custom valance & bumper grills installed

Victory Red · August 12, 2003

Looking for opinions on my custom grill job. Do you think I ought to paint the lower grills on the air dam black? I like the two little ones on the bumper in the silver color, but the ones in the red might look better in black. What do ya think?

greyghost03 · August 12, 2003

I think they all look good silver!

Are you planning to install a billet grille? I think that would complete the "custom" look of the frond end!

I have some of this material sitting in the garage, but have not got around to putting it in the 2 holes in the front bumper yet. Few questions, if you don't mind. How did you secure it on the backside? Did you paint it (chrome) or leave it the silver color that it came in?

BTW - I know you dropped the rear of your new truck and would really appreciate your input on this thread. Sorry, off-topic.

Thanks

R Dogg 56 · August 12, 2003

I think you should paint it black, otherwise it looks like you're trying to "rice" it out. And around here, that's a no-no.

Just kidding. Do what you want, it'll still be a truck!

Victory Red · August 12, 2003

Are you planning to install a billet grille?

How did you secure it on the backside? Did you paint it (chrome) or leave it the silver color that it came in?

BTW - I know you dropped the rear of your new truck and would really appreciate your input on this thread. Sorry, off-topic.

Thanks

No billet grills for me. I like the stock one right now. There's too much chrome up front as it is. A billet grill will be overkill IMO. I'm thinking about getting a grill from a GMC Work Truck. They're dark gray plastic, instead of chrome around lights and grill opening. And the plastic could be painted black (or maybe red body color would look better).

Check my sig. There is one pic of the backside of the airdam showing how it looks. If you look close at the middle pic here, you'll see some zip ties in the corners. The big center section is held in by what was left of the original plastic filler that used to live in that hole. The two little ones in the bumper were the hardest to install. Can't get the camera in there to take any pics of the backside, but let's just say, it was some good ol' creative engineering.

Everything is unpainted aluminum right now. I'm leaning toward painting the lowers black. Not because they look "ricey" now, but like I said, there is too much chrome & silver up front already. More black would set it off better. I'll post some more pics when I get them painted. This is just a test fit right now anyhow. The lowers will come out pretty easy, so it's not going to be a big deal to paint them and reinstall. The ones in the bumper are staying silver, since they were a bit*h to install!

GreyGhost: I replied to your other thread over there, so not to get this one off topic.

greyghost03 · August 12, 2003

Are you planning to install a billet grille?

How did you secure it on the backside? Did you paint it (chrome) or leave it the silver color that it came in?

BTW - I know you dropped the rear of your new truck and would really appreciate your input on this thread. Sorry, off-topic.

Thanks

No billet grills for me. I like the stock one right now. There's too much chrome up front as it is. A billet grill will be overkill IMO. I'm thinking about getting a grill from a GMC Work Truck. They're dark gray plastic, instead of chrome around lights and grill opening. And the plastic could be painted black (or maybe red body color would look better).

Check my sig. There is one pic of the backside of the airdam showing how it looks. If you look close at the middle pic here, you'll see some zip ties in the corners. The big center section is held in by what was left of the original plastic filler that used to live in that hole. The two little ones in the bumper were the hardest to install. Can't get the camera in there to take any pics of the backside, but let's just say, it was some good ol' creative engineering.

Everything is unpainted aluminum right now. I'm leaning toward painting the lowers black. Not because they look "ricey" now, but like I said, there is too much chrome & silver up front already. More black would set it off better. I'll post some more pics when I get them painted. This is just a test fit right now anyhow. The lowers will come out pretty easy, so it's not going to be a big deal to paint them and reinstall. The ones in the bumper are staying silver, since they were a bit*h to install!

GreyGhost: I replied to your other thread over there, so not to get this one off topic.

The red (painted to match) grille surround would look great IMO!

Thanks for the heads up to pics in your sig. Looks like I will have to do a little creative engineering of my own for the bumper pieces!

Now that I look at all the pics again I think you may be right! The ones in the lower valance would prob look better black, esp if you get the grille surround painted red!

Thanks for the reply on the other thread!

R Dogg 56 · August 12, 2003

Now that I look at all the pics again I think you may be right! The ones in the lower valance would prob look better black, esp if you get the grille surround painted red!

Looky, an intercooler!!! Wait.....What? You don't have an intercooler?

BWWWWAAAAAAHAAAHAAHAAAHAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, you don't want to hear that. Get 'em in black!

Victory Red · August 14, 2003

Hey RDogg.... this any better?

Z71mudder · August 14, 2003

Is there any way to move the bumper up closer to the lights and grille? Thats the only think I dont like on the new GMCs is that big gap!

Will

greyghost03 · August 14, 2003

Black in the air dam looks good!

Victory Red · August 14, 2003

Is there any way to move the bumper up closer to the lights and grille? Thats the only think I dont like on the new GMCs is that big gap!

Will

The gap is not as big as it looks here. It is very big on the HD trucks though (IMHO). What I don't like is the bumper shape itself. It should be straight, not dropped in the middle. I'd also like it better if it had the black plastic cover on the top side of the chrome, like the one on my '01 Silverado. There is WAY too much chrome on the front of this truck. It's the only thing that bugs me.