Air Deflector Swap

[rudyb]

In my opinion, these stock valances/air deflectors are cheap pieces of crap (and the stock fog lights). The first fog light fell off in the mud. The next one disappeared in the snow. The valance itself was ripped off in the mud too. Long story short, my silverado only has about 2.5" of lift and some 33's. While trying to straddle some ruts left by someone with a vehicle much larger than mine, my poor little silvy eventually found her way down in to their tracks (hi-centered enough to break plastic junk, but I still made it through). I hauled the stock valance home in the bed and tried to fiberglass it later. I found out that fiberglass doesn't adhere well and was a waste of time. Eventually, I would like to do this. It's been about a year and I still haven't made an effort to get a replacement bumper, so I decided I would do a valance swap. I know these are popular, so I shouldn't have a problem selling the bumper/valance when I get a replacement.

I figured I would save a dollar and buy online, but I priced one at the local chevy house anyway. The part number most people use on these forums was useless. Fortunately, I saw a Z71 Tahoe with one of these air deflectors for sale locally and grabbed the VIN, which is what the dealership used to find the part. If anyone else would like to use the number, it is: 3GNFK16Z02G308551. The dealership's price was competitive, and they had it first thing this morning, so I ordered through them.

I’ve been driving this for about a year without a valance, so I still think it looks goofy and dumb, but I guess I will get used to it. I didn’t order fog lights yet. I don’t want stock lights, and I wasn’t sure about the dimensions until today. Now that the part is installed, I will order some lights soon. Also, if anyone would like to suggest lights they’ve used in the past, I would like to hear about your experience. I’ve had some experience with the OSRAM 66144 along with the Xenarc 35watt ballast. I’ve been toying with the idea of running those in some projector lenses. (Definitely something I won’t want to tear off in the snow.) Anyway, here’s the good stuff:

Stock valance no fogs:

 

Everything broke and gone:

 

New air deflector:

 

Before:

 

After:

 

 

 

[kstruckcountry]

I like the way that looks better than the stock one. I'd just be worried about smashing it again.

[rudyb]

Yeaaa, I'm going to try to be a little more intelligent on future adventures!

[govener71]

Looks really nice, do your stock fogs still fit? The holes look different.

[Chris]

The new fogs that go in that valance are round. I think they are smaller than the round ones in my Sierra. If I ended up with an SUV or that front end on a truck I would do the full Z71 swap.

 

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[kstruckcountry]

What do you mean by Z71 swap?

[Chris]

Look at the Tahoe and Suburban Z71 front end. Color matched and different valance. Here is a 2005 for example

 

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[kstruckcountry]

Yeah I didn't know if the valance was the only difference other than the color matching. I've always loved GMT 800 burbs/hoes.

[Chris]

On the SUV the z71 has a different rack, steps, and wheels. Everything is color matched or black.

 

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[rudyb]

The stock silverado fogs will not fit. Stock fogs aren't round. I measured the hole the other day and you can install a light approximately 4" cubed. Yeah the cosmetics on the z71 hoe/burb is much more appealing. Don't forget they have special z71 badges too! (http://m.ebay.com/itm/290969721080) A while back I ran into a fellow with a white 03 z71 silverado. He took the big z71 sticker behind the rear fender off and added these little guys. It was a very suddel mod, but it was very clean looking! Also, in case you need new clips to hold the valance on, you will need 13 of them. I wanted to mention that in the inital post and forgot.

[jojo2667]

lmc makes a black one for a hoe/ sub 00-06 with the round fog holes i got one because i never could stand the grey lower with the black upper except i got the regular silvy one

[LongrangeLauber]

I still got the stock style valence on my truck but I used some plastic paint (black) and painted the top and lower valence so they would match. Looks way better than the grey

 

Sent from the side of the road...