Rocket Man’s 2008 Tahoe Build Thread

[Rocket Man]

I did the cabin air filter mod today. It only took a few minutes to remember how difficult of a space it is to work in but I got it done. I had to keep taking pics to see the crap leftover on the heater core and going back in with a toothbrush to clean the stuff off but I feel I got it pretty clean. Installed the filter and cover. Success!

 

[Rocket Man]

I figured out how to remove the chrome strips on the running boards so I can work on painting them. I broke one side on a couple of the clips but they should reinstall fine. They’re the chrome coated plastic. I can paint them, it’s just a lot of hand sanding. I started today.

 

[Rocket Man]

I guess I didn’t mention it in this thread but the glass company not only left the covers off my wiper arm nuts and lied but after he left I noticed they ripped me off and installed a windshield that doesn’t have the shade area across the top which turned into a lot of ********. I ended up giving them a 1- star google review and explained what they did. The owner called

me and offered to put the correct windshield in if I change my review. I hope it’s hurting his business. It’s still there. They replaced the windshield today.

 

[PG01]

Just do a good job, the right way…. I just don’t understand these companies today…. AND not every business has to be open on Sat and Sun… i like the old days when you had to wait till Monday…..people are so impatient….

 

[Rocket Man]

Going to try upol’s adhesion promoter and high fill primer on the chrome pieces. Not sure if what I’m trying is going to look 100% but I feel I can do a decent job and it will last. This stuff is the same as all the chrome coated plastic on these trucks. There’s areas that have taken the road debris abuse and started bubbling or peeling so those have to be sanded back to where the chrome is stuck good so I can sand it decently enough to get a grip with the #4 and then I’ll primer with the high fill so I can sand it smooth and then I’ll be able to shoot a base and clear. Worst case scenario is I can wrap them now that I have them removed but I feel the CM stripes will look awesome even if they’re not perfect. Also, the damaged areas are on the bottoms so nobody will see them anyway.

 

[Rocket Man]

I sanded all the cracks and stuff using some peel n stick 120 grit stuck to various tools. Not too bad. I have found when painting chrome, it’s just like when I had to paint melamine coated mdf panels in my kitchen. The stuff is so slick that it takes 40-80 grit to break through the slippery outer layer but once you do, it pretty much sands like anything else. So does chrome. The edges and cracks usually just come off down to bare plastic.
Ok so after 2 coats of adhesion promoter and 2 coats of high build primer I honestly can’t see the areas where the chrome is sanded off or through. And I still have to sand the primer after it cures. Patience.

 

[89Suburban]

I did the cabin air filter mod today. It only took a few minutes to remember how difficult of a space it is to work in but I got it done. I had to keep taking pics to see the crap leftover on the heater core and going back in with a toothbrush to clean the stuff off but I feel I got it pretty clean. Installed the filter and cover. Success!View attachment 463639View attachment 463640View attachment 463641View attachment 463642View attachment 463643View attachment 463644

I gotta stop procrastinating and do this schiot. I can imagine what mine looks like with 370K on it.

 

[Tonyv__]

I guess I didn’t mention it in this thread but the glass company not only left the covers off my wiper arm nuts and lied but after he left I noticed they ripped me off and installed a windshield that doesn’t have the shade area across the top which turned into a lot of ********. I ended up giving them a 1- star google review and explained what they did. The owner called View attachment 464298me and offered to put the correct windshield in if I change my review. I hope it’s hurting his business. It’s still there. They replaced the windshield today.

I never even realized that was optional. I just got my windshield done about 2
Months ago on my express and noticed this new one has the shade part, which I like. My previous express must of been clear too because I had an aftermarket tint strip across the top of the windshield

 

[Rocket Man]

Finished painting the chrome bits. 2 coats of base and I had just enough of that left from the last project of the mirrors and door handles. 2 coats of clear and I’m about out of that too so I’m calling it good. Looks great imo and I’m looking up close so when they’re on the truck they should look perfect. Now I just have to leave them be until tomorrow afternoon and not mess them up. My patience is not great.

 

[Rocket Man]

I never even realized that was optional. I just got my windshield done about 2
Months ago on my express and noticed this new one has the shade part, which I like. My previous express must of been clear too because I had an aftermarket tint strip across the top of the windshield

The lower trim models like the WT usually get the plain tinted ones and the higher trim packages get the shade across the top. I don’t believe I’ve seen an SUV that didn’t have it but then I haven’t been looking either.

 

[Rocket Man]

I admit it was a pretty enjoyable 5 minutes snapping those trim pieces back on. The color match isn’t perfect like all the paint I buy from Automotive Touchup but all in all I really like how this came out. Best of all that chrome strip is gone. And I haven’t seen any other Tahoes with a CM strip on the running boards.

 

[Fosscore]

Really nice touch.

Curious about the udol primer you are using and why that particular one for your CM project? @Rocket Man

 

[Rocket Man]

Really nice touch.

