PWNY TRK

[Jeff]

Ok so I have been lazy on my RAM but I recently got the bug up my ass to do some modding! I went to great pains to get a set of OEM polished aluminum wheels and some proper size 265/70R17 white letter Firestone tires. Wheels are currently waiting a clear coat after being stripped and re-polished. They are being coated with a POR-15 product designed for polished aluminum that hydro cures. Basically we can't lay it on with all this humidity we have been having. I will post pics on this when they are done, if this stuff works it will be good. I look forward to reviewing it, might be useful to others in the club. Another mod I did recently that really changed the look of the truck was an OEM fog lamp kit. It is amazing how much fog lamps can help the look of a vehicle. I will post a pic set on that to, I can't believe how much better that makes it look.

Anyway, on to the bit I do have pics for. It all started when I decided I needed a set of steering wheel audio controls. I hate not having them, all my other cars now-a-days do. So I ordered a steering column off ebay with a leather steering wheel, controls, and everything else I would need. Got it in and the steering wheel was bent and all fucked up. Cleaned it, straightened it and refinished it (neat process, if anyone wants to do that PM me I will explain). Turned out great but I didn't get the dye color right, my wheel matches my seats, not my dash. It looks ok but I might change it later. Anyway put in the wheel with the controls, wired them up, no dice. My truck does not have the sales code for audio controls so my cluster computer will not let the signal pass to the radio. WTF! I called everyone I could think at Chrysler and no one could help me. They used to be able to change or add sales codes to build configurations but that ability has been lost. So I am stuck. Well, I decided I would do what I do best, rip that shit out!

OEM wheel controls. Note the off-color on the leather wheel.


OEM radio with trim removed.


OEM trim panel




Hole for radio isn't quite large enough for a double din radio unit and it has these "ear" shaped cutouts for the volume and tune knobs. You can fix this by buying a trim panel from a truck that had OEM nav, buying a customized panel off the web for $175+ core, or you can do what I did and modify your panel and customize a mounting kit. I got this kit off ebay.



A "little" customizing and I got it to fit the Pioneer AVIC-9310BT I also got off Ebay




TEST FIT!


Now you have to make the trim panel fit the radio. This was the tight butthole part of this project.






Lots of test fits later!




Then comes the wiring mess...and was it ever a mess. Steering wheel control module, CAN interface, Sub outputs, and (not pictured) wiring for the two backup cameras.


Backup cameras needed a switch and two relays. I have two cams coming in on one backup input and they need switching. One for the gooseball and one for the back. Switch turned out great, located to the right of the brake controller.




BAM! Installed and working perfect.




Two backup cams work great as well. not bad for $15 each off ebay.




The radio was second hand and everything else was bottom dollar but it turned out really nicely for under $500. Bluetooth, turn by turn nav, touch screen with custom home screen, etc. I couldn't be happier!