Thank you all for the help. Got it finished last night just before midnight in a brisk 32 degrees. Probably would have been faster if it wouldnt have been so cold, paint took a while to dry, and had to warm up my hands a couple times.
NOTES FOR OTHERS LOOKING AT INSTALL: 2-4 hours is probably about the right time frame, though a big chunk of that will letting paint dry and will depend how smooth you want to grind the burs down on the sheet metal. Its probably obvious but you have to remove the access panels and unplug the wires from the rear brake light housing to disconnect everything and put away from the cutting areas. You do not have to be very exact when cutting since it all gets covered up anything, Except if you want to keep the center support bar you have to be a bit precise at that spot with the template and cutting. I ended cutting along and into it and decided to remove brace piece though I didn't cut the sheet metal top, I figure it gives at some minimal support. You can feel the support piece with your fingers through the holes to figure out where its at.
I don't know what the old latches were like but these new ones are awesome and slick. I don't know if I'll ever use the locking feature but its sweet.
Question for people who have installed this latest one. Does your plastic tailgate hinge cover catch on the latches when closing? I have to use one hand to help the trim piece over the latches when closing, not a big deal but a little annoying and I probably dont want butcher the trim piece to help it slide over.
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