05Single's virgin build thread. 03 tahoe

[ArcticYukon]

You people are chickens. Around here we use rifles and pistols

HA! I was just makin' fun of him. Trust me, I'm 2nd amendment ready, sir!

 

[05Single]

You guys are ******* equipment. Get one of these.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-GM-3-BUTTON-REMOTE-Cover-Case-Rubber-Silicone/192533420061?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

I have covers for the wife’s keys. His and hers. Gotta protect the fob because the ignition is push button only. Speedy keys.

 

[05Single]

Been working on a hd grille. Same one I skinned the chrome off with a razor blade by hand. Didn’t have much time to work on it all year. When I bought the grille it already had some cosmetic and structural damage to it. But being in Alaska and seeing a HD grille pop up for sale once a year I grabbed it anyway with hopes of fixing it.
Passenger side had small crack on the cross bar, there was a chunk missing from the mesh on top, both mounting clips on the bottom cracked and broken , and a larger crack on the drivers side that was growing. Guy wanted $120, I talked him down to $50. Still paid too much
I patched the mesh area and the small crack on the passenger side. The drivers side was been difficult tho. So I used some plastic filler and fiber fix rigid patch, like a fiberglass patch, to fix everything. Tried to line up the grille bar and use a metal brace to hold it over night.
Well this happened

Passenger side set fine...

Drivers side...

As the patch dried the crack grew and the plastic became brittle and created more cracks. It’s weird because the entire center bar seemed super weak and brittle even before I scraped all the chrome off. And it was an oem grille not a cheap aftermarket grille so idk

Next time I’ll use good ol’ faithful fiberglass and resin instead of being lazy and cheap with these patches. Patches not worth it imo.

 

[05Single]

So here it sits lol. Frustrating but can’t be mad. Looking at grilles online. $120 plus $300 for shipping is what makes me mad. But I won’t stop looking , I might have a lead on another grille hopefully

But still I don’t mind posting fails so people who come across the same problem can learn or try different ideas. But as far as I’m concerned this grille is a total loss and I will be tossing it.

 

[adventurenali92]

So here it sits lol. Frustrating but can’t be mad. Looking at grilles online. $120 plus $300 for shipping is what makes me mad. But I won’t stop looking , I might have a lead on another grille hopefullyView attachment 217269
But still I don’t mind posting fails so people who come across the same problem can learn or try different ideas. But as far as I’m concerned this grille is a total loss and I will be tossing it.

Damn that’s crazy! I know you won’t give up on it haha

 

[05Single]

Damn that’s crazy! I know you won’t give up on it haha

Yea I had plans for it , maybe not meant to have an HD grille lol. I should’ve kept the last one and tried to fix it. The chrome bar broke on that one if you remember but it was a much tougher plastic that this one.
So right now I have a paintable z71 grill

....that I still need to paint lol

 

[05Single]

I did fix a mounting tab on another chrome grille I had with the same fiber patch. Seems to work great. Grille is much more rigid. Pretty easy to install if the area is flat or if there’s a small curve. Not really bendable for tight corners. Just sand the area down and apply a patch, cut to to the size you want. After it dries you can sand it and apparently paint it too.
I tried to air dry it for a couple days but it never dried. It only dries and hardens with UV light. So I went to the hardware store to find a UV light and couldn’t find one under $50 (grow lights). Finally had a day with sun but it was 30 degrees out. Set the grille inside the garage with the garage door open in the sunlight and it actually hardened after about 30 minutes lol

 

[05Single]

I almost picked up an HD hood for $300. But decided against it. No HD hood for this hoe.

 

[05Single]

Wrapped the oem 3rd brake light. Gloss black to blend/hide with the rear glass.

 

[Tonyrodz]

So here it sits lol. Frustrating but can’t be mad. Looking at grilles online. $120 plus $300 for shipping is what makes me mad. But I won’t stop looking , I might have a lead on another grille hopefullyView attachment 217269
But still I don’t mind posting fails so people who come across the same problem can learn or try different ideas. But as far as I’m concerned this grille is a total loss and I will be tossing it.

I wouldn't toss that grill yet. Gotta be a way to patch it up to make it work. The 2 pieces that are broken look like they can be lined up. Maybe line them up and hold them together some how and pour some liquid 2 part epoxy in there. Maybe the 5 min kind. Won't be perfect but it'll hold together, and maybe sand it down a little. Give it a shot.

 

[ArcticYukon]

Wrapped the oem 3rd brake light. Gloss black to blend/hide with the rear glass.View attachment 217295 View attachment 217296

Hey, what wrap did you use for this? Is it a translucent vinyl or window tint?

 

[05Single]

I wouldn't toss that grill yet. Gotta be a way to patch it up to make it work. The 2 pieces that are broken look like they can be lined up. Maybe line them up and hold them together some how and pour some liquid 2 part epoxy in there. Maybe the 5 min kind. Won't be perfect but it'll hold together, and maybe sand it down a little. Give it a shot.

I've thought about saving it. I know if I can find a way to fix it then it will be solid. But just that patch, I'm telling you the rest off the grille will eventually crack and break. This think is incredibly weak.

 

[05Single]

Hey, what wrap did you use for this? Is it a translucent vinyl or window tint?

Pure black, not translucent.

 

[Onebad1983]

Yea I had plans for it , maybe not meant to have an HD grille lol. I should’ve kept the last one and tried to fix it. The chrome bar broke on that one if you remember but it was a much tougher plastic that this one.
So right now I have a paintable z71 grill

View attachment 217272 View attachment 217273


....that I still need to paint lol

I honestly think that you could make the Z71 grille look better than the HD grille. Paint it, billet inserts and maybe billet bowtie

 

[05Single]

I honestly think that you could make the Z71 grille look better than the HD grille. Paint it, billet inserts and maybe billet bowtie

It would but I'm trying to stay away from looking exactly like @Fosscore lol. I even have the same inserts as him. It's my favorite look but he already got it before I did lol

 

[Onebad1983]

It would but I'm trying to stay away from looking exactly like @Fosscore lol. I even have the same inserts as him. It's my favorite look but he already got it before I did lol

If it looks good, do it

 

[05Single]

If it looks good, do it

But I can make it look different , but look just as good. All good, I got some ideas.

 

[Onebad1983]

But I can make it look different , but look just as good. All good, I got some ideas.

You, my friend, are the exact opposite of me. I could not do this. Side note, do you have any performance mods done to yours?

 

[ArcticYukon]

Pure black, not translucent.

Oh ok, you were completely blacking it out since you're using the led strip in the back window now. That makes more sense haha

 

[05Single]

Oh ok, you were completely blacking it out since you're using the led strip in the back window now. That makes more sense haha

Exactamundo

You, my friend, are the exact opposite of me. I could not do this. Side note, do you have any performance mods done to yours?

Negative. Airaid mit tube with drop in k&n filter , that’s it. Low and slow lol