Center Console Swap a '18 Power Wagon V2 (plus some other silly interior stuff)

[Odin]

First off, I'd like to say it's really good to be back on the forum. I kinda fell off when Tapatalk was no longer an option and the mobile web browser just got to be a hassle after a while. What brought me back was a major mod I saw @56PW17 (swapping a flow through console into our trucks) start doing and wasn't sure if he ever completed it. It never left my mind and has been something I've really wanted to do as well. Second, before I get too far into this, I want to let anyone who's following know this isn't a project I will be working on extensively. I'm 3 weeks recovery from bicep tendon repair surgery so some things just aren't possible at the moment. But I will post updates as things are done and hopefully give others with the floor console and transfer case lever an idea on how to do this if they wish.

So, as the title says we are gonna swap in a flow through center console into a 2018 Power Wagon. I'm making this a little different than the original guy who tried it though because I'm gonna be doing some addition customization to the radio bezel and console.

Things you'll need:

A full flow through center console, preferably from the same year as your truck to match radio wiring (again, thanks @Mpgrimm2 for the help here). You can either buy it as one piece from several eBay vendors which was my plan until they stopped responding to questions to make sure what I was getting was what I wanted. So, instead I brought the floor portion which is from a 2018 1500 Big Horn and the radio bezel is from idk what. Lol.

A second transfer lever for modification, dremel with cutting blade/disc (or I guessa razor blade could work).

As I do the modification I'll post pics and explain how I did things.

For the extras I'm doing you'll need:

Flat nose wire cutters (thanks for the tip @Mpgrimm2) a soldering iron with exacto tip (beveled tip works also), plastic weld, plastic panel popper tools kit, whatever spray paint you wanna use (if trying to make look OEM I recommend SEM or Dupli Color), spray paint adhesion promoter, your choice of clear, and an over abundance of patience!

 

[Odin]

I got my center console in a few days ago and the radio bezel just came today. Still waiting on some of the spray paints I need but wanted to get things rolling on the project and post some pics.

I'm doing some modifications to the radio bezel where I'll be removing the chrome/silver trim (also the side vent trims and center console trim) and will me spraying them to be similar to the trim in the red/black Rebel interior. I'll also be spraying both side piece to match as close as possible to the metallic/stone graphite/charcoal color of the Power Wagon. This will also be done to the silver on the center console. I will be removing some of the portion of the original radio bezel which has the tire tread print and attempt to put it on the other bezel I ordered while trying to make it look as OEM as possible. The tricky part will be putting the lower tray onto the part from my truck.

The sections circled in red is what I'll be switching out to keep the tire tread pattern.

Here's what I accomplished today...

And this bezel is seriously disgusting... I've gotta use a lot of degreaser on it and will be spraying the black portion with satin matte black because it's just in terrible condition. Thanks eBay seller for taking AWESOME pictures...

To do what you see in the pictures I would strongly recommend the soldering iron and mentioned tips. You basically have to melt (cut) every single silver and white tab you see on the back of the bezel. Once you've done this is where the panel popper tools come in to help separate the pieces.

 

[Odin]

So, as I said, I'd provide updates as I can do things with recovery.

I pulled the silver trim off the center console yesterday and got the trim pieces primered and was going to paint them the metallic fleck red. Opened the cap and the nozzle had come out with no way to get it back in. So had to order another can.

Like I mentioned before, I was trying to match the center console and radio bezel surround to the color currently in my PW. It happened to be a little darker, but not horribly so. More a textured charcoal metallic. Got those painted yesterday and I went to matte clear them to day. I had no idea matte clear would actually DESTROY the metallic color. They are now basically just a dark textured gray. I'm really considering sanding the pieces down to where it's just the paint again and recoating with about 4 coats of the paint and doing no clear coat. In a way, I'm glad this happened with the larger pieces cause now I know I can't use this on the red trim.

I don't have much experience in using clear coats as most spray paint projects I've done are your routine rattle can around the house for kids type thing. Does anyone know if a semi gloss will also destroy metallic flecks?