Pete's (Now Nate's) 2003 Denali Budget Build thread

[Tonyrodz]

yup. exactly! hopefully i wont have to take it off until i do a stereo upgrade

Ahhh, I thought you used heavy duty velcro.

 

[Sevenevez]

Details..

That exhaust tip was sticking out just a little too far. Got a new carbide blade from Home Depot i wanted to test anyways. Cut another 2.5 inches or so off of it so i could tuck it under there a little more.

chop chop

Surprised how brown and stained it was already.

i use bronze wool and an old hot rodders remedy called Wenol to polish back to shine.

I have used this stuff on weathered chrome before and it really works well with some elbow grease.
Here was a before/after on some dual tips i did a couple years ago just to give you a better example.

Before:

After:

Tip back on, tucked in and polished.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Details..

That exhaust tip was sticking out just a little too far. Got a new carbide blade from Home Depot i wanted to test anyways. Cut another 2.5 inches or so off of it so i could tuck it under there a little more.

chop chop

Surprised how brown and stained it was already.

i use bronze wool and an old hot rodders remedy called Wenol to polish back to shine.

I have used this stuff on weathered chrome before and it really works well with some elbow grease.
Here was a before/after on some dual tips i did a couple years ago just to give you a better example.

Before:

After:

Tip back on, tucked in and polished.

Now..... It's time for the welder. Lol. How about some Nev R Dull?

 

[Sevenevez]

Now..... It's time for the welder. Lol. How about some Nev R Dull?

Thank God i didnt weld it the first time. That woulda been a pain! haha

 

[dubyagee01]

I used 3M 5200 marine grade silicone in black. Dabbed it in the hole where the door panel screw boss was missing. Let it light off and ran the screw right into it. You can pull an engine block with a dab of that 5200.

 

[Fosscore]

Bought another one of these.

My favorite chamois by far.
My last one got overspray on it from the paint job so i had to throw it away.

I guess everybody has their own preference on drying their vehicle. But i have tried almost everything and this Griot microfiber waffle does it the best.

Let's have a Chamois Shootout

1.) My Old School Chamois

2.) The Absorber

3.) Tanner's Select 3.5 sq ft Sheepskin Chamois

4.) Griot's Garage Microfiber Drying Cloth

As much as i wash my cars i always wish i could dry them faster and more efficiently. I have tried many different things over the years. Seems they all have a downfall.

#1 - (unknown brand)
i got this at a flea market in like 1997. It's real sheepskin and has ALWAYS been my "go-to" chamois. But it has become riddled with rips and tears and now starting to leave a little bit of a haze. She has served her time and i wouldnt know where to get the same one.

#2 - "The Absorber"
It does what it says and really soaks up the heavy water left on your car. But once you try to get the car completely dry with it, seems to leave a thin layer of water streaks.

#3 - Tanner's Select Sheepskin Chamois
bought this one the other day (sheepskin) thinking it would be a new replacement for my old school. Not the case. Doesn't soak as well as the absorber and still leaves water streaks

#4 - Griot's Garage Microfiber Drying Cloth
i read a lot of reviews and as much as i love my Griot's orbital i tried this one. I didnt think microfiber could ever be as effective as a chamois. But holz sh!z. This is my favorite. You can dry whole car without even ringing it out once. Left no residue or water streaks at all.


*** Winner: Griot's Garage Microfiber Drying Cloth ***

Another thing i used to use was a leaf blower to get the bulk of heavy water off the top flat surfaces.

Feel free to voice whatever you use that might be better

Nice comparisons and you hit all the key points. Waffle weave and Absorber are my favorites. I like that exhaust tip tucked back in further. Catches the straight line down from the quarter panel better, while still being straight.

 

[Sevenevez]

I used 3M 5200 marine grade silicone in black. Dabbed it in the hole where the door panel screw boss was missing. Let it light off and ran the screw right into it. You can pull an engine block with a dab of that 5200.

Nice i used that stuff on a rear spoiler on my Lexus. Was the only thing that really worked.

Nice comparisons and you hit all the key points. Waffle weave and Absorber are my favorites. I like that exhaust tip tucked back in further. Catches the straight line down from the quarter panel better, while still being straight.

Yeah, the waffle is twice the size of a chamois and it can pretty much do our whole truck without even wringing it out. And thanks, i like the tip a little more subtle too

 

[Bombsquad85]

@Sevenevez where's the best place you found that towel at. I've been looking for a good drying towel

 

[Sevenevez]

@Sevenevez where's the best place you found that towel at. I've been looking for a good drying towel

this is the one. and to me, its worth every dollar and will last you for years.

