New Grill Mod!

[DrewRam]

I have been wanting the SPORT look for a while and was gonna shop for a new/used grill to modify but the one on my truck has been getting beat up alot on the interstate so i figured i would just mod it and buy new one if this didnt work.

I am using Dupli-color Perfect match products to color match the surround and cross then i plan to plastidip the inserts. So far so good, here are few preview pics.....

I used a strap to keep the hood down so i could have a better angle to unbolt it. Made life a lot easier!
http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-02_18-26-18_708.jpg

Off the truck:
http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-02_18-26-31_59.jpg

Prepped (after the pic i scuffed it all up a bit and sanded down a few imperfections):
http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-03_10-11-32_530.jpg

Primed:
http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-03_11-15-28_254.jpg

2 coats:
http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-03_12-57-19_568.jpg

Gonna do another coat then apply the clear coat.

[4XLGator]

Looking good so far...keep us posted.

[DrewRam]

Looking good so far...keep us posted.

Thanks I just hope it looks close to the factory finish. The color looks almost perfect but i am still not sure on the clear coat looking good...

Does anybody know if the rear emblems on these trucks are two pieces like the front?

[LB3711]

looks good. i'm planning a cheap grill mod too

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[DrewRam]

Here is the finished front emblem. Color matched background and plastidip ram head. This is what i want to do with the back emblem but if its not two pieces it will be very difficult and not worth it at all.

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-03_14-56-28_651.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-03_14-56-35_815.jpg

[AWE Daniel]

Looks great so far!


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I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?35hq15

[DrewRam]

Looks like it will need some wet sanding because i am starting to see a slight orange peel effect. Anybody have any recommendations on how long i should let this stuff dry out before sanding it?

[DrewRam]

Took it outside to see what it looked like. You can see its got a pretty good shine to it but up close it has some orange peel. I am gonna let it sit over night and maybe try to wet sand it tmrw. This stuff dries pretty fast so i am thinking i will be fine and it shouldnt take much to get it looking like glass.

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-03_18-10-49_420.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-03_18-11-01_797.jpg

[UnderCover]

Looks good!

[DrewRam]

just had to see what it is gonna look like with the emblem :) Cant wait to get this on the truck! and with the inserts black i think its gonna look badass

Bad pic but you get the idea
http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-03_18-46-11_455.jpg

[ramn it]

Thats gonna look sharp when your finished !! where did you find the plasti dip? Ive been lookin but can never find it.

[Onk]

DAMN!!!!

Cant wait to see it when its done!

Wanna do RamIt's grill for me???

[BAD HABIT]

I failed at wet Sanding mine using the perfect match stuff with black paint, I used 1k grit and it still messed it up, ended up Samsung whole thing respraying and clear coat and then I left it, until I had it painted...looking great though I love the storm trooper look...

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[DrewRam]

Thats gonna look sharp when your finished !! where did you find the plasti dip? Ive been lookin but can never find it.

I took the last 4 cans from Homedepot the other day for my wheels lol but i usually buy it there or lowes in the spray paint aisle.

DAMN!!!!

Cant wait to see it when its done!

Wanna do RamIt's grill for me???

Thanks. Dont know if i am jumping into the paint shop biz tho lol

I failed at wet Sanding mine using the perfect match stuff with black paint, I used 1k grit and it still messed it up, ended up Samsung whole thing respraying and clear coat and then I left it, until I had it painted...looking great though I love the storm trooper look...

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Thanks. I put a good amount of clear coat on it so i should have enough on there to smooth it out. worst case i have to respray the clear and sand again. black has got to be the toughest tho i dont know if i could pull that off, at least on white the blemishes wont show up as much.

[Ms.MagnumSLT]

Looks good!

[NOTPAID4]

Nice job ~ it's lookin' GREAT!!!

[4XLGator]

It IS looking great! I especially like what you did with the emblem. I've been wanting to do something with my grill sooo long...you have me thinking!

Nice work!

[DrewRam]

Wet sanded and polished a corner. Starting to look like glass! :-D

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-04_17-09-46_140.jpg

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[AWE Daniel]

Nice!

[BAD HABIT]

Damn...

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[DrewRam]

I was hoping to be done it this weekend but looks like I'm goin to work without it tmrw. It looks good up against my dirty truck so i think I should be happy. Got it all masked for plastidip tmrw. Truck looks pretty mean with no grill tho lol

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[AWE Daniel]

Drew do you have a punch tool? The inserts are not hard to come out and you wouldnt have to worry about all that extra masking.

[DrewRam]

Drew do you have a punch tool? The inserts are not hard to come out and you wouldnt have to worry about all that extra masking.

