Rocket Man's 02 Denali Build Thread AKA "THE BEAST"

[Sam Harris]

Today I washed it and applied a brand new product from Chemical Guys called Hydroslick Ceramic Coating Hyperwax. It’s supposed to be a ceramic coating that is in gel form and just wipes on and then buffs off. It has no wax. It has no Carnuba. It’s supposed to be a whole new category. I can say one thing- it’s a PIA to apply since it’s pretty much invisible as it goes on. It leaves no haze so you can’t tell if you missed a spot when its time to buff it off. Supposedly it lasts 6 months to a year. View attachment 231244View attachment 231245

I guess if it actually lasts as long as they say, a PITA application is worth it..

 

[ivin74]

Rocket Man, you need to do the front bumper mod to the Beast.


https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/01-06-gmc-yukon-denali-front-bumper-mod.114533/

 

[Rocket Man]

Rocket Man, you need to do the front bumper mod to the Beast.


https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/01-06-gmc-yukon-denali-front-bumper-mod.114533/

Nice write-up. I will be doing that, it’s bothered me too. I just never got around to figuring what to do about it. Thanks.

 

[Rocket Man]

Well...I decided to do the bumper mod at 1 in the afternoon, thinking it looked like 3 hours tops. I should have known that any time I take apart something on my truck that hasn’t been touched in 17 years it doesn’t go fast. There’s a plate with a nut welded to it on each side that sit in a pocket in the fiberglass part of the bumper that’s behind the skin. These were rusted so when I removed the bolts, even with penetrating spray, the force twisted the plates which broke the pop rivets so they fell inside which meant the skin had to come off. By the time I went to Ace , bought extra long pop rivers and fixed them, I decided to put it all back together since 3 hours had already passed. There was no way it was getting done today since there was welding involved. It’s supposed to rain for a couple days, but I’ll get to it after that. Dammit.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Well...I decided to do the bumper mod at 1 in the afternoon, thinking it looked like 3 hours tops. I should have known that any time I take apart something on my truck that hasn’t been touched in 17 years it doesn’t go fast. There’s a plate with a nut welded to it on each side that sit in a pocket in the fiberglass part of the bumper that’s behind the skin. These were rusted so when I removed the bolts, even with penetrating spray, the force twisted the plates which broke the pop rivets so they fell inside which meant the skin had to come off. By the time I went to Ace , bought extra long pop rivers and fixed them, I decided to put it all back together since 3 hours had already passed. There was no way it was getting done today since there was welding involved. It’s supposed to rain for a couple days, but I’ll get to it after that. Dammit.

View attachment 231376 View attachment 231377 View attachment 231378

Sucks. One of those "nut plates" came off of mine, too, but it was one of the horizontal ones near the middle. Grrr.

 

[ivin74]

Well...I decided to do the bumper mod at 1 in the afternoon, thinking it looked like 3 hours tops. I should have known that any time I take apart something on my truck that hasn’t been touched in 17 years it doesn’t go fast. There’s a plate with a nut welded to it on each side that sit in a pocket in the fiberglass part of the bumper that’s behind the skin. These were rusted so when I removed the bolts, even with penetrating spray, the force twisted the plates which broke the pop rivets so they fell inside which meant the skin had to come off. By the time I went to Ace , bought extra long pop rivers and fixed them, I decided to put it all back together since 3 hours had already passed. There was no way it was getting done today since there was welding involved. It’s supposed to rain for a couple days, but I’ll get to it after that. Dammit.

View attachment 231376 View attachment 231377 View attachment 231378

Damn you don't **** around, you tore that front end down quick. Keep us posted

 

[ivin74]

Mark
I just updated the bumper mod to show what you have to do to the grill. Read post # 5

https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/01-06-gmc-yukon-denali-front-bumper-mod.114533/#post-1377830

 

[Rocket Man]

First, I'd like to say thanks to @ivin74 for the motivation to get this done. Now here's my before and after pics for comparison. I can't believe I waited this long to do this, it's bothered me since I bought the truck.
edit: yes I still have to reinstall my lower valance. Maybe it will clear curbs a bit better now. I have already removed an inch off the bottom but it still hits on some when I park. This gives it about another 3/4".