Coupon code: FREESHIP17 (free shipping)

Link:

https://www.autogeek.net/griots-garage-drying-towel.html

 

[Bombsquad85]

this is the one. and to me, its worth every dollar and will last you for years.

Coupon code: FREESHIP17 (free shipping)

Link:

https://www.autogeek.net/griots-garage-drying-towel.html

Awesome thanks!

 

[05Single]

Can't remember if it was mentioned but you plan on esky appliques? Or street scenes?

 

[Sevenevez]

Can't remember if it was mentioned but you plan on esky appliques? Or street scenes?

neither.

now that my OEM's are all super glossy and black they are staying

 

[05Single]

neither.

now that my OEM's are all super glossy and black they are staying

Fair enough


But you'll change your mind later

 

[Sevenevez]

Fair enough


But you'll change your mind later

 

[adventurenali92]

neither.

now that my OEM's are all super glossy and black they are staying

I thought the same when I had my Yukon pieces color matched. And then I kept looking at the esky that belongs to the family I live upstairs from, the more I looked at them the more I was like I gotta have those haha.

 

[Sevenevez]

I thought the same when I had my Yukon pieces color matched. And then I kept looking at the esky that belongs to the family I live upstairs from, the more I looked at them the more I was like I gotta have those haha.

haha, wouldnt be the first time i changed my mind

 

[Sevenevez]

Eibach Front and Rear Sway Bar kit with new End Links

Ok, i actually did all this on the weekend. But i wanted to drive it for a few days to give a real honest opinion.

I had kept coming back to this thread --> LINK <-- because it had so much praise about the Eibach kit.

My Denali has always had a lot of body roll when turning.
So i found the set on Amazon and put it on my wish list but it was almost $500 so i couldn't justify the purchase.

On December 19th i sent NorcalSS (our vendor) a message to get a quote on a sway bar kit. It's been 4 weeks and Still no reply. haha, great service yo. Anyways, thats a great thing, i went back to amazon, refreshed my cart and holy crap, the Eibach kit price was almost cut in half!
I figured this price wont last long so i finaly pulled the trigger.

NorcalSS still got some of my money because i still needed the rear end links
(eibach kit only comes with the front end links) So i bought the DJM End links from the TBSS site.

I read that the front takes longer than the rear. Not for me. haha, the front took me like 45 minutes including wheels off and jack stands. and you dont want to know how long the back took.

front was hella easy.

once off the jack stands it was all tweaked and like an inch and a half higher than normal.

Took her for a spin and then everything settled in nicely.

stock crap off

The rear took me forever. i mean like, 4+ hours!
I would look at Rocketmans thread, Look at youtube, look at the Eibach thread. Just trying to figure how it all comes together. NOTHING lined up. Maybe its because i used DJM end links with eibach sways. But man, the D-Bushing has to be relocated, drilling holes, back n forth buying bolts and nuts, angling the OEM brackets to squeeze everything together, 2 grease guns, zerk fittings, hammering pssh. you name it. it was a pain in the a$s for me. But, i got through it in the end.

i have been driving it since Sunday and here's my HONEST opinion.
Did it make a big difference? yeah
Does it handle like a Porsche now? nah
Is it worth $500 as an upgrade? not to me
Is it worth what i paid? yeah, im happy

Before if i had a Vaccuum in the back, it would tip over on a turn. Now it holds steady. My dog doesnt slide off the leather seat. I stay firmly planted. It has a solid and firm feel but not uncomfortable firm, reassuring firm. Doesnt feel top heavy anymore.

Hard to put it into words. But this is how i would describe the difference

That's all Folks!

 

[Fosscore]

Sweet review. Always wondered about this upgrade especially as we are pretty damn low already, low profile tires, lower center of gravity, a 2 ton beast, etc.... You and I run flat roads so good info. And getting them at that discount makes not spending $500 for a sort of meh performance upgrade I guess easier to swallow.

 

[Sevenevez]

Sweet review. Always wondered about this upgrade especially as we are pretty damn low already, low profile tires, lower center of gravity, a 2 ton beast, etc.... You and I run flat roads so good info. And getting them at that discount makes not spending $500 for a sort of meh performance upgrade I guess easier to swallow.

Eggsactly!

 

[Sevenevez]

Been trying a bunch of different fittings and got a little galvanized pipe trying to adapt a foam cannon to my cheap lil harbor freight pressure washer.

still gotta work out a couple leaks to get it solid.

1st test