What did you do to/with your second gen today?

98hemi-ram · Oct 7, 2013

dodge dude94 said:
Those are just a chrome cap that with some patience you can pull off.

Yes but from the pictures I've seen the center part is different on the chrome ones. Hard to explain but it just doesn't look right when it's taken off. I'll have to see if I can find a pic without the chrome later.

dodge dude94 · Oct 7, 2013

98hemi-ram said:
Yes but from the pictures I've seen the center part is different on the chrome ones. Hard to explain but it just doesn't look right when it's taken off. I'll have to see if I can find a pic without the chrome later.

Ahh, gotcha.

Might try to snag the wheels from a 06-08 Ram Lone Star or Big Horn. Same wheels, just no chrome.

Went and bought some 1500gr sand paper and plastic protectant. Gonna try and sand my lights.

This should be interesting.

dodge dude94 · Oct 7, 2013

Sanded my headlights with 1000 and 1500gr paper. They're hazier now then they were before. What gives?

*edit*
They look like crap...

Me right now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0MKLnTqjLM

WhiteExpress · Oct 7, 2013

1500 is no where near polished good sir. It's not even close.
However, if you have a consistent smooth surface, you're off to a good start.

I redid the lights on my '95 Dakota, started at 600 grit and went from there to 1000, 1500, 2500, 3300 and then finally polished (by hand) with polishing compound. 3M makes a polishing kit that works pretty well, it's about $40 IIRC.

You can also special order lexan polishing kits that head north of 15,000 grit. Evan used this on his Dakota headlights, stuff for polishing F16 cockpits. Worked pretty amazing.

dodge dude94 · Oct 7, 2013

I figured I needed 2000+.

Damnit.

WhiteExpress · Oct 7, 2013

You gotta start low and work your way up.

dodge dude94 · Oct 7, 2013

Well, with 1500 they're definitely smooth!

dodge dude94 · Oct 9, 2013

Here they are:

Before, drivers:

passengers:

After, drivers:

passengers:

Doesn't look like a huge difference, especially on the passenger side, but they are much smoother and a bit whiter. Also makes a difference in light output and color for sure.

1000gr -> 1500gr -> 2000gr -> 2500gr -> 3000gr emery cloth thing -> Nice buffing with Meguiars Plastx -> nice coat of Headlight Protectant.

I think they look good.

Johnn123 · Oct 9, 2013

Looks good Dodge dude, I did that a year ago and they`re still nice and clear

Just drove it to work and back, no new issues yet besides a minor electrical gremlin, keep getting random abs and air bag lights, then windows quit working. Gonna check grounds tomorrow.

98hemi-ram · Oct 9, 2013

Johnn123 said:
Looks good Dodge dude, I did that a year ago and they`re still nice and clear

Just drove it to work and back, no new issues yet besides a minor electrical gremlin, keep getting random abs and air bag lights, then windows quit working. Gonna check grounds tomorrow.

I'd try checking the grounds on the drivers side fender (should be a bunch together by the battery) when I did my swap I had to cut almost 6" off some of these wires just to find some decent copper again. I was surprised my truck used to run at all when I found that!! Most of them were just crumbling to nothing.

Also realized how close it is to me having to put the truck away for the winter. This no heat thing isn't going to work for much longer!! Had to keep wiping the fog off the inside of my windows on the way to work this morning. Lol

WhiteExpress · Oct 9, 2013

dodge dude94 said:
1000gr -> 1500gr -> 2000gr -> 2500gr -> 3000gr emery cloth thing -> Nice buffing with Meguiars Plastx -> nice coat of Headlight Protectant.

Looks great buddy! Good job! I'd advise you wash them real good in a couple weeks and apply another coat of sealer.

dodge dude94 · Oct 9, 2013

Johnn123 said:
Looks good Dodge dude, I did that a year ago and they`re still nice and clear

Just drove it to work and back, no new issues yet besides a minor electrical gremlin, keep getting random abs and air bag lights, then windows quit working. Gonna check grounds tomorrow.

Thanks. Did you use the process I did?

You lost me at the no windows bit. lol

WhiteExpress said:
Looks great buddy! Good job! I'd advise you wash them real good in a couple weeks and apply another coat of sealer.

I put two coats of sealer on them when I did them yesterday, but I think I'll put another two coats on in a couple weeks.

Johnn123 · Oct 9, 2013

98hemi-ram said:
I'd try checking the grounds on the drivers side fender (should be a bunch together by the battery) when I did my swap I had to cut almost 6" off some of these wires just to find some decent copper again. I was surprised my truck used to run at all when I found that!! Most of them were just crumbling to nothing.

Also realized how close it is to me having to put the truck away for the winter. This no heat thing isn't going to work for much longer!! Had to keep wiping the fog off the inside of my windows on the way to work this morning. Lol

Checked the grounds, looked good but I didn't peel the casing back to see whats on the inside. Will have to investigate tomorrow.

Yup looking a little foggy there man!

Edit: @DodgeDude- I think about the same process yes. I didn't however repeat after a few weeks. Yea the window bit confuses me too LOL, just read your quote in my sig though lol.

dodge dude94 · Oct 9, 2013

Johnn123 said:
Checked the grounds, looked good but I didn't peel the casing back to see whats on the inside. Will have to investigate tomorrow.

Yup looking a little foggy there man!

Edit: @DodgeDude- I think about the same process yes. I didn't however repeat after a few weeks. Yea the window bit confuses me too LOL, just read your quote in my sig though lol.

Always true. :naughty:

dodge dude94 · Oct 9, 2013

Drove it around quite a bit today bugging managers at various stores.
Then pulled it out into the street earlier to see what the headlight pattern was. Much better than before I sanded. It's a bit sharper now. I just gotta figure out something to do with my driving lights. Barely brighter than my headlights. lol

98hemi-ram · Oct 9, 2013

Gave her a quick wash

Merc225hp · Oct 9, 2013

Pulled the T case to change the leaking input seal and the new clocking ring. Waiting on a 2 second new seal as I pooched the first one.

Bulged seal.

Test fitting the clocking ring.

wingnut · Oct 9, 2013

Took the truck out Monday for her first ride after the summer re-build, to pick-up a rust-free door about 20 miles away. Did I mention the 4-wheel complete brake rebuild I did on her? So about 4 mile away from the house, (I live in the country) feels like she is losing power. Then she starts to pull and smell! The right front caliper is locked-up! Sonofabitch! The caliper is original. I stop, and crank the wheel to the left, and get under her. Then I apply 20 years of dealing with cheap Mopar ****, and crack the bleeder with a 10mm wrench. The caliper released immediately! Once again, bitten by a collapsed Mopar brake hose!!! 4 times on 3 Mopars! It goes like this, you have 1500 psi going out to the caliper. So it blows-by the the blockage to apply the brake. But it cant return! I've seen this on Rams, JA's (Cirrus-Sebring-Breeze), and JR's (Sebring-Stratus). Turned-down OT today and replaced the line and bled the brakes, (mighty-vac). Problem solved, and picked-up my new rust-free door on the first UN-aborted voyage of my 97 Ram.

dodge dude94 · Oct 9, 2013

How much fluid did you have to put in after you cracked the bleeder?

wingnut · Oct 9, 2013

Hardly anything. A little goes a long way in brakes. It was a spurt and a dribble.

What did you do to/with your second gen today?

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