Stock, picture from first day of purchase.





Just finished installing it yesterday.



total cost of conversion $980

OEM dual cutouts bumper conversion
Magnaflow 16870 exhaust kit 3" to (2) 2 1/2" pipes.

 

Looking good.. Is that the Bakflip G2 covering your bed?

 

How much did the OEM bumper cost?

 

They have them on Ebay for $394.00 plus shipping,from a Dodge dealer.I'm gonna do the same swap on my Hemi as well.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

item # 350254692849 if the link doesn't work.
Great seller from my experience, i got the bumper in 2 days. Of course hes only 1 state away from me.

Yep, bakflip g2! First pictures i have posted of my truck. Ive only done 4 mods so far.

Bakflip G2 Cover
Mopar step rails
Bumper/Exhaust conversion
Rhino spray in liner

Ive spent some time tweaking the angle of the exhaust since the picture. I started off with them 2" from the peak of the cutouts. Tonight i moved the pipes and have them 1" away. I did this after someone commented about them at work.

 

I was about to mention they were hanging low

 

After the tweaks to the pipes, this is the more, stock-like appearance:




How is your ability to read Old English? Can you read the cap?

 

What exactly did you have to replace from your existing exhaust to make the switch.I wanna make the switch myself,I know the bumper is $450ish(with shipping)I know the mufflers are different,don't know what else I need to do........................Kevin.

 

Bumper is very simple to remove. I only used 4 tools for the whole project.

I went in the following order:

> Detached the 2 license plate bulbs by twisting as you would to replace the bulb and left them hanging out of the way. Also had to do the same for the hitch power connection, its held in by a clip system.

> Next I undid the 4 large bolts that connected directly behind the bumper. Behind the license plate you will find the other 2 bolts holding the bumper on. You'll need a 9/16" socket to do that. Then cafefully pulled it off the truck.

> With the bumper off, I took the license light fixtures off. They are held by a metal bracket that holds together by matching groves and is supported by the bumper frame. Just pull it towards you and the fixture pops right out. The hitch power adapter is simple to remove. From behind just pinch the clips together and push it out.

> The pain, and probably most time consuming part came next. The removal of the plastic meshcut style cover. Had to bust out the needle-nose pliers here and gently squeeze and pull it away from the bumper 1 by 1 til everything was free. Once thats off you can remove the supports that hold the shape of the bumper. Then you can rebuild your bumper back to spec.


Exhaust was simple to install, came in 5 pipe fragments and a muffler w/ clamp on tips. Started this by loosening all the clamps and removing the mufflex 18dods that i had previously installed. Same process for the stock stuff too though. To do duals our option is pretty much the sid style (single into dual). Its a 3" match to stock, the piping going to the rear turns into 2 1/2" x2 for the pipes. Resonator is removed, so it cleans up the undercarriage of the truck as well. If you wan true duals, then you get into a cost vs worth to you kind of situation.

> First thing i did was identified where the pipes need to be in order to mount this exhaust system on the truck. I have the early dodge model ram, so I think i get lucky and already have hangars on both sides of the rear of the truck, but the kit comes with the extra hangar if you don't have this.

> Next i put the muffler on, and tightened the clamp LOOSELY so that it wouldn't move much on me when it was time to finalize my positioning. Then placed the rest of the piping into place, simple simple! Make sure to put your clamps on before sliding each piece into place otherwise u will be pissed! Like I did with the muffler I LOOSELY tightened all my clamps.

> Finally I proceeded to align everything. I got frustrated and ended up getting the wife outside to tell me which way I needed to move the pipes to center everything. I started off 2" below the cutouts, only to realize that this looked rather...odd. Just an FYI, you will sit under a flat stock bumper w/ this kit easily. Not sure how well it would work though. I just kept pushing the pipes around and eventually ended up getting the pipes to just under 1" below the peak of the cut outs. Then i slid the exhaust tips on. When you tighten these clamps make sure they are up towards the undercarriage of the truck, otherwise everyone will see them that rides behind you. I think i ended up using my sway-bar upright supports and ended up putting the back of the tips 17 3/4" from the bar to the end of the pipe.

Tools needed:
9/16" socket and 15mm socket > Socket Wrench
Needle nose pliers
Flashlight
Measuring tape
Optional equipment: Upset wife, yelling at you saying, "Stop moving it! You had it centered, now its not anymore!"


Costs:
Bumper: 390$ shipped
Exhaust kit: 600$ shipped
Magnaflow 16870 kit. (16869 kit will work as well. I just thought the 5" tips would be gawdy)

 

The DODS18 single exhaust mufflex muffler is gettin lonely in my garage if someone is trying to do something less drastic with their single exhaust. Just send me a PM.