New to the site and new to me 05 Yukon 5.3

[CoalTrain614]

Just picked up a clean 05 Yukon 5.3 with 120k. But man she is ugly. Way to much chrome and sits way to high in the back. Other than that, I like this truck a lot so I'll probably be the annoying new guy with a million questions.

 

[Hoesgottaeat2]

Rosco P, is that you?
You must be young. The younger generation can't appreciate the chrome. Here's more in case you change your mind.

But welcome to the site. Post some pics of your "ugly '05" as you call it lol.

 

[CoalTrain614]

Rosco P, is that you?
You must be young. The younger generation can't appreciate the chrome. Here's more in case you change your mind.

View attachment 412967

But welcome to the site. Post some pics of your "ugly '05" as you call it lol.

Clifford P. that is lol. I'm 43 and I can definitely appreciate chrome in the right application. I have a 96 big body Fleetwood lowrider that has its fair share of chrome. Just not a fan of it on this truck for some reason. And sadly yes, Hoes do indeed have to eat.

Rosco P, is that you?
You must be young. The younger generation can't appreciate the chrome. Here's more in case you change your mind.

View attachment 412967

But welcome to the site. Post some pics of your "ugly '05" as you call it lol.

Clifford P. that is lol. I'm 43 and I can definitely appreciate chrome in the right application. I have a 96 big body Fleetwood lowrider that has its fair share of chrome. Just not a fan of it on this truck for some reason. The bug guard, the mirror backs, the moulding and the door handles just makes me cringe. These are from last week. I have since got black mirror backs, changed the headlight housing with smoked, but those are going back. Even with LEDs it's hard to see. Changed the tail light housing and put LEDs in. Yellow LEDs in the fog lights and changed all the interior bulbs over to white LEDs. Put a black bug guard on, all new JL audio speakers with a 800w JL audio 4chan pushing them and a stinger Heigh10 head unit with back up cam. Installed a Big 3 0ga OFC wire upgrade under the hood for when I run subs. I put the black 24in rims on, but going back to stock for winter. I have another set of headlights on the way, and a roll pan. Currently looking for a full set of gloss black door handles. So it's coming along as long as I feed it dollar bills. I hope to find someone on here local to me to help me with experience on lowering it. And sadly yes, Hoes do indeed have to eat.

 

[strutaeng]

Definitely lose all that VatoZone chrome gatdgetry, yes. Otherwise looks pretty clean. Bring it back to stock appearance and it will look much better.

Looks like the front got lowered? The rear may be stock height.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

 

[CoalTrain614]

Definitely lose all that VatoZone chrome gatdgetry, yes. Otherwise looks pretty clean. Bring it back to stock appearance and it will look much better.

Looks like the front got lowered? The rear may be stock height.

Welcome to the forum!

The chrome kills me every time I see it. I thought it sat up higher in the rear for towing purposes. I haven't got under it to check out the suspension. If I get down on the ground it's a good possibility I won't get up lol. Hoping to find someone local that can help me out with that stuff.

 

[OR VietVet]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

 

[BlackBearPerf]

Welcome to the forum from Coeur D'Alene, Idaho!

 

[Miami-Dade]

Welcome from Miami&Queens NY!

 

[Fless]

Welcome from snowy Colorado!

 

[Trey Hardy]

Welcome from Nc!

 

[tooleyondeck]

Welcome from FL!

Looks like a previous owner did a Denali-style grille insert, so luckily that is a simple bolt-off job.

As for the mirror and door handle covers, they should just peel off, may need to do some paint correction underneath depending on what the previous owner used to adhere them.

Speaking of Denali, their bumpers are color matched and its a simple swap if you come across a good condition bumper cover and fog light set. If not, I've always been a fan of the Silverado SS style bumpers with only the chrome air vents at the bottom. which could also be painted.

If you decide to paint that chrome bumper just make sure you do some solid prep work, even with media blasting and adhesive promotor I've never seen paint over chrome last long and any rock chips will reveal nice shiny specs and it starts looking bad fast.

There is a TON of knowledge on this forum, can't wait to see the progress of your build. Happy modding

 

[Tonyrodz]

Welcome from NJ. I hear you on the chrome situation. Not a fan myself. I have a 03 Tahoe, which I deleted all the chrome too. Not on purpose, just ended up that way. I used plastidip on the front chrome bumper and grill along with the fake chrome strips on the body side mouldings. For the rear bumper I installed a Denali bumper cover.

 

[RAMurphy]

Welcome to this great forum.

 

[tooleyondeck]

Welcome from NJ. I hear you on the chrome situation. Not a fan myself. I have a 03 Tahoe, which I deleted all the chrome too. Not on purpose, just ended up that way. I used plastidip on the front chrome bumper and grill along with the fake chrome strips on the body side mouldings. For the rear bumper I installed a Denali bumper cover.

debadge that HOE!!!

 

[Tonyrodz]

debadge that HOE!!!

Too late now. The one side was repainted and all the emblems were just taped off, so there's a paint line/Ridge. Too much work.

 

[tooleyondeck]

Too late now. The one side was repainted and all the emblems were just taped off, so there's a paint line/Ridge. Too much work.

yeh if you have a tape line there on there for good! have you considered updating to the new Tahoe lettering? i’m thinking of doing 21+ Denali badges on mine if i don’t leave it stealth

 

[Tonyrodz]

yeh if you have a tape line there on there for good! have you considered updating to the new Tahoe lettering? i’m thinking of doing 21+ Denali badges on mine if i don’t leave it stealth

I hate to say it, but I think I'm over the cosmetic stuff. The clear on the roof is shot, and the ps fender is starting to peel. I don't think it's even been washed in 2 yrs.

 

[CoalTrain614]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

Welcome from FL!

Looks like a previous owner did a Denali-style grille insert, so luckily that is a simple bolt-off job.

As for the mirror and door handle covers, they should just peel off, may need to do some paint correction underneath depending on what the previous owner used to adhere them.

Speaking of Denali, their bumpers are color matched and its a simple swap if you come across a good condition bumper cover and fog light set. If not, I've always been a fan of the Silverado SS style bumpers with only the chrome air vents at the bottom. which could also be painted.

If you decide to paint that chrome bumper just make sure you do some solid prep work, even with media blasting and adhesive promotor I've never seen paint over chrome last long and any rock chips will reveal nice shiny specs and it starts looking bad fast.

There is a TON of knowledge on this forum, can't wait to see the progress of your build. Happy modding

Is the Silverado SS bumper a direct bolt on? It sucks that they made
a color match option for the Tahoe grille but not for the Yukon. I found the grey plastic grille on ebay but I think it would be harder to paint because it has that texture to it. And I'm not sure how you would go about painting over the chromed plastic stock grille. I have seen a few videos of people stripping the chrome and a few that went over it. But neither showed the results lol. I would love to have a Denali bumper and grille, there is a set for sale near me but it is only the bumper cover. Can you swap to the Denali bumper and keep the stock grille or do you need the Denali grille also? I would even entertain a Escalade front bumper if it was a easy swap.

 

[tooleyondeck]

Can you swap to the Denali bumper and keep the stock grille or do you need the Denali grille also

You can swap the bumper cover without the grille, however if you wanted a real Denali grille, you would have to change your turn signal/DRLs (lower part of the headlights) bc they’re shaped different.

An Escalade swap requires the entire front clip, including fenders, but it’s been done as well as a Silverado front clip swap.

There are plenty of aftermarket grilles online you could prep and paint before installing. These Tahoes/Yukons are extremely easy to mod!