2021 Ram 1500 Classic Regular Cab 2WD 5.7 Colorshift paint build

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Froddoyo

Froddoyo

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Ram Year
2021 Classic
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Center console swap

alright so its time to share the console swap procedure! many of these pictures were taking months apart from eachother, I just wanted to have everything completed before posting about it.
Heres how it went.

For the console itself I found a used one through a wrecker. its not in the best shape and I'm pretty sure they had it sitting outside for a bit. I tried to find the best one possible but they seem to be quite rare.
Also the only arm rest color i could find was grey.. I was hoping to find a black or leather one. but I could swap that in the future.

The upper part of the console. like the stereo bezel I have actually had laying around for years. We swapped one on a truck because it had a little nick of damage in it from a moose hitting a windshield.
No worries though. We will be fixing it. I had this bezel WAAAY before even planning on building a 4th gen. Guess it came in handy.
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Opening this puppy up I was given a little surprise. THIS THING IS FIIIILTHY!! DDDAAAAYUUUMM. I had already paid for it and there are no returns on these parts so I had to work with what i had.
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Alright so this photo here shows the wiring that came with this console. I did try plugging it into my truck but my truck is just incompatible with this wiring setup.
I don't know for sure but it seems like the Classics have a similiar (but not the exact same) wiring as the non classic 19+ models.
this console is clearly from a 13(14)-18 model.
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So at this point I am pretty much forced to use the wiring and hub from the existing middle seat. which is fine. I got this :cool:

I am not going to explain too much here. the photos speak for themselves. I tried to do this in the cleanest way I could think of possible.

Here is the original middle seat from the truck. I tore the thing completely apart and gutted the wiring out of it. and put it back together.
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The new hub that will be going into the console.
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here's what the hub looks like on the console. clearly I have to do some custom work here to make things fit. And yes I did clean up the plastic :p
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Taking apart the console to gut the original wiring.
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paper template.

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Rough cut some plastic out of an old broken bumper.
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Lots of dremel work later.
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First coat of rubberized undercoating. Trying to give it a somewhat factory appearance.
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couple dabs of 142 fusor glue to put it into place and the hub slid in and clicked into place perfectly.
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Froddoyo

Froddoyo

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2021 Classic
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Bath time!!!! (I had actually done this cleaning sometime in-between installing that hub form the previous post)

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I only caught a picture of these parts but the actual center console itself also got a washing.

It looks 10x better!!
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routing the new hub wires into the console.
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(this photo was of course taken before I removed the center seat. Just putting the photo here to show the process)
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Passenger seat removed and center seat removed. Driver seat unbolted and just moved over an inch. It doesnt necessarily need to come right out.
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This seatbelt latch can of course come out cause we will no longer have a center seat.
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This is why the driver seat needed to be loosened. to remove this seatbelt latch.
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So in this photo you will see two new brackets. one behind the airbag module another one up front. THOSE ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS.
So if you get a center console from a wrecking yard be sure to also get these brackets. I forgot to and ended up ordering new ones from mopar.
I probably could have got them from the wrecking yard but after I spend the time driving and spending the gas money it just wasn't worth going back for them.
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All vacuumed up!
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did a test fit. then removed the console again and gave it one more good wipe down so its clean.
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When installing the center console I realized a screw must go here but there was no clip for the screw to go into.
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much better!
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Didn't catch a photo of the console installed. but I do have photos of the final installation.
 
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Froddoyo

Froddoyo

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2021 Classic
Engine
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Repairing some nicks.
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Primed them with a UV primer. didnt catch a photo. but its nothing too exciting.

Sanded with 600 grit by hand and a red scotch brite pad.
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1 coat of black epoxy as a sealer. and 1 coat of pxj black (without the glass flake added)
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I masked the trim and painted the rest with 5 coats of chameleon.
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Cleared with a full matte finish. I want these to be both flashy but also subtle. I think I nailed it.
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Ok so for anyone that doesnt know. You cannot use the bezel from a bench setup when installing a console.
if you look at the bottom they are very different.
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However. all the hardware within these panels is fully transferable!!


