Opinions on Potential Hybrid Mods ...

[soulsea]

Mod Update as of 1/12/11

Interior:

- GM wood center console bezel
- GM center console organizer
- GM Nav Disc 2012
- GM sill plates
- GM step shields
- GM inclination sensor
- GM shock sensor
- GM 2-Way advanced remote
- GM Cargo Security Shade
- GM Roadside assistance package
- GM First aid kit
- Weathertech 1st, 2nd, and trunk floor liners
- Vanity, Dome leds
- RAM iPad cradle

Exterior:

- GM CK375 wheel/tire package
- GM Spare tire addition
- GM Oval running boards
- GM Chrome handles
- GM LTZ door moldings
- GM Escalade rear bumper cover assembly
- GM Escalade mirrors
- Billet 5/8" rear wheel spacers
- Putco rain guards
- Resonator delete and added dual exhaust tips.
- Grillcraft Hybrid upper and lower stainless steel grilles
- Smoked 3rd light
- Tinted tail lights
- Ami All Sales Black front bowtie
- Painted black rear bowtie
- 50% tint on front windows
- K&N air filter
- Led puddle, license plate, reverse, turn signal lights
- Custom headlight quad retrofit with 'flash to pass' highs and switchback led drl/turn signals
- Custom Hybrid rear badging


---------------------------

Ok so I want to do some tinkering with the overall look of my truck. In this vain I am soliciting and will appreciate any input from fellow TYF members.

The HyHoe as she sits now:

(front end is in my sig)

The first thing I am considering is adding subtle chrome elements such as the oem chrome handles and the oem chrome esky/nali roof rack.

The best I could muck up the image to see what it would look like is taking the stock image of a yukon Denali Hybrid and blacking out the chrome running board, side molding, and mirror.

This was the resuld with my scarce image manipulation skillz:

It must be said that I also like the look of the yuk's tails but I'm not sure if round lights will go well with the more square lines of the Tahoe.

Also seriously considering the switch to the nali rear bumper. If I did I would swap the rear black bowtie for a chrome one.

Anyhoot, what do you guys think?

Cheers!

 

[07Burb]

You're on the right track Soulsea

Myself, I'd steer away from the Denali tails only cuz I'm not a big fan of the euro tail look and that's what that is. I'd go with trying to find Esky OEM tails if it was me to tie into your idea of the esky luggage rack. I'd then demold (although, I know you've said you don't want to) and it'd really clean up the look a lot! I'd also go with a subtle 2" rear drop just to level it out and get darker tint where it's currently tinted and also tint the front door windows.... Obviously, I've also mentioned exhaust a few times to you and I'd still do that

Just my 2 cents...

 

[felixgun]

Have you thought about the escalade third brake light?

 

[soulsea]

You're on the right track Soulsea

Myself, I'd steer away from the Denali tails only cuz I'm not a big fan of the euro tail look and that's what that is. I'd go with trying to find Esky OEM tails if it was me to tie into your idea of the esky luggage rack. I'd then demold (although, I know you've said you don't want to) and it'd really clean up the look a lot! I'd also go with a subtle 2" rear drop just to level it out and get darker tint where it's currently tinted and also tint the front door windows.... Obviously, I've also mentioned exhaust a few times to you and I'd still do that

Just my 2 cents...

Mmm, you know I've seen the esky tails/3rd light combo on a tahoe and I'm not crazy about it. One of the best visual attributes (for my taste) of the Tahoe as opposed to the Nali/Esky is the clean square lines ... the esky tails have this curbed effect that seems out of place on the Tahoe without all the chrome elements on the liftgate. The only reason I was pondering the use of the Nali tails, even though they are more round than square, is that they are the only oem tails I could find that have a dark, almost smoked look to them.

Demolding is still a possibility down the line ... but in order to do that I'd want to remove the Hybrid specific running boards and associated moldings and replace them with a Nali running board. This is actually a serious and rather pricey mod on a HyHoe so it's for down the road.

The 2" rear drop is also being considered but I'd like to see it on someone else's truck first.

Exhaust is a non starter for now ... not only in regards to the negative affects on my warranty, but on a hybrid we're talking $3000 to get that done. I've gone into why on other threads but I'm happy to repeat it if you really need me to. Not only that but chances are it will sound really odd going from silent electric drive to the engine kicking in with a loud rumble as I'm driving down the street.

 

[07Burb]

Exhaust is a non starter for now ... not only in regards to the negative affects on my warranty, but on a hybrid we're talking $3000 to get that done. I've gone into why on other threads but I'm happy to repeat it if you really need me to. Not only that but chances are it will sound really odd going from silent electric drive to the engine kicking in with a loud rumble as I'm driving down the street.

I haven't read what you said in the past somehow but no need to go into it and it's outrageous pricing!! Even just putting a new tip on it and leaving the actual exhaust alone from the tip back would make a large difference. The end of the pipe sticking way down like that has always looked really odd to me I think you're right, though, if you put a different muffler on there that was louder it'd sound weird due to the Hybrid functionalities and stuff.

If you debadged why would you feel the need to change running boards and other molding? I think just removing the Hybrid symbols and "Tahoe" (optional) would make a large impact on your overall look. Personally I kind like the running boards and associated body molding you have on there right now

 

[soulsea]

If you debadged why would you feel the need to change running boards and other molding? I think just removing the Hybrid symbols and "Tahoe" (optional) would make a large impact on your overall look. Personally I kind like the running boards and associated body molding you have on there right now

Well for one on the post I was referring to you said 'demold' not 'debadge.' So I was refering to the side moldings in my comment. I keep the little Hybrid badges because it allows me special parking and hov privileges in my and other areas. Without that I'd get ticketed (parking) and pulled over by hov enforcement all the time and would have to show documentation that it is in fact a hybrid.

