CAMARO6 - View Single Post - Switch '19+ front/rear fascias to '16-18 style: The de-fresh (DIY summary)

The Maverick · 08-01-2022, 02:16 AM

You can de-fresh a sixth gen!

Here is my "2021/18" RS, Liquid Steel

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Intro

If you have a 2019 or later Camaro and prefer the 2016-2018 front end, back end, or both, you will want to read on!

Apologies for this post being a bit lighter than a full-on DIY. It will not walk you through every step and detail of a "de-fresh" (my term for swapping 2016-2018 front and rear fascias onto a 2019+ sixth gen). But the DIY forum seemed like a good place to share a summary overview of my de-fresh project. I have posted more de-fresh photos (with explanatory captions) in my D-FRESH photo album, and I include some links to specific photos below.

My de-fresh specifically involved a 2021 3LT RS, so be prepared for other potential hurdles if you are working with a different trim.

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Why de-fresh?

Whether you de-fresh the front, rear, or both, it will primarily be "for your eyes only" - because what you end up with looks identical to a 2016-2018 Camaro (or nearly so, for the front end). But if you hate the refresh changes as much as I did, a de-fresh may well be worth the time and effort! I will admit that it feels a bit odd to be driving a customized car that doesn't shout "look at me" - normally our cosmetic modifications are intended to attract attention. But a core concept of the de-fresh was to look as "factory" as possible. I think my de-fresh succeeded in that regard, and now I have a 2021 Camaro that looks (to me) just like a sixth gen RS should!

On the flip side, my de-fresh might also help chart the way forward for someone who would like to switch a '16-18 Camaro to the '19+ look.

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The Back End

Before and after:

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This is the "easy" end. In fact, if you don't have the high-trim-level backup sensors, the rear de-fresh is just a parts swap.

2016-2018 parts needed
* rear bumper cover (fascia)
* diffuser (optional, 19+ diffuser fits too)
* plastic "absorber" that mounts inside rear fascia
* LED tail lamps
* taillight mounting brackets
* Gen5DIY wiring harnesses to adapt tail lamps

Misc trim and body clips or fasteners may be needed, or perhaps can be transferred over from the 2019+ parts that are being removed.

Modifications needed
None, other than to remove the 2019+ parts and reinstall the 2016-2018 parts, unless you have the backup sensors.

The diameter of the backup sensors was changed in 2019. I posted some photos (L, R) in my D-FRESH album to give you an idea of what the shop did to fit the 2021 sensors to the holes in the '16-18 rear bumper cover. I did not try connecting the '16-18 sensors to the 2021 wiring harness, to avoid warranty issues, so I do not know if that would be an alternative approach. I just kept the complete 2021 bumper wiring harness. It needed to be removed from the refresh plastic absorber and attached to the '16-18 plastic absorber that mounts inside the bumper.

Diffuser options
Since I did not have a new-condition '16-18 LT diffuser available, I decided to just use the 2021 RS diffuser. There was a minor incompatibility encountered as a result - the tabs at the upper corners of the 2021 diffuser did not snap into the '16-18 plastic absorber that mounts inside the rear bumper cover, which caused there to be a small gap between the diffuser and bumper cover on the driver's side. Small cut-outs were made in the '16-18 absorber to allow the 2021 diffuser to mount flush against the rear bumper cover.

The Front End

Before and after:

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Oh yeah! No more refresh "smiley face" look - Liquid Steel has its "war face" back.

2016-2018 parts needed
* hood
* front bumper cover (fascia)
* styrofoam "energy absorber" insert (but see note below)
* upper and lower grilles
* Gen5DIY wiring harness for daytime running lights (optional)

Misc trim and body clips or fasteners may be needed, or perhaps can be transferred over from the 2019+ parts that are being removed.