I don't and not sure if that would work. I was worried i would break something because how brittle the plastic is. I thought about using a flat head but idk. have you taken them out before??

[AWE Daniel]

Yeah I took them out of mine, if they are the same you will see the little black circle clips with a smaller black circle in the middle of them, you just take a punch tool the right size and tap it with a hammer and knock the middle part through, then when you reinstall it you just tap that little black insert back in.

[AWE Daniel]

Disregard that I just looked the 06+ are different


I did find this though

http://www.ultimatetruck.com/install/putco/inferno/2006%20Dodge%20Ram%20Replacement%20SS%20Grille%20I nstructions.pdf

[DrewRam]

They are different I will take a pic

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[AWE Daniel]

Yeah I just found that out sorry, take a look up at my link ^^^^^

[DrewRam]

Disregard that I just looked the 06+ are different


I did find this though

http://www.ultimatetruck.com/install/putco/inferno/2006%20Dodge%20Ram%20Replacement%20SS%20Grille%20I nstructions.pdf

Looks like i was right with the screwdriver lol. Thanks for finding that I know i am not missing anything now. I am still scared i might break something but i might give it another try....

[4XLGator]

Drew, I have had mine (06) inserts out and there are no circle clips. You're on the right track with the flat screwdriver. Just twist it a little while pushing on the tab and work your around each insert...it'll come right out.

[Onk]

oh come on...I'd pay ya!

[DrewRam]

I tried to take the inserts out and broke the plastic like i thought i would on the first one. Went the masking route instead...

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-05_14-40-22_605.jpg

Looks like I may need to wet sand a little more but I am afraid I might go to far so may just live with it the way it is. It won't be perfect but I think it's gonna turn out better than I thought anyway.

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[DrewRam]

oh come on...I'd pay ya!

Maybe I will come up with a price.... That is if your willing to go without a grill for a while lol

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[OklaHemi]

that is looking awesome. those grille inserts are a bitch, i thought i was going to punch a hole through my grille on every rivet

[DrewRam]

Omg I am in love with my truck all over again!! Pics to follow...

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[DrewRam]

Is it perfect? No

Will I have done professionally one day? Probably

But damn does it look good with this color scheme!

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-05_17-59-21_391.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-05_17-59-43_672.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-05_18-00-20_273.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-05_18-00-00_507.jpg

I need to clean up where it meets the hood I got paint on that piece of foam. I'm happy for now just hope it holds up!




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[Onk]

HOLY CRAP dude...

Throw a before picture up there

[SmokedRam]

That looks great...that Duplicolor Perfect Match is good stuff. It is what I used on my Gen2 top bumper cover. It will withstand the elements well too if your prep was good.

[AWE Daniel]

That looks awesome Drew!! And I have seen someone try that In White and it came out shitty, so props for doing it right!!

[DrewRam]

Thanks!

HOLY CRAP dude...

Throw a before picture up there

Before:
http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/tapatalk_1330989330270.jpg

After:
http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-05_17-59-21_391.jpg


You can see a color difference more at night which is weird cuz I thought the sun would make it look worse.. I guess time will tell..

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[DrewRam]

What do you all think about removing the lower valance/air damn? I was thinking it would make the profile look better...

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[DrewRam]

And a little HID action :-D

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-05_19-12-51_517.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-05_19-13-15_117.jpg
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[BAD HABIT]

Leave the air dam on please, I think it looks stupid with out, looks Damn good with the grill painted, did you finish it off with a good waxing?, are you planning on blacking a lot of stuff ?

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[4XLGator]

That looks awesome, Drew. When can I drop mine off to you? I will pay you $10 more than what Kevin pays, for mine to be next. :evillol:

EDIT: Just looked at pics on page 1 of this thread...holy crap what a difference!! And I would leave the valance/damn on.

[AWE Daniel]

Leave the air dam on please, I think it looks stupid with out, looks Damn good with the grill painted, did you finish it off with a good waxing?, are you planning on blacking a lot of stuff ?

Sent from my badass EVO on TapaTalk....

I thought you weren't suppose to wax Fresh paint?

[SmokedRam]

I thought you weren't suppose to wax Fresh paint?


I don't know about spray paint...but regular auto paint I believe the general rule is two weeks before you even wash it.

[DrewRam]

Leave the air dam on please, I think it looks stupid with out, looks Damn good with the grill painted, did you finish it off with a good waxing?, are you planning on blacking a lot of stuff ?

Sent from my badass EVO on TapaTalk....

I thought you weren't suppose to wax Fresh paint?

I don't know about spray paint...but regular auto paint I believe the general rule is two weeks before you even wash it.