The running board issue is intertwined with the demolding issue ... as in the HyHoe NEEDS a running board to match the low line of the front air dam which the nali hybrid doesn't have. So if I demolded the side which would give it a clean side look, I would do the complicated switch to the nali running board.

I's complicated ... that's why the demolding consideration is getting kicked down the road.

 

[07Burb]

^^^Ah, sorry....I should have proofread...I meant debadge...explained

~~~>07Burb <~~~Soulsea

 

[Punisher66]

That tail pipe is garbage. Replace with something like this. I love those wheels.

 

[edgaranah1]

+1 on the esky roof rack and +1 again for adding a chrome tip

 

[soulsea]

The exhaust modification issues with the Hybrids are complicated and expensive to do properly, it is even debatable if they can be done at all ... to indicate how involved it is, even the $88k Escalade Hybrid Platinum comes with the exact same tailpipe as my Tahoe Hybrid, and considering all the other upgrades between those two models the Cadillac folks would have modified the tailpipe/exhaust setup if it could be done without compromise to the hybrid setup.

There is a cheap method (round $500 installed) to convert that tailpipe http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330370129316&viewitem=#ht_500wt_1182 ... a couple of aftermarket companies sell a resonator delete package with a niceish looking tip specifically for the hybrid. BUT, I for one have not seen the long term effects on the 2 mode hybrid drive of having one installed, and given that installing one will negate pretty much every engine aspect of my warranty, I will not be the one to 'test' this set up.

Now, if someone has a product I am unaware of and they think it will work as a replacement to that tail pipe, please link it and I will consider it ... I can assure you that I and most other Hybrid owners hate the way that thing looks, especially if they dished out almost $90k for their Esky, and will forever love and be grateful to whomever presented a valid alternative.

 

[LuSe4]

Does the hybrid have holes for a rack? An escalade rack would look sweet. The chrome door handles would look good also. Just don't get too carried away with chrome. As far as taillights, I would get some aftermarket leds (because they are brighter) and lightly tint them. Nothing terribly dark, just a nice "dark cherry" color. That way you will still be legal.

I am not trying to hijack your thread, but what kind of real world highway/ city/ combined mileage are you getting? I have always been curious what the hybrids can really do.

 

[soulsea]

Does the hybrid have holes for a rack? An escalade rack would look sweet. The chrome door handles would look good also. Just don't get too carried away with chrome. As far as taillights, I would get some aftermarket leds (because they are brighter) and lightly tint them. Nothing terribly dark, just a nice "dark cherry" color. That way you will still be legal.

Nope unfortunately the holes are not there for a roof rack. This is obviously a concern as drilling new holes could result in some serious issues ... however, I discussed it with a local GM dealership and they are familiar with the process, and who for a 'price' will install the roof racks.

And yes the racks and handles would most likely be the only chrome I would add to the vehicle.

I am not trying to hijack your thread, but what kind of real world highway/ city/ combined mileage are you getting? I have always been curious what the hybrids can really do.

City would be around 18/19, the dash computer says 23 to 25 rolling down the road ... combined city and highway between 19 and 20 mpg depending on how much city driving I do and how I drive it. If one is gentle with the accelerator you can make it so the engine doesn't kick in before 30mph, those that drive that way with their hybrids get better city mileage than me.

I did try it one time and went a whole twenty minutes driving around without the gas engine on ... then I got bored and floored it.

 

[felixgun]

The Yukon also has the bubble in the tails that come on them (like the esky tails)... i'm wondering if the Yukon Denali tail has that same bubble... My friend's yukon has em and I hate his tails...

 

[soulsea]

Anyone have any experience with a company called IPCW?

Trying to get the dark/smoked red look isn't going to happen with oem unless I get those HyNali tails so I'm thinking something along these lines:

What do you guys think?

 

[07Burb]

The look good IMO....don't know anything about the quality of IPCW, though...

 

[B.G.]

I hear what you are saying man... We are at a tough spot for mods with these hybrids. I thought of the esky roof rails myself, but I have began to love the look of the smooth roof. I would def figure out what the best option would be for 2" lowering in the rear. I cant say how happy I am now that mine is dropped 2/4. As for the exhaust, this is next on my list. You can hack the big clunky resonator in the rear and just run a tip. It has no adverse effects and have read about several hybrid owners doing it.

Check out this link....

http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f69/first-accessory-our-hybrids-pics-21333/

 

[soulsea]

Yes, the tip on your link is the one I linked on the previous page.

As my truck has barely 16k miles on it I'm not ready yet to chance my warranty ... but I'll be watching you closely and noting your experience and it will factor in my decision.

 

[THE YETI]

Serge... I actually like the looks of that chrome handle/roof rack rendering u did. Would look great with the wheels you have. Do it.

 

[soulsea]

Serge... I actually like the looks of that chrome handle/roof rack rendering u did. Would look great with the wheels you have. Do it.

Thanks bud ... I actually already ordered the handles.

I had a line on a good deal on a rack but someone talked me out of it.
Any ideas where I can score one?

 

[ghoster]

I really like the bit of chrome on my side molding. I usually don't care for chrome on anything other than black, but it has really grown on me. It breaks up that massive billboard sized door.