Modifications needed
Because 2019+ models changed to computer control of the RS-style headlights, Gen5DIY advised me that it was not possible to swap over the '16-18 headlights. A bodywork solution was therefore required to make the refresh headlights fit into the '16-18 fascia. I posted photos in my D-FRESH album showing the modified upper grille and trim pieces that fit under the 2019+ RS-style headlights.

One styling note regarding the altered plastic trim pieces that fit under the headlights. As originally installed on a 19+ car, these trim pieces follow the inboard curvature of the headlights. On my de-fresh car, the trim pieces were adjusted so that they better align with the horizontal lines of the center grille (L, R photos). The shop achieved this by shimming the trim pieces at the inboard ends where screws had been added to help secure these trim pieces.

In hindsight, I would have probably gone with a non-RS grille for the upper grille - the shortened chrome trim pieces don't work as well here as they did in the '16-18 where the chrome ran all the way between both headlights. So I will probably be blacking out these two chrome strips in the upper grille. [I did end up making this update - see this post for photos of the result: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showp...&postcount=15]

The 2019+ models use a differently shaped styrofoam "absorber" insert than the '16-18 models. This is a long styorfoam piece that goes somewhere in between the metal inner bumper and the fascia. The 2021 absorber would not fit the older fascia correctly. I am not 100% sure and do not have pictures, but I believe the shop mentioned that the '16-18 styrofoam absorber might have had to be trimmed/modified slightly.

I hadn't noticed that my 2021 RS lacked the separate daytime running lights that the '16-18 models have. You could leave the '16-18 LT DRL's non-functioning, or maybe even black them out to match the plastic trim. However, if you go with the Gen5DIY wiring harness to make the DRL's functional, you will need to modify the under-hood fuse box cover so you can run the power wire for the fuse tap.

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Thanks!

Thanks to the various forum members who (sometimes unknowingly) helped me along the way with this crazy project, to Camaro6 for being an awesome resource, and to Gen5DIY for their invaluable technical assistance and custom wiring harnesses!

If you have questions about the de-fresh, let me know!

