Winter Prep - '04 Cummins powered Ram

Lightman · 10-29-06, 02:52

Here is my '04 diesel Ram with 80k miles that is worked/driven hard and parked outside 24/7.

Disclaimer - haven't touched tires/wells yet because there is thick mud caked in there from some offroad driving I did last week and i don't want to leave it in the driveway. Will hit the coin op to clean those up later this week. I typically try to use up products I don't like or am phasing out on the truck due to the huge amount of paint.

- clayed entire truck
- ssr 2.5 via pc on 5 and orange sonus swirlbuster pad(trying to get rid of it)
-rotary and ohc on tailgate @ 1500, was kinda swirly
-griots machine polish 3 orange griots pad on 4(trying to get rid of it)
-menzerna fp II on hood/front quarters (first time trying anything menzerna, wow, awesome!)
-ksg x1 everywhere, ksg x2 right doors/bedside, as I had started this mammoth of a project on friday and got those areas done with a layer of ksg.
-windows stoner'ed and rain-x'ed (trying to get rid of it)
-wheels/exhaust tip with nevr-dull

She's getting there. Eventually I want KSG x3 everywhere and may try topping with this new CG 5050 carnauba or souveran for shts/giggles.

It got kinda dark so the pics aren't that awesome but in person it's looking really dark black and reflective. I'll grab more pics in the next days/week as I continue adding layers of sealant.

Santatime · 10-29-06, 03:34

Looks great! nice job

Brandon1 · 10-29-06, 04:50

Damn them some knobby tires. A rednecks dream. That is what a truck is meant for, I just dont have the guts to do that to mine yet.

Paint looks real nice, bet it would look 100x better with a nice tire dressing.

Lightman · 10-29-06, 05:27

LOL Brandon @ 'a redneck's dream'. You're right, they are totally obnoxious honestly...They make a lot of noise on the highway but when I go camping or to ATV rallies I tend to drive offroad a lot and in a lot of mud/snow getting to where I need to be..the stock bfg 'all terrains' left me stuck too many times.

P1et · 10-29-06, 08:16

Stellar job on the Dodge Lightman. I have 100% the same truck, mine is a 04.5 so I have the Cummins 600. Mine has the stock suspension, it looks like you upgraded to the KORE? You've got the KORE wheels I see.

Very nice!!!

Lightman · 10-29-06, 09:07

Thanks guys!

P1et good eye - yes those are the Kore Weld's and I have the full Chase suspension. I'm sure you know what I mean, but man do I love this truck! I'm right around 500hp at the wheels now, so much fun!

Scottwax · 10-29-06, 11:16

Pretty decent shine!

Post more pics when you get the wheels/fenderwells done and better lighting...please.

Lightman · 10-30-06, 04:15

I put layer 2 of KSG on today (layer 3 on right doors and bedside) and went to the coin op and blasted the mud out of the fenderwells. It was dark again by the time I finished so I don't have any updated pics. I'll post a few new pics when layer 3 of KSG goes on with possible topper, and the tires/wells are looking pretty. I also realized earlier I have not done a thing to the roof..lol..not that many people's eyes are 7'2" or taller...so I probably won't bother compounding/polishing too much, just probably clay,OP, and ksg.

I'm going to try experimenting leaving AIO out of the equation and going from finishing polish straight to SG versus always doing AIO/SG. I wonder how much doing the AIO first really helps.

P1et · 10-30-06, 07:18

Awesome choice on the suspension, that CHASE kit is absolutely wicked! I know what you mean about the roof. I hadn't done anything to do it in two years and it was looking like a tornado hit it. Finally clayed it and polished it last week with Zaino, looking much better. You just have to stand in the bed to really be able to do it.

Lightman · 11-10-06, 02:35

Ok guys here's an update. I am pretty much finished with my winter prep! In total now the truck has KSGx3, and today I just topped it with CG 5050 wax just to try it out (awesome). Finally got the tires and wells cleaned and dressed with megs extreme shine(too shiny for my taste but getting rid of it, easy with those big tires lol), plastic 303'd, windshield rain-x'ed etc. Here are some pics from today..

Brandon1 · 11-10-06, 02:46

Bitchin, just bitchin

Lightman · 11-10-06, 06:47

Thanks Brandon, appreciate it. This was my first time using CG 5050 and after about an hour of cure time, wow..definitely the deepest/wettest lsp I've used on the truck yet. Very easy on/off too. Truck is really coming around, and ready for winter hopefully.