05Single's virgin build thread. 03 tahoe

[05Single]

Messing around with a couple different bowties

Stuck with the smaller one for now

Not feeling the gold on the bowtie so I wrapped it in gloss black

 

[05Single]

Here’s with the blacked out bowtie

Much betterer


And if you couldn’t tell by now I found an Escalade rear glass with light. off with the old

ready for the new new

Guy had two Escalades he was parting out. I grabbed the one glass that he had already pulled without looking at the other Escalade . Before I left he asked if I wanted the other one and said it’s more “rare”. Confused not realizing there was a rare rear glass (or never paid attention if it was mentioned on here), I said ok and I went and looked at it. Right away I knew what he meant when I seen there was no frame for this design. I said yep I’ll take this one instead. He added another $40 to the original $100 price tag of what I was gonna pay for the original common glass. So after I tested the light I happily gave him $200 and had him include a set of rear appliqués for a friend while I was there . So $140 Escalade glass and light , $69 for appliqués.

Here it is mounted with no light, I was really diggin the smooth continuous look the glass gave without the light there. Put on a couple patches of wrap for the mounting holes and rolled like that till I was ready for paint

 

[05Single]

The only bad part (which I didn’t even think to check) was the original handle was destroyed from use and weather. So I found some temporary bolts for a flush look. I still gotta find a better set up for that.

 

[05Single]

Sent some parts off to powdercoat so I can apparently wait 6 weeks to get them back . Once I got them they were a flat black
So I had to wait another 2 weeks to have them done correctly in gloss black . Threw in some billet handles and dude still tried to charge me extra. The look on my face told him I wasn’t gonna give him anymore money lol . This is Alaska where there’s no competition or much of anybody with dedication to professionalism.
Also here’s the template I made for the hatch.

 

[05Single]

Found a box for the thunder 9500 12”. Nicely built and sounds amazing . Puts that L7 12” to shame. Rattles everything now , telling @Thatsquishykid717 how proud I am that even the wipers are bouncing off the windshield

Retired the infamous Home Depot box lol

 

[ivin74]

The only bad part (which I didn’t even think to check) was the original handle was destroyed from use and weather. So I found some temporary bolts for a flush look. I still gotta find a better set up for that.View attachment 256955View attachment 256956View attachment 256957View attachment 256958View attachment 256959

The hatch looks alot better without the handle.

 

[wjburken]

Sent some parts off to powdercoat so I can apparently wait 6 weeks to get them back . Once I got them they were a flat black
So I had to wait another 2 weeks to have them done correctly in gloss black . Threw in some billet handles and dude still tried to charge me extra. The look on my face told him I wasn’t gonna give him anymore money lol . This is Alaska where there’s no competition or much of anybody with dedication to professionalism.
Also here’s the template I made for the hatch. View attachment 256961View attachment 256962View attachment 256963View attachment 256964

I think your liftgate looks sharp as hell.

It took me a while, but I figured out why your black plastic trim piece looked so familiar.

 

[05Single]

I think your liftgate looks sharp as hell.

It took me a while, but I figured out why your black plastic trim piece looked so familiar.

Lol yeah I really didn’t base it off anything but I just remember seeing a similar look on a couple vehicles (trucks, vans, suvs), unconsciously this was probably one of them lol

 

[05Single]

The hatch looks alot better without the handle.

I agree , I need better bolts tho. I’m fine with grabbing under it to lift it up. I don’t need no stinking handle

 

[adventurenali92]

Lovin the esky third! Paint looks pretty rad! I really like the shave with the tahoe lettering and the black bow tie! That looks real slick!

 

[HiHoeSilver]

06 rear glass ftw.

 

[05Single]

06 rear glass ftw.

I love it . Such a smother and cleaner look for sure.

Lovin the esky third! Paint looks pretty rad! I really like the shave with the tahoe lettering and the black bow tie! That looks real slick!

Thanks dude. I’m happy the way it turned out. I’ll post some more detailed pics in a few.

 

[05Single]

So I waiting till I gathered the parts and had them all ready for paint at once. Ordered some full mirror smooth caps off eBay for $40

Started going to town . I laid the grille first with a single stage gloss black. That came out perfect. Then proceeded with the mirror caps and esky light, colormatch with base and clear . Had the garage open in a sunny day , but since Alaska wants to be a dick the sun went down and the temperature dropped pretty quickly during the 2nd coat and reminded me of why I hate this place

 

[05Single]

Waited a couple days for it to warm up to above 60, been a garbage summer this year, and started wet sanding the caps and light to begin round two.

I knew I didn’t suck at painting.

 

[05Single]

Wasn’t feeling how huge the esky actual light part was and how it wrapped around over the top. So I taped it off for a thinner look.

 

[05Single]

Polished the lens then threw some light smoke tint over the light.

that’s the look I wanted , a continuous sea of blue all the way to the edge of the 3rd brake light.

 

[05Single]

I taped the caps off so the bottom was black to kinda resemble nnbs mirrors. Hard to tell with the two dark colors and being gloss but I like the look.

 

[05Single]

Gloss black on the base would look good, one day I plan to do that lol.

 

[05Single]

Mocking up the grille inserts

Installed

grille pops like i was hoping.

 

[wjburken]

Mocking up the grille inserts
View attachment 257093 View attachment 257094

Installed
View attachment 257095 View attachment 257098 View attachment 257099
grille pops like i was hoping.

Awesome looking upgrades.