I did alot of googleing before i decided to put a little wax on it. Yes general rule is to wait week(s) before applying wax to new car paint BUT This stuff is not like regualr car paint at all and it is very fast drying. It spent quite a bit of time in the sun over the weekend too. I am a rookie to painting anything on a car so this was/is a learning experience. Honestly now that i have had a go at it I am tempted to strip the whole thing down and redo it all lol. It looks good but i am already nitpicking at little things that i wish I would have done different/better.

O and i looked at some pics of trucks without the airdam and I am definitely leaving mine on just got bring the black back to life on it.

[4XLGator]

^ Jax Wax Super Blue will help bring it back.

[DrewRam]

^ Jax Wax Super Blue will help bring it back.

Thanks i might give that a try.

Jay, only other major black items I am doing are plasti dipping the wheels and the rear emblem still needs to be done. Thought about tinting the tails but I am still on the fence with that.

[BAD HABIT]

Or, you could paint it with krylon fusion black and it will look good, I painted some of my trim pcs with it and it looks good, maybe doing my rear bumper pad soon.

Sent from my badass EVO on TapaTalk....

[Onk]

Time to do some white eyelids


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[DrewRam]

Time to do some white eyelids


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Funny you say that cuz I was looking at pics last night of a few trucks that have it done lol. Using the last of the color matched paint to play with the rear and hemi emblems

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[OklaHemi]

I personally would rather add side skirts before I would remove the valance. Unless you are lifted or completely slammed I think it looks goofy


The grill looks amazing btw

[DrewRam]

I am in the process of plasti dipping the hemi badges and i decided I didn't want the "5. 7 liter" part on them when I put them back on. Sooo this is just a mock up cuz I don't have a use for them anymore but what do you all think?....

Reversed the colors so it's chrome lettering and black background now

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-08_15-41-17_41.jpg

Like I said it's just a mock up taped on there, I'm not completely sold on the look yet. Comments/suggestions...



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[AWE Daniel]

Nah not feeling it, maybe find a cool spot for it inside the truck.

[DrewRam]

Ya may just put it under the hood or somethin

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[BAD HABIT]

hi drew..truck looked and sounded great today...

[DrewRam]

Lol yours too man!

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[AParrette]

i never whore out pics of my ram anymore
but...

here's an idea
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/59895_10150270477025335_558740334_14854202_2565988 _n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/58246_10150270470895335_558740334_14853896_1756948 _n.jpg

and then the extreme
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/58465_10150268730440335_558740334_14817141_7296431 _n.jpg

[DrewRam]

That's a little too much black for my taste it would kinda defeat the sport look I'm goin for but I do like the heads

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[Silverbullet08]

put the badge inbetween the grill like mine
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj70/nlorenzo08/IMG_0387.jpg

[DrewRam]

That looks sweet! I dont know how i would get it to mount in between them like that tho. I am sure i can come up with something and try it at least. Thanks!


Update on the grill:

The week in the sun has changed it a little or at least enough that I can tell a color difference now. I think it may have had something to do with applying wax too soon. I decided to strip all the wax off and wet sand it real good with some 2000 to try and get rid of some more orange peel and i think I got almost all i can with out going to far. It looks alot smoother but the white is off slightly. IDK I may just be looking at it too close.

Here is a pic after the 2000 Dont know if you can tell but the reflection is much clearer than before..

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/DrewFDavis/2012-03-09_18-30-20_29.jpg

[05singlecabHEMI]

plastidip the bumper too! thats what i did.
http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n488/05singlecabHEMI/IMAG0700.jpg

[Onk]

I would put it in the grill like Nicks mustang.


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[DrewRam]

[QUOTE=05singlecabHEMI;48851]plastidip the bumper too! thats what i did.


Too much black for me if anything I would color match it. Unless it's a black truck a black bumper just looks work truck to me.

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[DrewRam]

Thought I would update this thread...... The grille did not hold up well at all unfortunately. Once the bugs and sun beat on it for a few weeks it started discoloring pretty bad to the point where it turned a nasty yellow color. Currently I am in the process of stripping it down so I can take it somewhere and have it professionally matched. So now my truck Is without a grill and has been for too long, it's very depressing :-(

Sorry I haven't been around the forum much, I try but my ride just hasn't been at the top of the list lately. I hate when my truck becomes just a simple means of transportation and not a fun hobby.

Gonna try and get some quotes in the next week for the paint. Anybody have a suggestion around the Tampa Bay area?


Tapatalk/RAZR

[BAD HABIT]

Let me do some research for you, a few have used Tim at alternative koncepts but that's a good drive for you just to have a grill painted, so let me ask a few friends this side of the bay.

BAD HABITS BADASS EVO ON TAPATALK TRANSPARENT...