Curious about the udol primer you are using and why that particular one for your CM project? @Rocket Man

The Upol primers I used were their self etching for metal which I used on the metal chromed center pieces of the Esky roof rack because it’s made specifically for hard-to-prime metals like that. The other one was their high-build primer for plastics and metals that I used on the chromed plastic strips in the running boards. I used that because the chrome had bubbled up in places and also it was dented and damaged in a couple spots from being hit with something so when I sanded those areas with 80 grit, part of the chrome sanded off and exposed the bare plastic. I have found the chrome layer wont feather when sanded so it leaves abrupt edges where the bare plastic spots are. I sand the hell out of the chrome with the 80 grit and be sure all the edges are adhered good, then I sand the best I can with the corresponding grits along with the rest of the piece. If I was to primer it at that point with regular primer, it leaves a lot to be sanded out. But the high build stuff lays on heavy and kind of self levels so there was almost no sanding and the primer layer looked perfect, the ridges were gone. Here’s a pic of where the plastic chrome was peeling and I sanded the hell out of it but those little pieces wouldn’t sand off and if I kept sanding it would look worse because the bare plastic areas would sand down before the chrome bits would come off. So high build primer and it looks great, no ridges no evidence of those uneven areas.
Edit:forgot to mention I used the Upol adhesion promoter on the plastic pieces before the high-build primer.

 

[Fosscore]

The Upol primers I used were their self etching for metal which I used on the metal chromed center pieces of the Esky roof rack because it’s made specifically for hard-to-prime metals like that. The other one was their high-build primer for plastics and metals that I used on the chromed plastic strips in the running boards. I used that because the chrome had bubbled up in places and also it was dented and damaged in a couple spots from being hit with something so when I sanded those areas with 80 grit, part of the chrome sanded off and exposed the bare plastic. I have found the chrome layer wont feather when sanded so it leaves abrupt edges where the bare plastic spots are. I sand the hell out of the chrome with the 80 grit and be sure all the edges are adhered good, then I sand the best I can with the corresponding grits along with the rest of the piece. If I was to primer it at that point with regular primer, it leaves a lot to be sanded out. But the high build stuff lays on heavy and kind of self levels so there was almost no sanding and the primer layer looked perfect, the ridges were gone. Here’s a pic of where the plastic chrome was peeling and I sanded the hell out of it but those little pieces wouldn’t sand off and if I kept sanding it would look worse because the bare plastic areas would sand down before the chrome bits would come off. So high build primer and it looks great, no ridges no evidence of those uneven areas.
Edit:forgot to mention I used the Upol adhesion promoter on the plastic pieces before the high-build primer.
View attachment 465378View attachment 465379

Thx Mark for that detailed answer. As always, your CM paintwork is amazing and attention to detail never ceases to amaze us all here. Thx for the good work. I just hadn't seen the Udol as IIRC you are still using Automotive TouchUp for your paint needs, even though you said some of the batches are a bit off here and there. Like that work on the plastic chrome to CM. Looks great!

 

[Rocket Man]

I found a set of 22” reps that are almost identical to the ones I was borrowing off my other truck The Beast. I had some new 305/40/22 Lexani LX-Thirties and TPMS sensors installed. The Beast got its wheels back and this one got new ones. I might have to name this truck Beauty since I have The Beast.

Also I’m trying out Cerakote’s tire kit. I like their other stuff so I’m hoping this stuff lasts. It’s inexpensive and easy to apply

 

[89Suburban]

I found a set of 22” reps that are almost identical to the ones I was borrowing off my other truck The Beast. I had some new 305/40/22 Lexani LX-Thirties and TPMS sensors installed. The Beast got its wheels back and this one got new ones. I might have to name this truck Beauty since I have The Beast.

Also I’m trying out Cerakote’s tire kit. I like their other stuff so I’m hoping this stuff lasts. It’s inexpensive and easy to apply View attachment 467653View attachment 467654View attachment 467655View attachment 467656

Beauty and the Beast, i love it haha

 

[Rocket Man]

I’m getting the “Servive 4WD” message now on every startup. I don’t see any codes in the Tech2 but I also don’t see the transfer case in the menu, just the transmission. Anybody know how to get into the codes stored by the transfer case?

 

[Fless]

I’m getting the “Servive 4WD” message now on every startup. I don’t see any codes in the Tech2 but I also don’t see the transfer case in the menu, just the transmission. Anybody know how to get into the codes stored by the transfer case?

They're mostly chassis codes, so they begin with a "C" although there are several Body ("B") codes that can apply. I'm not sure where to look for them, though, in the Tech 2. Maybe the attached PDF will help.

 

[Rocket Man]

They're mostly chassis codes, so they begin with a "C" although there are several Body ("B") codes that can apply. I'm not sure where to look for them, though, in the Tech 2. Maybe the attached PDF will help.

I already looked at that. It shows anything to do with the transfer case is under Powertrain>Special functions>transfer case. However my Tech2 doesn’t have special functions under Powertrain. That’s not on the menu lol.

 

[Fless]

I already looked at that. It shows anything to do with the transfer case is under Powertrain>Special functions>transfer case. However my Tech2 doesn’t have special functions under Powertrain. That’s not on the menu lol.

Hmmm. When you first select the vehicle in the Tech 2, are you selecting the "K" chassis/body? I can't recall what the options are.