Front bumper end caps....Solution

[flyboyron]

Well, if you read my post about the front bumper end caps, I hate the way they look like GM just stuck a couple of big white blocks on the corner of the truck.

 

So I thought the chrome ones would make the bumper look more full and go all across the front and wrap around the side.

 

After seeing your posts, and doing some research on other websites, I found what I thought would be the answer to my problem. So I went online and found the exact truck with what I wanted on my truck. Of course price is not considered, only looks.

 

Then I went down to the dealer.....

 

 

No........No........stay with me here.........I didn't buy a new truck.

 

It turns out it is very simple.

 

I take my grille, bumper, and lower air deflector off.

 

I take the chrome bumper and the air deflector and have them painted Summit White to match my truck.

 

I take my tow hooks down and have them chromed. (cheaper than buying new ones.)

 

I buy the 2013 LTZ Grille in Summit White.

 

I install all the parts and I am good to go.

 

Here is a picture of my truck currently and a picture of what I want it to look like after I am done.

 

So what do you think?

 

[Daryl LBZ]

Yea it will look much better. Hopefully you can get someone to paint your chrome middle piece. I tried to get mine done white on my 09 and the guy at the body shop wouldn't do it because he claimed all the chrome wouldn't come off and the paint wouldn't hold up. He didn't act to happy about doing it so I just figured that was his excuse to get out of it...

 

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[JrocK817]

Good choice! Color Matched > Chrome

[MikeNH]

I love the color matched front ends. That's why I have one.

 

[SILVERADOSC540]

You're on the right track. I'd do the mirrors and door handles as well. And maybe the tailgate handle and the back bumper. I ordered a black powdercoated rear bumper on ebay for $103.00. I'm hoping that just a quick clearcoat and it will match my truck.

[dirtfan21]

I took my chrome grille into an auto body shop and had it color matched for $100 bucks. Has lasted 6 months and through salt, no chips. The bumper work you explained is prop the cheapest and best way to go. Unless you want the split center section of the grill I would just have the same shop paint your existing grille.

 

If money isn't an option then disregard all I said.

[dave_benn]

Yea it will look much better. Hopefully you can get someone to paint your chrome middle piece. I tried to get mine done white on my 09 and the guy at the body shop wouldn't do it because he claimed all the chrome wouldn't come off and the paint wouldn't hold up. He didn't act to happy about doing it so I just figured that was his excuse to get out of it...

 

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3

 

could you powder coat over the chrome?

[RyanbabZ71]

Might be cheaper to buy a new truck

 

On a serious note have you priced it out. What does it come out to be? Sounds like a good plan if you can be without your truck or drive around without a front bumper while they paint it.

[TimmyG]

could you powder coat over the chrome?

yes and you can paint over it to. My guy just gives it a quick sand blast

 

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[flyboyron]

Well, here is the latest...

 

One of my accounting clients is a body shop. They said they could order the parts for me and get me 30% off the retail price. What I come up real quick with is that it would be cheaper than going through Gmpartsdirect plus I save on shipping.

So I thought I might just order the new grille, the lower air deflector which comes already color matched, and a new primer bumper. Then I can remove the tow hooks and have them chromed and have the new bumper painted and then when those are ready, do the install on a Saturday, so I would only be driving around with no tow hooks. (who's going to notice?) I can save the stock grill and chrome bumper in case the need arises (God forbid) or I could sell them if I had to. I think the total cost for everything is about $1,000.00. I haven't been able to verify the price of the parts from the dealer yet, but that is ok since my wife's Pontiac needs a paint job and that will come first.

I am looking at doing this around April or June depending on other financial obligations like a new oven and whatever I need to keep the WSF (wife satisfaction factor) high.

[j13smiley]

You're on the right track. I'd do the mirrors and door handles as well. And maybe the tailgate handle and the back bumper. I ordered a black powdercoated rear bumper on ebay for $103.00. I'm hoping that just a quick clearcoat and it will match my truck.

 

Can you send me a link to what you got? Post up pics once you get it please!

[Frogfish]

Should do a colormatched HD conversion

[Chris]

Should do a colormatched HD conversion

 

Doesn't look that great on a stock height or lowered 1500. Its not for everybody. And some people are just fine with the 1500 color matched front

 

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[SILVERADOSC540]

Can you send me a link to what you got? Post up pics once you get it please!

 

 

Here you go- good luck!

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350580050726?item=350580050726&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME:L:OC:US:3160&vxp=mtr

[Wires]

I like the look. I did that on my '00 Z71. Left the chrome bumper, but found a good body shop that sanded/smoothed the plastic around the grill insert, and upper/lower valance. Looked really nice when done.

 

With the NBS, a little harder to do since the chrome is only 1/2 the front. Swapping it will look slick.

 

I'd get the bumper clear bra'd when done though. Otherwise you'll have rock chips rusting the crap out of it. My '08 SD has the painted bumpers, and I've had issues where a stone hit the curve that leads to the tow hooks rusting to crap (even with the bra. )