How to remove rear vent cap appliques?

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05Single

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Hi, I'm from Russia and I start to convert my Tahoe to Escalade look.
My first step

Отправлено с моего SM-A320F через Tapatalk
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That’s already step 2. First step was Escalade wheels !
 

Loki223

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Thought i would be hip and cool and order up some esky appliques for the denali. Being that ebay so kindly had some already painted in the same color. One thing i'm thinking about doing if there is enough room, is adding a red LED strip near the vent to glow red for either a running light, or possibly setting it up to work as a running light / turn signal / stop light. to glow out of the vent. Being that the wiring for that is directly below it, seems to be an easy add on if i can find an appropriate light strip to put in there
 

Tonyrodz

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Thought i would be hip and cool and order up some esky appliques for the denali. Being that ebay so kindly had some already painted in the same color. One thing i'm thinking about doing if there is enough room, is adding a red LED strip near the vent to glow red for either a running light, or possibly setting it up to work as a running light / turn signal / stop light. to glow out of the vent. Being that the wiring for that is directly below it, seems to be an easy add on if i can find an appropriate light strip to put in there
Someone on here did that same mod. Looked really good imo. Unfortunately I don't remember what kind of LED strip they used, but the outcome looked good.
 

Loki223

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To be constantly on or to come on when applying the brakes?

I plan on hooking the lower light output to the running lights, and the higher output to the stop/turn signal. And now i'm realizing how little i've paid attention to the back end of these if they have combined rear lights or independent for stop/signals, but that is easily overcome with a diode or just tapping into the trailer lights harness so not a big deal really
 

Loki223

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Yup, those lights a linked fit perfectly in the applique. But had to loan the denali to me sister for 2 weeks since "she needs a reliable vehicle to get her kids around" while her car is in the shop. Darn family wanting me to share things....So i have a pile of stuff for the denali to get installed once i get it back, these included in that. Should be getting the denali back next weekend so i'll be able to do my wiring and such then, and empty out some boxes that are taking up room in the garage
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Loki223

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Going to be a bid before i do this project and the couple of other things i had planned for the Denali next weekend. Just lost all the parts, tools, and house necessary for this little project. Denali is safe though. Somehow my sister borrowing it saved it from damage, instead of causing it damage like i was thinking it would. Still going to do this though
 

Tonyrodz

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Going to be a bid before i do this project and the couple of other things i had planned for the Denali next weekend. Just lost all the parts, tools, and house necessary for this little project. Denali is safe though. Somehow my sister borrowing it saved it from damage, instead of causing it damage like i was thinking it would. Still going to do this though
Sorry to hear the bad news.
 

Loki223

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Sorry to hear the bad news.

Yeah, but the good news is my sister didn't wreck the denali, or damage it to my knowledge. And she doesn't need it anymore. So at least that's good. I'll probably start ordering stuff for it again here soon because i know what i want to do with it. Just glad i got all the major issues fixed back when i still owned tools.
 

Loki223

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So, i did manage to source new appliques, but now i'm trying to find some stop/turn/running light light strips that are 18" long to put into the appliques. I would prefer to keep them as red for stop/running light, and then amber for turn like the stock tails. But i feel like i might end up needing to swap out the stock tails that move everything to red so i can do this mod and make everything match. I know 18" long strips are perfectly sized for this, so i'll see what i can find.
 

Tonyrodz

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So, i did manage to source new appliques, but now i'm trying to find some stop/turn/running light light strips that are 18" long to put into the appliques. I would prefer to keep them as red for stop/running light, and then amber for turn like the stock tails. But i feel like i might end up needing to swap out the stock tails that move everything to red so i can do this mod and make everything match. I know 18" long strips are perfectly sized for this, so i'll see what i can find.
How about those LED strip people use on pickups? They're usually mounted between the lower part of the tailgate and rear bumper. The ones I've seen light red when braking and amber when signaling to turn.
 

Loki223

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How about those LED strip people use on pickups? They're usually mounted between the lower part of the tailgate and rear bumper. The ones I've seen light red when braking and amber when signaling to turn.

I can't seem to find one that is 18", and it needs to be a single row or it won't mount correctly, or at least how i want to mount them. I did find one that i thought was going to work, but surprise surprise, it ended up being a chinease special that didn't match the description. Only 1 showed up, and it progressive lights for the turn signal, so it doesn't work correctly. Was supposed to be 2 18" LED light strips for a left and right set up, but such is life. Still looking when i have time, i know i should be able to find something....

West Marine has a very good selection. Styles and lengths.....

I'll check 'em out. Might try and dig through superbrightLEDs as well and see if they have one that will work. But essentially i want a truck tailgate light bar, but 18" and red/red/amber with the reds in 2 differnt brightness for running lights vs stop.

If push comes to shove, i know i can get some red/red strips pretty easily. But if i do that i will want to replace the tail lights, and the ones i really like have been out of stock in the style i like. Just going to be one of those years i think. lol
 

Loki223

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Slight update. Gave up trying to find a stop/turn/running light configured in red/amber/red. Ordered a new set of the strips i got before the fire took out my stock pile of parts. Also ordered new tail lights that are red/red LEDs instead of the red/amber the factory set up is. Should help modernize it a little. Hard part was finding a set i liked with a red fascia instead of black or chrome or black and chrome. Once the new parts arrive i'll wire everything up and get it updated. Here soon i'll buy the radio and backup camera set up again so i can have android auto and a backup camera on this too. My truck spoils me, so gotta make the denali spoil me too i guess
 

Loki223

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So i will admit, those appliques are a bit of a PITA to pop on and off. GM did a heck of a job designed those , definitely not something that will accidently come off...even with only 1 bolt in them. I'll try and snap some night time pictures, but i used the following LED strips to add lighting in the vents


I didn't get them as perfect as i would've liked, but as the saying goes, that'll do pig. I'll snap some more pics tonight, also updated the tail lights to these


Definitely helps modernize the rear end of the Denali
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