Project: MKSinister

[Brucelinc]

I'm leaning toward an XCT X4 and Torrie at Unleashed.

I think you will be amazed at the difference between stock and tuned whether you go with Torrie or LMS.  As soon as the weather improves, I am going to get a tune from Torrie, also.  I love my LMS tune but since I already have an SCT tuner, I am going to check out Torrie's tunes.  He seems to do more with SCT than anyone else.

 

[Joleat]

I'm definitely looking forward to it. I've had tuned cars in the past and I've been underwhelmed, but there seems to be a lot of owners here who are tuned and wouldn't consider looking back.

On a side note, I just realized I typed XCT instead of SCT in my last post, haha.

 

[Joleat]

Today's weather was surprisingly pleasant. I changed the spark plugs and tossed in new cabin and engine air filters. Four of the six plugs came out with .040" gap and two of them with around .042"-.043". I used a wire gapper, so I'm just estimating on the last two. All six plugs had good coloration. Keep in mind that these plugs were pulled from a stock MKS and the mileage is just under 50k.

 

[Joleat]

While installing my new spark plugs earlier today, I noticed that both my upper and lower grilles are showing some wear. I just repainted the lower grille a couple of weeks ago. It isn't that bad of a job, but the upper grille is a nightmare with all of the little chrome bits. I've had great luck with Krylon Fusion in the past, but it just isn't holding up on these smooth surfaces as much as I had hoped. Therefore, I have decided to explore my options. I have a painter friend that I plan to consult shortly, but the idea will be to paint these grilles, along with the fog light surrounds, with automotive base and clear.

From this day forward, I dub this build "Project: MKSinister".

Below, you will see three photos. The first is a stock MKS with EcoBoost Appearance Package, the second is my MKS from when I had originally painted the upper and lower grilles. The third is a PS'd version of the second photo. In it, I have modified the upper and lower grilles, the fog light surrounds, the headlights, and the Lincoln emblem.

 

[kbeck59]

Go for it ... the name fits the look ....but a tune would make it THAT WAY !

 

[DJE624]

That ps shot looks really cool.  Hope it comes out that way in reality!

 

[mjhpadi]

I agree with the others here, go with black or silver calipers, if you do red, it will draw attention right to the wheels, whereas the other colors will blend nicely with the car.  Also regarding brakes, when I replace mine I am doing EBC, I had them before (on my F-150) and they were the nicest (and longest lasting) rotors I had on the truck, I really like them a lot.

 

[SHOdded]

Do it, looks supercool in the PS'd shot!  Just remember to check light output before and after on the headlights, you might need an HID upgrade if you don't have it in already

 

[Joleat]

I can take or leave the smoked headlight idea since the factory housings for the EcoBoost Appearance Package are already darker than the non-EAP version. However, I do think the ones in the picture look cool. If I do anything with the headlights, it will probably be more for protection than anything.

BTW, I restructured the original post in this thread. From this point forward, I will keep the first post updated in a summary format, but I'll continue with new posts as stuff happens.

Thanks to everyone for their support!

 

[BiGMaC]

I Love it!... and your right about the headlight IMO!

 

[DJE624]

I think that the light tint from Lamin X might work.  I agree with Tom.  You don't want to black them out too much.  I had medium on mine but switched to light.  But mine were clear to start with.  I love how my clear stock with the light tint turned out.

 

[Joleat]

I have an appointment this Tuesday for tint. I also called a painter friend of mine in regards to painting the grille Tuxedo Black. He is currently in the process of setting up some new equipment. He says it will be a minimum of two weeks before he can get to the grille, but he has me on the list.

Now I have some deciding to do. I think I'm going to Plasti Dip the chrome trim around the windows, but I'm debating on Plasti Dipping the Lincoln emblems as well. My initial plan was to paint them body color. What do you guys think?

 

[DJE624]

Body color would be cool for the emblems.  Have you thought of wrapping the window surrounds?  Mine came out pretty nice.  But they were a little difficult to do.

