NBS Sierra SLE2 to Denali front end conversion

Texas_Edition · January 12, 2012

Hey guys, I searched the site for this, but the results came up with nothing. I searched "Denali Front Conversion" and "Denali Conversion" and it came up with no results found. I find that hard to believe. I know people have done it. I had a minor accident with a guard rail after missing Bambi and her friends. After already replacing my two passenger side 20" rims, now I need to fix my bumper, upper valance cover, passenger fender, rear passenger bumper and some passenger rear quarter body work.

I want to go from the chrome bumper to a painted bumper like the Denali's but RockAuto doesn't have one. They only list a chrome bumper, but if I click on Bumper Cover, they have one, but its without a picture so I can't tell if its what I need.

Can anyone point me in the right direction for everything I need? Looking for a Denali primered or black painted front bumper. Is the upper valance different? Does this change the lower plastic pieces below the bumper?

I know what I need to get for the rear. That's simple, I just need the rear bumper end caps that are primered, which I have found.

So I just need to know what I need in order to do a conversion from a Sierra 1500 SLE2 Texas Edition to a Denali front end.

I have a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE2 Texas Edition.

Thanks guys!

tesnoboy · January 12, 2012

_{Glad you are OK.Damn Deer! I hit a moose with a Pontiac Sunfire in 2004. Car took a good hit and I survived!I don't have an answer to your questions, but I would like to know what is a SLE2 Texas Edition? It looks like it was an awesome truck.}

Texas_Edition · January 12, 2012

Basically an SLE2 is a fully loaded SLE. Its in between an SLE and an SLT.

A Texas Edition is what we have here in Texas that is the same thing as the rest of the 49 states have as the NFL Edition I believe? I think thats what the other states call that package. Texas trucks always have a package that other states usually have. Same thing with the Silverado and the Tundra has a Texas Edition and Dodge has the Lone Star Edition. I think Ford is the only one that doesn't have a Texas only edition vehicle

It consist of painted to match mirrors and handles, 20" wheels, towing package, and a rear locking differential. All in one package. There may be more, but I'd have to look.

And thanks for the compliment and that you are glad I am ok. I appreciate it. Proud of the truck, but I want to trade it in for a 2500 diesel that is exactly like my truck, just a 3/4 ton

My best friend hit a horse in his 300ZX... He wasn't so lucky unfortunately.

Stevens03 · January 12, 2012

All you need to do is have your local favorite paint shop bead blast your current bumper and color match it. Buy the upper and lower grills and install chrome hooks. I chose the route of a hybrid look between the two

I chose not to install the lower grill.

txab · January 12, 2012

ToW.

tesnoboy · January 12, 2012

Basically an SLE2 is a fully loaded SLE. Its in between an SLE and an SLT. A Texas Edition is what we have here in Texas that is the same thing as the rest of the 49 states have as the NFL Edition I believe? I think thats what the other states call that package. Texas trucks always have a package that other states usually have. Same thing with the Silverado and the Tundra has a Texas Edition and Dodge has the Lone Star Edition. I think Ford is the only one that doesn't have a Texas only edition vehicle It consist of painted to match mirrors and handles, 20" wheels, towing package, and a rear locking differential. All in one package. There may be more, but I'd have to look. And thanks for the compliment and that you are glad I am ok. I appreciate it. Proud of the truck, but I want to trade it in for a 2500 diesel that is exactly like my truck, just a 3/4 ton My best friend hit a horse in his 300ZX... He wasn't so lucky unfortunately.

Thanks for the info. Sorry about your friend.

Texas_Edition · January 13, 2012

All you need to do is have your local favorite paint shop bead blast your current bumper and color match it. Buy the upper and lower grills and install chrome hooks. I chose the route of a hybrid look between the two

I chose not to install the lower grill.

Thanks for the reply, but I don't really see how it's any different than what my truck looks like. So I would need to bead blast a new chrome bumper to take the chrome off, then have it primed, prepped, and painted? Seems a bit extreme. If that's the case, then how to actual Denali owners fix their front end damage to have a color matched bumper? The Denali bumper should be a direct bolt on as I dont think there is any difference between the two, just one is chrome, the other is painted to match

Texas_Edition · January 13, 2012

Basically an SLE2 is a fully loaded SLE. Its in between an SLE and an SLT. A Texas Edition is what we have here in Texas that is the same thing as the rest of the 49 states have as the NFL Edition I believe? I think thats what the other states call that package. Texas trucks always have a package that other states usually have. Same thing with the Silverado and the Tundra has a Texas Edition and Dodge has the Lone Star Edition. I think Ford is the only one that doesn't have a Texas only edition vehicle It consist of painted to match mirrors and handles, 20" wheels, towing package, and a rear locking differential. All in one package. There may be more, but I'd have to look. And thanks for the compliment and that you are glad I am ok. I appreciate it. Proud of the truck, but I want to trade it in for a 2500 diesel that is exactly like my truck, just a 3/4 ton My best friend hit a horse in his 300ZX... He wasn't so lucky unfortunately.

Thanks for the info. Sorry about your friend.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

09Jimmy · January 13, 2012

I converted my 09 GMC to a Denali front end when it was brand new. You need a Denali chrome grille, a Denali chrome lower grille AND a Denali lower valance. The lower Denali grille will absolutely not fit in a standand pick up lower valance.

I sanded the texture off the Denali lower valance and had it color matched to my red truck, then you must paint the area behind where the lower grille goes flat black. If you don't, the lower grille just looks like an "add on", not like air actually flows through it.

I left my bumper chrome and it makes the truck look bigger, like this massive chrome wall coming at you. Denali owners always do a double take and wonder why my "Denali" looks mean, while theirs look tame.

McTavish · January 13, 2012

I have the GMC chrome grille with the bumper off a Denali painted to match my truck. The bumper was a factory gm bumper and it bolted right on my 2007 Sierra SLE2 It matches right up to the upper and lower.