Painted Chrome grille

[TophandRam]

I decided that the chrome Tradesman look wasn't working for me, so I disassembled and removed the grille and left and right lower headlight chrome whiskers.
Only a few videos on you tube and only on on the 2019 2500, pretty straight forward but the left and right lower chrome pieces are press fitted and you will need a long panel removal tool and some leverage to pop them out.
You have to remove these to get to the lower center chrome piece left and right 12 mm bolts, under the bumper you have to loosen do not remove about 6 nuts I think these were 12 mm or 10 mm .
Once you remove the lower chrome piece you can access the 6 12 mm bolts holding the lower grille in, 3 on each side, the top push pins and 12 mm bolts removed take off the top cover and chrome trim panel ,
The grille pops out pretty easy after that, then start the removal of the RAM emblems small flat head screw driver light pressure to push the locking clips flat and two pressure washers i used needle nose to pop those off.
The left and right eyebrows flat head screwdriver to push the black plastic on the grille to release the pressure on the eyebrows and they pop out..

Once you got everything out, i used a few red scothbrite pads lightly scuffed the plastic chrome, I chose to use a 2k DTM (direct to metal ) gray primer since its chrome coating, i checked with my paint guy he said that will work.
You can also spray a few coats of etching primer then regular primer let it flash lightly sand wet or dry your call, clean your primer parts with Prep All to remove grease or dirt, blow off , tack , and spray your top coat.
I chose to use a single stage paint versus adding clear my preference for now, i shot 3 full coats cured overnight reinstalled , my quart of paint cost me 60, my paint guy gives me a dealer rate, I had the reducer/ hardner already, this would about 50 bucks of so if you got it as a kit.
I do not have a booth I shot it outside on a fold up table it was about 60 degrees , came out good no runs and layed down glossy. I used a Finex spray gun..

Time -
Grille removal 30-45 min.
Prep / paint - 3 hours
Grille reassembly and install I hour
Tools -Rachet with extensions 10 / 12 mm socket short and deep.
Needle nose and flat tip screw driver
Panel removal tool (I got a 6 pack of these short and long) harbor freight 20 bucks.

 

[Riveyman]

Looks great!
Thinking about a chrome delete too.

 

[Bob_ag]

Wow great job and beautiful truck. Really like the front end replacement bumper as well.

 

[TophandRam]

Wow great job and beautiful truck. Really like the front end replacement bumper as well.

STEELCRAFT ELEVATION FRONT BUMPER DODGE RAM 2500/3500
they have a great product good reviews , e coated and powder coated got mine from Bumper stock $995 free shipping plus a 20" led center light bar.. best price on the web.
It weighs 280 lbs..
I had Frontier Gear on my 2018 front and rear but the powdercoating started to rust on the front and the headache rack after 6 months.

 

[Kimo7]

Really nice job, turned out looking great. It always feels good when you do something like that and turns out great. Congrats on a good looking truck

 

[Bozo]

Low buck upgrades are great! Nice job!

 

[foneguy]

i was thinking the same but having all chrome wrapped to color match
looks real good

 

[psmura]

Looks great! It amazes me how many tradesman's are ordered with the chrome package.

 

[TophandRam]

Looks great! It amazes me how many tradesman's are ordered with the chrome package.

The dealerships generally orders this model dressed up since the chrome package is about 600 bucks I think, plus they usually check the cloth seat / carpet / keyless entry option.. I would have preferred Work grade vinyl seats and rubber flooring versus carpet.
Hard to find unless its a full commercial truck plus you cannot get a GLOSS BLACK my preferred paint as a stock color like Ford and GM, its a special order low volume option 400 bucks.. I got lucky with the Flame Red Tradesman only one they ordered 80% of the trucks on there lot where White.. Mine will be a low budget DYI project.. This was my 2018 Ram 2500 Tradesman 6.4 Hemi 2wd that I traded in for the 2019 2500 , I painted the factory stainless running boards, grille gloss black shaved all emblems ...

 

[Power247]

That turned out awesome!!

Greg
2019 | RAM 2500 | CCSB | 6.4 HEMI
2016 | Heartland Pioneer | DS310

 

[TophandRam]

i was thinking the same but having all chrome wrapped to color match
looks real good

I guess the wrap would work not sure how close they get to the actual color match outside of solid colors, metallic s would be a challenge to match but with technology now a days I guess they can match it.. Plus not sure of the cost to wrap stuff that intricate .
Plus with most paint suppliers you can actually purchase your exact paint color in a rattle can form versus having to spray thru a paint gun.. DIY time to remove your parts not including beer maybe and hour of time, prepping items red scothbrite pad 3 pack $7 bucks ( scuff till no shiney stuff maybe another hour, you can clean with some pre-all, spray maybe 1 or 2 cans 3 coats of etching primer maybe $15, maybe 2 cans of light or dark gray (depends on your top coat color ) sandable primer rustoleum maybe $15, 6-800 grit wet sand ($10) , wipe with prep-all ($10 small can QRT.) i use a roll of Blue shop towels usually have no lint. The paint color in cans maybe 2 cans for good coverage (maybe 30-40 bucks) and a good rattle can of clear from same paint supplier (20 bucks) ..
Overall maybe for about $125-150 you could knock this out over a weekend and get the satisfaction of doing it yourself

 

[TophandRam]

I decided to attach some images of the topper project I did in mid February its an ARE topper used off a 2014 ram 3500 it was white the original rear door glass was gone clear lexan was installed...Craigslist deal $200, I had to buy 4 new topper clamps $40, a new lock for the (handle $15, and a new 3rd brake light led $27 - Amazon).. Paint 2 qrts. Flame red PR4 my NAPA paint guy is good with mixing paint exact match dealer price $110. Got just over $350 in it total..
Scotch brite red pads scuff it up , tape it up wipe it down and sprayed 3 coats on it since it had good paint on it no scratches not perfect but it works..
I figured this was cheaper than buying a new one for $1700 and i have always preferred the Solid side toppers then with the windows..
The deals are out there and DYI is always my approach, my Ram Running boards off a 2019 Ram Mega Cab they were brand new take offs $200 and 50 bucks in fuel..

