Fender flares / lower body paint

[arveetek]

I received my Bushwacker OE style fender flares today. Before I install them, I want to de-badge the lower molding. Also I have small bit of rust starting to form on the right front fender.

Instead of painting, I'm thinking of repairing the rust, and then going over the lower portion of the body (like the Sport models have painted) with some bedliner. This way I wouldn't have to prep as much as with paint, and it should make a good protection barrier for rocks, etc.

Anyone ever done this?

Here's my rig:

So basically, from the lower indentation of the body line, all the way down, from the front wheel well to the rear wheel well, I'll cover that in black
bedliner.

I'll end up with a color scheme opposite of 992door's (I really dig his truck ):

Whereas his is dark on top and light on bottom, I'll have light on top and dark on bottom.

Like this, only in bedliner instead of paint:

Pros? Cons?

Thanks,

Casey

 

[bowtiefreak]

I see more and more guys doing it. Some look good, some don't. Pro: it is DIY, it is durable. Con: if you don't like it it is not an easy fix.

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

i plan on having the silver on mine line-X'ed this spring. i would try to keep it smooth and not as rough as you would want a truck bed. Will make it easier to clean and won't draw as much attention (won't look like 36grit sandpaper). haha

 

[EastTXYukon]

I have thought about doing the same thing so I will be anxious to see what you decide and how it turns out.

How are the Bushwacker OE style flares? Would u mind checking to see how tall they are, from the center of the wheel opening to the top? I need to make sure they're the same size as the OEM ones I have on my truck now.

 

[the big blue bus]

i have thought about doing my lower section black. ive got pics of a burb with silver linex i think and another tahoe. it looks good. id do mine silver if it didnt cost so much

some pics i have

 

[Arctic-Rodz]

here it is... im thinking about doing this to mine too....

youll probably get to it sooner than i will, would like to see pics.

Would you take it in to get sprayed or get one of those do it your self roll on deals?

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

thats one thing i have yet to decide is the color. black or silver. silver will add probably a couple hundred over the black.

 

[the big blue bus]

id rather keep the silver and blue on mine but the cost would make me do black diy instead

 

[EastTXYukon]

I got a quote of $450 for bumper removal and prep and spray below the style line on my truck. That was for any color I wanted.

Black was 100 dollars cheaper. This was from a bodyshop and i think they used "Speedliner" brand liner.

IMO, spraying a color on makes it look more like paint and less like bedliner. If i ever decide to do this, i'm going to do the liner in the gray color bedliner like the two-tone Sport package Tahoes.

 

[arveetek]

I see more and more guys doing it. Some look good, some don't. Pro: it is DIY, it is durable. Con: if you don't like it it is not an easy fix.

Do you have pics or links to pics of guys doing this?

Thanks!!

---------- Post added at 04:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:13 PM ----------

I have thought about doing the same thing so I will be anxious to see what you decide and how it turns out.

How are the Bushwacker OE style flares? Would u mind checking to see how tall they are, from the center of the wheel opening to the top? I need to make sure they're the same size as the OEM ones I have on my truck now.

I held up the flares to the body lines, and they match up great. I'm a bit disappointed with how flimsy they feel....don't feel like they should cost as much as they do. I was also hoping for a bit of a textured finish...they are smooth. But they're not too glossy.

I'll get some measurements for you soon.

Casey

---------- Post added at 04:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:15 PM ----------

here it is... im thinking about doing this to mine too....

youll probably get to it sooner than i will, would like to see pics.

Would you take it in to get sprayed or get one of those do it your self roll on deals?

I'm thinking of DIY roll-on, to save money.

Any suggestions on good quality DIY bedliner? And I would like to avoid the really aggressive, 'sandpaper' look as mentioned.

Casey

 

[the big blue bus]

Do you have pics or links to pics of guys doing this?

Thanks!!

i posted some pics above from my computer. have one of a green sas'd tahoe too its sick

 

[bowtiefreak]

If you really want pictures, google images and search for line-x rockers and you will have a bunch of different trucks to look at with it.

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

as for the DIY kits. Herculiner worked really well on the tracker, not sure how "smooth" you could get it though. if you have a menards where your at they have it on sale with a good rebate every couple months.

just make sure you prep it really well! that and it dries out in the can pretty quick, would not try to do it on a 90+degree day.

 

[BigDaddy13440]

Been thinking about doing my whole truck, not just the lower panels.

Here's a few sites I found -

http://www.grizzlygrip.com/index.asp and their colors http://www.grizzlygrip.com/colors.asp


Also Al's Liner

http://www.doityourselfbedliner.com/services.html

 

[the big blue bus]

wow thats pretty cool. so like 100 bucks to do rockers and bumpers? how much would be needed?

pic i just found

and this tahoe is by far my all time favorite

 

[BigDaddy13440]

and this tahoe is by far my all time favorite

My '96 is that dark green now, I'm thinking about doing the entire truck in the Emerald Green, and maybe doing black on the bottom.

 

[SunlitComet]

Did you guys do the barn doors like that too?

 

[arveetek]

Would u mind checking to see how tall they are, from the center of the wheel opening to the top? I need to make sure they're the same size as the OEM ones I have on my truck now.

The rear flares measure 5" from top to bottom in the center, and the front flares taper from 5" down to 4.5" when looking from rear to front, so right in the center, I'd call it 4 3/4".

I still expected thicker plastic than this. I haven't really examined OEM flares, but they might be thicker.

Casey

---------- Post added at 09:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:39 PM ----------

Thanks for the posting the extra pictures, fellas! I found some more too, once I started searching some more.

I really like the red Line-X truck that Coles posted. They did a nice job on that one. The green Tahoe has the liner too far up the sides, IMO.

I'm definitely going to pursue this! Now, do I get a whole bedliner kit, or just the smaller quart cans? And I'm pretty sure I will scuff and coat the flares too, so it will all match.

Casey

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

from using the herculiner gallon previously, i don't think a quart will cover the rockers, flares, and bumpers. if you have to buy 2 quarts you might as well just get the gallon kit.

 

[the big blue bus]

agreed on the green its too far up but none the less thats a bad ass tahoe. dont know if black would look too good on mine unless i blacked the grill out too