Had a rainy day today, so I slipped by the body shop and picked up the bumper, grille, and tail lights.
All the parts laid out and ready to be assembled. Picked up as much stainless hardware from Boltdepot.com as I could. Had all the metal structure powder coated, and some new plastic supports for the outside.
Structure all bolted together and issolating foam tacked in to place with a little spray glue.
Went to install the cover...and well apparently mopar likes to screw with people.... The lower support is different from the off road to non off road bumpers. a 3 year only low option bumper as special part like this. Where in the past Mopar has used Chevy and Ford parts and crossed parts between vehicles to keep cost down. SMFH
A little trim and I was back on track though. Cleaned it up with a flap wheel, and hit it with some flat paint afterwards.
Ready to bolt on! The wet on the back is from WD40 to lube the stainless hardware... With out it, it will gall and lock up.
Close up of the lights. Yeah..the hardware is a little long. Used what was on the shelf.
Tail lights installed! I always hated how Dodge put black textured tail lights on these trucks. The match is pretty good in person. Not 100% but still good. Its never going to be 100%, unless everything is painted at the same time, you do a bunch of tests, and not to mention, plastic always looks just a little different the steel when its painted...even with good primer.
For now, Im just going to plasti dip the rear bumper in Anthracite, since it is the most close match. The end goal would be a Graves Truck Gear rear storage bumper.... For now the plasti dip will do.
Cant wait to get the front bumper on. Its gonna look great. The steering box shipped, so I might rip off the chrome bumper, install the box, then put the new bumper on all at once. Make it easy to get to the power steering lines.