08-01-2022, 02:16 AM	#1
The Maverick Somewhere in the Kalahari Drives: 2021/18 (de-fresh) 3LT RS Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: California Posts: 651	Switch '19+ front/rear fascias to '16-18 style: The de-fresh (DIY summary) You can de-fresh a sixth gen! Here is my "2021/18" RS, Liquid Steel Intro If you have a 2019 or later Camaro and prefer the 2016-2018 front end, back end, or both, you will want to read on! Apologies for this post being a bit lighter than a full-on DIY. It will not walk you through every step and detail of a "de-fresh" (my term for swapping 2016-2018 front and rear fascias onto a 2019+ sixth gen). But the DIY forum seemed like a good place to share a summary overview of my de-fresh project. I have posted more de-fresh photos (with explanatory captions) in my D-FRESH photo album, and I include some links to specific photos below. My de-fresh specifically involved a 2021 3LT RS, so be prepared for other potential hurdles if you are working with a different trim. Why de-fresh? Whether you de-fresh the front, rear, or both, it will primarily be "for your eyes only" - because what you end up with looks identical to a 2016-2018 Camaro (or nearly so, for the front end). But if you hate the refresh changes as much as I did, a de-fresh may well be worth the time and effort! I will admit that it feels a bit odd to be driving a customized car that doesn't shout "look at me" - normally our cosmetic modifications are intended to attract attention. But a core concept of the de-fresh was to look as "factory" as possible. I think my de-fresh succeeded in that regard, and now I have a 2021 Camaro that looks (to me) just like a sixth gen RS should! On the flip side, my de-fresh might also help chart the way forward for someone who would like to switch a '16-18 Camaro to the '19+ look. The Back End Before and after: This is the "easy" end. In fact, if you don't have the high-trim-level backup sensors, the rear de-fresh is just a parts swap. 2016-2018 parts needed * rear bumper cover (fascia) * diffuser (optional, 19+ diffuser fits too) * plastic "absorber" that mounts inside rear fascia * LED tail lamps * taillight mounting brackets * Gen5DIY wiring harnesses to adapt tail lamps Misc trim and body clips or fasteners may be needed, or perhaps can be transferred over from the 2019+ parts that are being removed. Modifications needed None, other than to remove the 2019+ parts and reinstall the 2016-2018 parts, unless you have the backup sensors. The diameter of the backup sensors was changed in 2019. I posted some photos (L, R) in my D-FRESH album to give you an idea of what the shop did to fit the 2021 sensors to the holes in the '16-18 rear bumper cover. I did not try connecting the '16-18 sensors to the 2021 wiring harness, to avoid warranty issues, so I do not know if that would be an alternative approach. I just kept the complete 2021 bumper wiring harness. It needed to be removed from the refresh plastic absorber and attached to the '16-18 plastic absorber that mounts inside the bumper. Diffuser options Since I did not have a new-condition '16-18 LT diffuser available, I decided to just use the 2021 RS diffuser. There was a minor incompatibility encountered as a result - the tabs at the upper corners of the 2021 diffuser did not snap into the '16-18 plastic absorber that mounts inside the rear bumper cover, which caused there to be a small gap between the diffuser and bumper cover on the driver's side. Small cut-outs were made in the '16-18 absorber to allow the 2021 diffuser to mount flush against the rear bumper cover. The Front End Before and after: Oh yeah! No more refresh "smiley face" look - Liquid Steel has its "war face" back. 2016-2018 parts needed * hood * front bumper cover (fascia) * styrofoam "energy absorber" insert (but see note below) * upper and lower grilles * Gen5DIY wiring harness for daytime running lights (optional) Misc trim and body clips or fasteners may be needed, or perhaps can be transferred over from the 2019+ parts that are being removed. Modifications needed Because 2019+ models changed to computer control of the RS-style headlights, Gen5DIY advised me that it was not possible to swap over the '16-18 headlights. A bodywork solution was therefore required to make the refresh headlights fit into the '16-18 fascia. I posted photos in my D-FRESH album showing the modified upper grille and trim pieces that fit under the 2019+ RS-style headlights. One styling note regarding the altered plastic trim pieces that fit under the headlights. As originally installed on a 19+ car, these trim pieces follow the inboard curvature of the headlights. On my de-fresh car, the trim pieces were adjusted so that they better align with the horizontal lines of the center grille (L, R photos). The shop achieved this by shimming the trim pieces at the inboard ends where screws had been added to help secure these trim pieces. In hindsight, I would have probably gone with a non-RS grille for the upper grille - the shortened chrome trim pieces don't work as well here as they did in the '16-18 where the chrome ran all the way between both headlights. So I will probably be blacking out these two chrome strips in the upper grille. [I did end up making this update - see this post for photos of the result: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showp...&postcount=15] The 2019+ models use a differently shaped styrofoam "absorber" insert than the '16-18 models. This is a long styorfoam piece that goes somewhere in between the metal inner bumper and the fascia. The 2021 absorber would not fit the older fascia correctly. I am not 100% sure and do not have pictures, but I believe the shop mentioned that the '16-18 styrofoam absorber might have had to be trimmed/modified slightly. I hadn't noticed that my 2021 RS lacked the separate daytime running lights that the '16-18 models have. You could leave the '16-18 LT DRL's non-functioning, or maybe even black them out to match the plastic trim. However, if you go with the Gen5DIY wiring harness to make the DRL's functional, you will need to modify the under-hood fuse box cover so you can run the power wire for the fuse tap. Thanks! Thanks to the various forum members who (sometimes unknowingly) helped me along the way with this crazy project, to Camaro6 for being an awesome resource, and to Gen5DIY for their invaluable technical assistance and custom wiring harnesses! If you have questions about the de-fresh, let me know! Attached Images Last edited by The Maverick; 06-22-2023 at 10:33 AM.