtralights.com made the next...
Xtralights.com made the next step easy because all we had to do was connect the two weather-pac connectors from the ballast to the bulbs.
Fortunately for us, the Lincolns...
Fortunately for us, the Lincolns came with an HID option and the headlights already had a designated location for an HID ballast. We simply notched the edges, so our wires could easily run through, then used double-sided tape to secure the ballast to the under side of the headlight.