 

[1FastHemi]

I decided to attach some images of the topper project I did in mid February its an ARE topper used off a 2014 ram 3500 it was white the original rear door glass was gone clear lexan was installed...Craigslist deal $200, I had to buy 4 new topper clamps $40, a new lock for the (handle $15, and a new 3rd brake light led $27 - Amazon).. Paint 2 qrts. Flame red PR4 my NAPA paint guy is good with mixing paint exact match dealer price $110. Got just over $350 in it total..
Scotch brite red pads scuff it up , tape it up wipe it down and sprayed 3 coats on it since it had good paint on it no scratches not perfect but it works..
I figured this was cheaper than buying a new one for $1700 and i have always preferred the Solid side toppers then with the windows..
The deals are out there and DYI is always my approach, my Ram Running boards off a 2019 Ram Mega Cab they were brand new take offs $200 and 50 bucks in fuel..

Great Job !

 

[GeauxCrush]

I decided that the chrome Tradesman look wasn't working for me, so I disassembled and removed the grille and left and right lower headlight chrome whiskers.
Only a few videos on you tube and only on on the 2019 2500, pretty straight forward but the left and right lower chrome pieces are press fitted and you will need a long panel removal tool and some leverage to pop them out.
You have to remove these to get to the lower center chrome piece left and right 12 mm bolts, under the bumper you have to loosen do not remove about 6 nuts I think these were 12 mm or 10 mm .
Once you remove the lower chrome piece you can access the 6 12 mm bolts holding the lower grille in, 3 on each side, the top push pins and 12 mm bolts removed take off the top cover and chrome trim panel ,
The grille pops out pretty easy after that, then start the removal of the RAM emblems small flat head screw driver light pressure to push the locking clips flat and two pressure washers i used needle nose to pop those off.
The left and right eyebrows flat head screwdriver to push the black plastic on the grille to release the pressure on the eyebrows and they pop out..

Once you got everything out, i used a few red scothbrite pads lightly scuffed the plastic chrome, I chose to use a 2k DTM (direct to metal ) gray primer since its chrome coating, i checked with my paint guy he said that will work.
You can also spray a few coats of etching primer then regular primer let it flash lightly sand wet or dry your call, clean your primer parts with Prep All to remove grease or dirt, blow off , tack , and spray your top coat.
I chose to use a single stage paint versus adding clear my preference for now, i shot 3 full coats cured overnight reinstalled , my quart of paint cost me 60, my paint guy gives me a dealer rate, I had the reducer/ hardner already, this would about 50 bucks of so if you got it as a kit.
I do not have a booth I shot it outside on a fold up table it was about 60 degrees , came out good no runs and layed down glossy. I used a Finex spray gun..

Time -
Grille removal 30-45 min.
Prep / paint - 3 hours
Grille reassembly and install I hour
Tools -Rachet with extensions 10 / 12 mm socket short and deep.
Needle nose and flat tip screw driver
Panel removal tool (I got a 6 pack of these short and long) harbor freight 20 bucks.View attachment 3173View attachment 3172View attachment 3173View attachment 3174View attachment 3175View attachment 3177View attachment 3178View attachment 3179View attachment 3180View attachment 3172View attachment 3173View attachment 3174View attachment 3175View attachment 3177View attachment 3178View attachment 3179View attachment 3180View attachment 3172

That looks awesome! I want to do the same in a bronze color. What kind of paint works best for the chrome trim? I’m looking to order some since most stores are currently closed.

 

[TophandRam]

Generally since chrome is a metal type coating, you can scuff it and lay down a couple of coats of etching primer or 2k urethane DTM direct to metal primer..
Let flash wet sand , clean, tack off and paint..Acrylic enamel base coat lay down at least 2 good coats, let it flash fix flaws by wet sanding , clean tack and lay down 3 coats of clear and let flash and cure wet sand and buff out..
I chose single stage acrylic enamel it has clear in it, 3 coats on my mine .

 

[Nick]

Looks good behind that war wagon bumper

 

[rossagge]

How's the paint holding up on the painted chrome grille surround?

Sent from my SM-P610 using Tapatalk

 

[LateToTheParty]

I decided to attach some images of the topper project I did in mid February its an ARE topper used off a 2014 ram 3500 it was white the original rear door glass was gone clear lexan was installed...Craigslist deal $200, I had to buy 4 new topper clamps $40, a new lock for the (handle $15, and a new 3rd brake light led $27 - Amazon).. Paint 2 qrts. Flame red PR4 my NAPA paint guy is good with mixing paint exact match dealer price $110. Got just over $350 in it total..
Scotch brite red pads scuff it up , tape it up wipe it down and sprayed 3 coats on it since it had good paint on it no scratches not perfect but it works..
I figured this was cheaper than buying a new one for $1700 and i have always preferred the Solid side toppers then with the windows..
The deals are out there and DYI is always my approach, my Ram Running boards off a 2019 Ram Mega Cab they were brand new take offs $200 and 50 bucks in fuel..

Way off topic, I know, but was the new 3rd brake light you ordered just the generic one that allegedly fits just about all toppers?

I've been pondering a project to install a camera in mine, but would prefer to experiment on a replacement.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Nice job !

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

I love that color i almost bought one that color but it was a short bed, my first truck 96 ram 1500 2wd was the same pr4 flame red