Swapping Front Ends - 98 Ram to 99 Sport

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George J. McFadden - 22 Dec 2003 15:57 GMT

Hello all,

I am almost there! I have a 98 non-sport that I am trying to modify to
a 99 Sport front end. I have replaced the bumper and am trying to
replace the grille. I have a sport grille, but in attempting to install
it, I found that I will need a new frame.

Has anyone done this? If so, what can I salvage/keep, and what do I
have to replace to make this work? I already see I will have to drill
two holes in the hood (the existing ones do not line up correctly.

Any help, hints appreciated,

Thanks,
George
'90 Wrangler 4.2L
'98 Ram 1500 5.9L
'00 SV650

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RM - 23 Dec 2003 05:03 GMT

On one of my ex-wifes many wrecks I had the dealer swap to a sport front
end. All the grille hardware had to be replaced although I would like to
know why. The dealer told me none of it could be carried over if that helps.
Also, look into getting the quad beam lamps and turn signals with the clear
lenses as opposed to the fluted ones. I did and think thay look a lot nicer.
If you already put the sport bumper on and haven't got wiring for the fog
lamps then go to a junkyard and cut them off of a wrecked one. I put a relay
on my parking lamps and they turn on that way. They are actually very bright
and worth the trouble. I did not do the grille work so I can not help you
there, sorry.

> Hello all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> '98 Ram 1500 5.9L
> '00 SV650

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MiKe - 24 Dec 2003 18:01 GMT

dude i did it with ease on mine i have a 98 sport but i pushed the front
end back to the fire wall and hadd to rebild ur best bet would be to go
with a new hood b/c the lines will line up alot better than take a 99
sport hood and use that with the 98 ram body which will make for alot
easer job if u need ne more ?s answerd feel free to e-mail me at
mike2785@webtv.net
mike

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George J. McFadden - 29 Dec 2003 20:28 GMT

Thanks for the info. I already had the fogs, so I modified the wiring
to work with the new sport fogs (I just had to extend the wires on one
side a bit.

I got the sport grille from a guy on Ebay, and have the new frame on
order (approx $30 new). I will wait and see if I have to get a new
latch, etc. It looks like I will have to drill 2 new holes in the hood
because the screw holes for the grill do not line up at all!

I will look into the headlights. Thanks for the tip.

George

> On one of my ex-wifes many wrecks I had the dealer swap to a sport front
> end. All the grille hardware had to be replaced although I would like to
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> > '98 Ram 1500 5.9L
> > '00 SV650

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belas78 - 04 Jul 2005 07:55 GMT

How hard was it to change the 98 bumper over to the 99 sport bumper?
Everything fit and fall into place, or was there drilling or cutting
involved?

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