 

[Rocket Man]

I did find a couple ways to make this easier, at least they worked out for me. I spent 2 hours total to complete this today, and with no welding. I had the advantage of looking at Ivin's thread and thinking on it overnight. I thought, why not attempt to just bend the lower brackets up and bending them flat, then re-drilling the holes to make them line up instead of cutting them off and welding them. Also, for the outer brackets, instead of notching them, I knew from working on the bumpers on my NNBS Silvy and making it work, there were adjustments that can be made. I used a 3-lb sledge on the lower brackets and bent them up and then pretty much taking the bend out of them and making them flatter which allowed the bumper to be raised without hitting them. I used 5 washers like Ivin, wrapped in electrical tape so I could pull the bumper on and off a few times without them falling apart while I re-drilled holes or made adjustments. I didn't take many pics, I was in a bit of a hurry since it looked like rain was coming.

bolts

 

[Rocket Man]

As for the outer brackets inside the fenders, I just loosened their mounting bolts and was able to lift both of them almost an inch. I did have to enlarge the holes a bit to one side after that but that was it. I used an air die grinder to enlarge holes which made quick work. I pulled the bumper about 6 times to mark holes and enlarge them or adjust things but it turned out to be pretty easy. As for the grill, I didn't need to do anything to it. And like Ivin said, there was just enough room under the grill to get a screwdriver in to turn the plastic clip that holds it in.

 

[ivin74]

View attachment 231417 View attachment 231418 View attachment 231419 View attachment 231421 View attachment 231422 As for the outer brackets inside the fenders, I just loosened their mounting bolts and was able to lift both of them almost an inch. I did have to enlarge the holes a bit to one side after that but that was it. I used an air die grinder to enlarge holes which made quick work. I pulled the bumper about 6 times to mark holes and enlarge them or adjust things but it turned out to be pretty easy. As for the grill, I didn't need to do anything to it. And like Ivin said, there was just enough room under the grill to get a screwdriver in to turn the plastic clip that holds it in.

The beast looks Beast now!

It didn't even think about bending the clips and redrilling, great idea, it saves time and money.

 

[Rocket Man]

Got the lower valance on. I should have measured ground clearance before, it looks like a bit more now.

 

[kbuskill]

View attachment 231413

Oh dear God... tell me that's not what I think it is...

Say it isn't so... lol


Sorry Mark... gotta break em once in a while... don't get the chance very often with your caliber of work.

 

[Rocket Man]

Oh dear God... tell me that's not what I think it is...


View attachment 231427

Say it isn't so... lol


Sorry Mark... gotta break em once in a while... don't get the chance very often with your caliber of work.

Busted. I do NOT like this. I was going to convert to AN fittings on the trans lines but haven't gotten to it. Stupid Tru Cool provides single screw clamps to use on their lines so at least I doubled them. I hang my head.

 

[kbuskill]

Busted. I do NOT like this. I was going to convert to AN fittings on the trans lines but haven't gotten to it. Stupid Tru Cool provides single screw clamps to use on their lines so at least I doubled them. I hang my head.

Your secret is safe with me brother .

 

[Rocket Man]

Your secret is safe with me brother .

Oh no it isn’t....you just re-posted a picture of them with BIG RED CIRCLES around them so now I can’t go back and delete that picture! Thanks a lot!

 

[NathanJax]

Looks good. I need to do this to my truck's bumper...

 

[Rocket Man]

Just sent an email to tru-cool inquiring about those stupid hose barb fittings. I think they might be soldered on, but I will see what they say. If nothing else I will have to at least install spring clamps. Thanks @kbuskill for bringing them to my attention...

 

[Tonyrodz]

First, I'd like to say thanks to @ivin74 for the motivation to get this done. Now here's my before and after pics for comparison. I can't believe I waited this long to do this, it's bothered me since I bought the truck.
edit: yes I still have to reinstall my lower valance. Maybe it will clear curbs a bit better now. I have already removed an inch off the bottom but it still hits on some when I park. This gives it about another 3/4".View attachment 231411 View attachment 231412

*SIGH----As usual.....looks great Mark

 

[TheAutumnWind]

View attachment 231417 View attachment 231418 View attachment 231419 View attachment 231421 View attachment 231422 As for the outer brackets inside the fenders, I just loosened their mounting bolts and was able to lift both of them almost an inch. I did have to enlarge the holes a bit to one side after that but that was it. I used an air die grinder to enlarge holes which made quick work. I pulled the bumper about 6 times to mark holes and enlarge them or adjust things but it turned out to be pretty easy. As for the grill, I didn't need to do anything to it. And like Ivin said, there was just enough room under the grill to get a screwdriver in to turn the plastic clip that holds it in.

Looks much better especially for 2 hrs work!