 

[BiGMaC]

I have an appointment this Tuesday for tint. I also called a painter friend of mine in regards to painting the grille Tuxedo Black. He is currently in the process of setting up some new equipment. He says it will be a minimum of two weeks before he can get to the grille, but he has me on the list.

Now I have some deciding to do. I think I'm going to Plasti Dip the chrome trim around the windows, but I'm debating on Plasti Dipping the Lincoln emblems as well. My initial plan was to paint them body color. What do you guys think?

Darkside painted his window trim, crash, 4DR, and others have done grilles and grill badges... It looks stellar.  Another option is wrapping for the window trim (DJE did this) Which I like a lot!... It changes the whole stance of the car.  Plastidip is likely the best option for all if your not sure or the budget is really tight.  So I'd say... Paint if you can, second choice.. wrap where you casn and paint the other.. Platidip will look great, but I'd make it the last choice only for durability reasons.

So......... "Luke, come over to the darkside"... do it! and let your mod budget guide you

 

[Joleat]

Body color would be cool for the emblems.  Have you thought of wrapping the window surrounds?  Mine came out pretty nice.  But they were a little difficult to do.

That's an idea. What did you use to wrap your surrounds? Do you have a thread about it?

 

[BiGMaC]

Body color would be cool for the emblems.  Have you thought of wrapping the window surrounds?  Mine came out pretty nice.  But they were a little difficult to do.

That's an idea. What did you use to wrap your surrounds? Do you have a thread about it?

My neighbor wraps entire cars and trucks of all sizes... literally for a living (private and has a dozens of commercial and school accounts) 
... he gave me the material in flat black to try... very easy to do on window trim in about 45min to 1hr (sections and no compound curves) not hard to do like heads and tails.  I tried it, liked it... but wanted gloss, so I pulled it off, maybe a thread when the gloss comes in... the material he uses is superior to Laminex in all spec and guarantee is five years. The cost for this amount of material is about $20-$25 on the SHO.

I can get more info if you want on the differences in the two manufacturing methods for wrap material or ask him if he wants to get into the "kit" business (he works from 72"-96" wide rolls.  He does graphic design on them also if desired.

Examples of his work are on his website: http://visionitmedia.com/carsandtrucks.php

 

[Joleat]

I may get back with you on that. It seems like a much more permanent solution. I'm leaning toward Plasti Dip just to make sure I like it. At $6-$7 a can, it's no big deal if I want to remove it.

 

[BiGMaC]

I may get back with you on that. It seems like a much more permanent solution. I'm leaning toward Plasti Dip just to make sure I like it. At $6-$7 a can, it's no big deal if I want to remove it.

The major advantage for sure.  Just let me know... email is on my profile.

 

[Joleat]

Will do, Mac. Thanks!

I just updated the original post with a 3rd picture. I quickly threw something together in PS. It's a side pic with tinted windows, tinted tails, and blacked out chrome bits (window surrounds, door handles, fog light trim, and fender emblem).

I know I'm going to have to address the wheels at some point. I'm just not sure which route I would like to go. I love the style of the factory 20's, but they're the wrong color. I could go for the Euro look and have them painted body color, but I've never had wheels painted before, so I'm not sure what to expect. If the car was just plain black, this would be a much easier task as I could just grab some decent looking aftermarket black wheels. The flake in the Tuxedo Black makes me think solid black wheels wouldn't look right.

 

[DJE624]

Body color would be cool for the emblems.  Have you thought of wrapping the window surrounds?  Mine came out pretty nice.  But they were a little difficult to do.

That's an idea. What did you use to wrap your surrounds? Do you have a thread about it?
[/quote

Body color would be cool for the emblems.  Have you thought of wrapping the window surrounds?  Mine came out pretty nice.  But they were a little difficult to do.

That's an idea. What did you use to wrap your surrounds? Do you have a thread about it?

My tint guy did it.  I'll try to find out what it is.