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This photo came out super blurry. my bad.
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Alright so its like 99% done. I am missing the kicker panels for it though :(
Another thing I had forgotten to grab from the wreckers. and new ones are insanely expensive.
but that's a low priority thing right now. I will grab some when I get a chance.
 
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Froddoyo

Froddoyo

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2021 Classic
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Tailgate (with rear badge shave)

Hello guys! here to show you the tailgate
The following photos you see are throughout 3 weeks. Giving every step great cure times.
Imma just say- Getting this badge shave to look normal on a curved gate was pretty hard.

All Hardware removed
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2 sided tape removed with eraser wheel.
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making a quick stencil
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Found a hood with a flat surface. chevy avalanche hood. made slightly larger and rough cut from it.
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trimmed it down to fit.
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grinded both sides.
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spread on both the patch and on the patch.

So this is my first time using a panel adhesive
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Honestly this was the only thing I could find to clamp it. also after I took this photo I actually put a bit more weight on it.


the next morning after i just ground down the glue a bit on the edges.
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a bit of spraybomb etch primer and stored for over a week. I want to give this stuff the best chance possible to cure before filling.
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after letting it sit. ground down the area.
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Using a fibreglass filler.
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Body filler. trying to keep this stuff thin.
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Sanded down to 320 grit.

etch primer.
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3 coats of PPGs new (march, 2022) ECP35 primer. planning to burn through and reprime.
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couple days later
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Same primer, 3 coats.
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More days pass. I flip it over and spray the jambs.
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This also gave it a chance to bake the primer on the front.
 
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Froddoyo

Froddoyo

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Prepped for Raptor Liner Bedliner.
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Many days later. had to let the bedliner cure well before flipping.
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3 coats of pxj black. (with no flake in it)
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5 coats of chameleon. 3 coats of 550 clear.
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I blew this one with a kiss right after that 3rd coat of clear.
 
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Froddoyo

Froddoyo

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The Bed

Sanded down with 800 grit and grey scotchbrite
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Started this paintjob at 10:30PM, was at the shop until 1:30am. was a late night (Can't turn bold lettering off here dunno why?)

5 Coats of Chameleon basecoat
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3 coats of 550 clear
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did end up getting a bit of a run and a dirt nib on the fuel door. hopefully we can easily fix that later.
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Froddoyo

Froddoyo

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Rear bumper and tailgate assembled.
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Also did some tail lights. these are fill ins until I get my hands on some 5th gen HD lights.
I gave my co-worker my brand new lights and took his used ones in his truck and did some paint work on them.
I'd rather paint a pair of old taillights and let him enjoy the brand new ones :)
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I smoked them with translucent basecoat, then masked for the borders. painted the borders. then dusted a very light coat of chameleon over the whole thing.
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They seem pretty opaque but I gave them a test and with a really bright LED in them I think they'll be good.
I'll test them in broad day light and if they seem dangerous I'll sand them down and do something different.

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So. GOOD NEWS. IM DONE PAINTING! the rest is all assembly and suspension work!! wooo! hundreds of hours and late nights later we are here.
 

emjohn4

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Amazing job!

I've painted exactly 1/2 a car (the front half, to be specific) in my life. Posts/images like this remind me why the number of cars I've painted will never increase beyond 1/2.....you're an artist!
 
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Froddoyo

Froddoyo

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So I'm still missing the bed caps. unfortunately these newer ones are near impossible to remove without breaking. So I have to get new ones. :(


Here is a video that shows even more details. :) Enjoy!

 

EdGs

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Damn, that is one awesome looking job. 6 months is a long time, but it really looks sharp!
 

Dinky

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Looks great now its time for some black wheels and level/lower it.
 

Dinky

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Black wheels would look nice. I was also thinking maybe a dark bronze color.

Dark bronze would look ok. I would definitely have someone photo shop it for your and see what looks best.
 
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