A Few Upgrades

[_GMAN_]

I decided to take on a few upgrades on my Suburban and wanted to share what I’m doing. I was going to do a full respray on the vehicle but prices were just too high for my budget. So I started tackling the delaminating clear coat panel by panel. I’ve already done the hood and front bumper, and now I’m working on the roof. I removed the roof rack, and found a Yukon Denali Rack and I’m adding it to the back. I also removed the bumper guards from the doors.

 

[Rocket Man]

what’s your technique and products/ tools used?

 

[OBSandaNNBS]

Shaving the door guards is super clean!
I also have a soft spot for the color. My 97 is a similar color and I've always liked it on the NNBS.
Please update when you add the Denali rack.

 

[_GMAN_]

what’s your technique and products/ tools used?

Harbor Freight is my friend. Herculese orbital sander with 150 grit hook and loop sand paper, followed by 320. Nothing too crazy.

 

[_GMAN_]

Shaving the door guards is super clean!
I also have a soft spot for the color. My 97 is a similar color and I've always liked it on the NNBS.
Please update when you add the Denali rack.

Removing the door guars was definitely the best thing for it. The passenger side door guard had already saree to release, and there was no point keeping the rest of them.

 

[_GMAN_]

*Update*

The suburban is in my garage and I have laid down a coat of black sealer, then I lay down two coats of factory, GM sport red paint code WA817K. Now I’m getting ready to catch all the little nibs that I have on the basecoat,and start with my clearcoat. I want to go ahead and try to get this finished this morning, so I can get this dried and back out of the garage. I had no idea that I can fit my suburban in my garage. After moving some things in the back, lo and behold it fits in the garage. And start with my clearcoat. I want to go ahead and try to get this finished this morning, so I can get this dried and back out of the garage. I had no idea that I can fit my suburban in my garage. After moving some things in the back, low and behold it fits in the garage.

I was going to post some pictures of the sailor on the roof, but I got so into the job that I didn’t have time to take pictures. By the time I thought about it, I had already had the base coat on. Plus, this is not a how to on painting a vehicle.

 

[_GMAN_]

And just like that, two coats of clear coat applied

 

[_GMAN_]

Yesterday I put the Denali roof rack on, and I really love the way it looks.
Next step is to paint the passenger rear quarter panel. I'm in the market for an Escalade ESV rear bumper cover with dual tips. I haven't found one yet.

 

[Rocket Man]

hell yeah, lookin good!

 

[OBSandaNNBS]

Yesterday I put the Denali roof rack on, and I really love the way it looks.
Next step is to paint the passenger rear quarter panel. I'm in the market for an Escalade ESV rear bumper cover with dual tips. I haven't found one yet.

Nice work.
Are you gonna paint the rack black or add more chrome? Or leave it as is?

 

[petethepug]

Starting to get an evil grimace when driving yet? Looking good. If you spot a complete dual tip ESV set up on the West Coast pm me.

 

[solli5pack]

Looks great! Now I want to start d.i.y. painting things! My Yukons roofs clearcoat is completely shot.

 

[_GMAN_]

Nice work.
Are you gonna paint the rack black or add more chrome? Or leave it as is?

At first I was going to go chrome handles, and mirrors and front grille, but after some thought, I am just going leave that bit of chrome on the roof rack as it is. I like the body color handles and mirror caps

 

[CMoore711]

Looking good. I would say your DIY paint project was a success!

 

[_GMAN_]

Just to update my journey with my Suburban. Some of these updates will spread across a few different categories. One of the updates was to add DL3 mirrors. After reading a bunch of threads and realizing what I needed. I found some DL3 mirrors out of an Avalanche, but I was missing the drivers control switch. I put them in anyway. I’ve had them in for about a month. Yesterday I went to an area in Houston where there are a lot of parts yards. I decided to choose one without knowing what I was going to find. I Found an Tahoe Hybrid that had both mirrors and both switches. I had to get them. I decided to test them in the parking lot before purchasing. Since I had DL3 mirrors already installed, I connected the master switch. Everything worked, but the mirrors didnt fold. I could hear the motors, but the mirrors didnt fold. So I am guessing the gears are stripped in the motor.. I then took the mirrors from the Tahoe Hybrid and connected them. They too would not fold. I decided to get them because these had the solid arrow signals instead of the dotted arrows on my first set. So next step is to do a bit of surgery and replace the folding motors. I found them on Amazon for about $34 each. Stay tuned for that.

 

[_GMAN_]

A little bit of succession replacing the mirrors with DL3's. I also stumbled upon some useful information that will help future owners wanting to upgrade to power folding mirrors. The mirrors I got were busted. Both motors turned, but didn't fold the mirrors. I installed the two motors I got from Amazon
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61m7NaJZCkL._SL1500_.jpg
Now everything's folds as it should. So you do need. to have both switches and the mirrors. My Suburban is a 2007, first year of the GMT900, and even thought the mirrors fold when I hit the switch, I don't have the ability to fold on lock by holding the lock button on the remote a few seconds longer like on my 2016 Sierra. I am not sure if this feature was added to later Tahoes & Suburbans. No extra options were added to the driver information controls. I am wondering if this was an option on later vehicles. If anyone have any ideas, Please chime in. Also aftermarket power mirrors will work, you dont have to look for DL3 mirrors. You only need to have the switches. I confirmed this by plugging my aftermarket mirrors in, and they folded as well when I hit the switch.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/SaRcUNSJvX8gaXnD6

 

[PG01]

A little bit of succession replacing the mirrors with DL3's. I also stumbled upon some useful information that will help future owners wanting to upgrade to power folding mirrors. The mirrors I got were busted. Both motors turned, but didn't fold the mirrors. I installed the two motors I got from Amazon
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61m7NaJZCkL._SL1500_.jpg
Now everything's folds as it should. So you do need. to have both switches and the mirrors. My Suburban is a 2007, first year of the GMT900, and even thought the mirrors fold when I hit the switch, I don't have the ability to fold on lock by holding the lock button on the remote a few seconds longer like on my 2016 Sierra. I am not sure if this feature was added to later Tahoes & Suburbans. No extra options were added to the driver information controls. I am wondering if this was an option on later vehicles. If anyone have any ideas, Please chime in. Also aftermarket power mirrors will work, you dont have to look for DL3 mirrors. You only need to have the switches. I confirmed this by plugging my aftermarket mirrors in, and they folded as well when I hit the switch.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/SaRcUNSJvX8gaXnD6

No power fold with the key fob on these nnbs…

Looks good tho, good werk

 

[_GMAN_]

No power fold with the key fob on these nnbs…

Looks good tho, good werk

Thanks Yea, i am not even sure if it was an option for the 2007 LT.

 

[_GMAN_]

It’s been a minute since I’ve done any updates. I added the Escalade third brake light.

 

[mikez71]

BTDieselworks Autosync has autofold, and remote fold.
For remote fold, you hit remote lock 3-4 times. Hitting lock 4-5 times will row up the windows.
The variation in button presses depends on whether the bcm went to sleep I think..

I thought we had a factory option to autofold, but it must have been the Autosync option I remembered..