Truck Month - Need Opinions!!!

[FlyinRyan]

Hey everyone,

As luck would have it, I've ended up having the rest of August free from work or school. I've dubbed August 'Truck Month' as I'm pretty much spending all of my time on my truck.

Truck: 1998 Mazda B2500, 2wd, 5sp

I need some help/opinions:

Bumper - My front bumper is pretty badly dented on the passenger side and is rusting bad. I'm looking to replace the bumper and am wondering if its easier to buy new, or look in a junk yard?

Valence - As with the bumper the mazda valence is also gone. I've been finding it difficult to find the Mazda specific valence, but I can find the ranger style everywhere. Should I bother with a valence? If so - Mazda or Ranger?

Headlights - Headlights are pretty much shot. Shipping to my part of Canada from the states is about as much as the lights themselves if I buy from ebay. I like the darkened projector look but I'll settle for a clear lens/oem style. Anyone know of any good buys?

Fogs - I've got a lot of fog to deal with and no lights to help. I'll be hooking up fog lights whether or not I get a valence. With a valence they'll be installed where they're supposed to go. Without a valence I've been thinking of putting them on the bottom of the bumper, on either side by the tire. Check the pic...

Thanks for all your help!!!

Ryan

 

[FlyinRyan]

My idea for fog lights without a valence. Sorry for the bad photoshop!

 

[Musick17]

Bumper would be easier to buy new, cheaper to get in a junkyard. You can probably find one in a JY with a valence on it already. Even one for a ranger should fit with some homemade brackets.

For the fogs. you could always buy/make a headache style rack to mount them on above the cab. Make them so they fold under the bar also so you can use the rack to strap your canoe to too.

That knocks out your whole list right there!

 

[FlyinRyan]

You don't like my noodle?!? Hahaha! That could be taken the wrong way.

I need the fogs as low as I can... they're actually going to be 'fog lights'.

 

[Musick17]

DIRTY!

But anyways, I would try and find a bumper in the junk yard with fog lights already in it. But if all else fails you can mount them wherever you want.

 

[Blake.]

what he said. or you can get a bumper without em and put a bull bar on it and mount your fogs in that.

 

[FlyinRyan]

Finding something that hasn't rusted itself away in a junkyard around here is pretty tough. I like the idea of a bull bar but I don't like the price or weight...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Bumper would be easier to buy new, cheaper to get in a junkyard. You can probably find one in a JY with a valence on it already. Even one for a ranger should fit with some homemade brackets.

For the fogs. you could always buy/make a headache style rack to mount them on above the cab. Make them so they fold under the bar also so you can use the rack to strap your canoe to too.

That knocks out your whole list right there!

Fog lights work best mounted low to the ground, the higher they get the more worthless they are for dealing with fog.

 

[FlyinRyan]

Does anyone know what model year bumpers will fit a '98? I know a '99 will... '01, '00?

 

[Musick17]

Go look at my profile and the big picture that pops up.. check the bar out. I'll give it to ya if you pay shipping

 

[FlyinRyan]

Thank but no thanks! I appreciate the help, but I need to mount them lower. I'm thinking of fabbing up some brackets for the bottom of the bumper.


I like your headlights though... what year ranger is that? I'm in dire need of new lights...

 

[Colin]

i have almost the exact same truck, i've been thinking about getting these headlights for my truck
http://www.certifit.com/p-7252-headlamp-assembly-driver-side.aspx
i dont think the shipping would be too bad on them, as for the bumper and valance, you might get lucky in a junkyard, but you'd probably be better off new, i think anywhere from 98+ bolts right on.

 

[RavoHimself]

well untill you get new headlights you could take mothers aluminum or chrome polish to them and it will help clear them up. i'm not entirely sure it will bolt up but you could try a ranger bumper with one of their fog valences

 

[Musick17]

Mines a 2002.

 

[01B3K]

See if 01+ mazda headlights will fit your 98, because my 01 has the Clear lens and looks much better imo

Any 98+ bumper should fit as they have the same mounting brackets, if i wanted too i could put my bumper on my friends 06 sport and he could put his on mine, A ranger one could fit right up, but may look a little goofy....