De-chroming a 2020 Denali

Jonofmac · July 13, 2020

Yeah 105 here today, dont blame you. Do update down the road when you finish, bet it ends up looking really good.

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It's sitting in in garage waiting for me to get motivated to work in the heat. Truck doesn't fit in my garage so I'm waiting for a cooler day haha. It's been surprisingly hot in DFW. I'm glad I have a mini split AC unit in my garage. It's the only reason I can work on the Vette haha.

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grrr027 · July 23, 2020

@Jonofmac just to confirm - the AT4 skid plate you ordered from GM Parts Warehouse.... did it come painted gloss black? Thx!

Jonofmac · July 23, 2020

[mention=235580]Jonofmac[/mention] just to confirm - the AT4 skid plate you ordered from GM Parts Warehouse.... did it come painted gloss black? Thx!

It did. Came gloss black. Ready to install. Can't upload photos with Tapatalk unless you pay

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grrr027 · July 24, 2020

4 hours ago, Jonofmac said:

It did. Came gloss black. Ready to install. Can't upload photos with Tapatalk unless you pay

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Awesome, thanks!

Jeffrey Soulages · August 4, 2020

Did you notice when you were installing your grill if the outside trim was able to separate? I am thinking of buying the same grill for my AT4, but only want the insert. I'd like to re-attach it to the original trim piece as it is the body color (white).

Thanks

J

Jeffrey Soulages · August 4, 2020

Did you notice when you were installing your grill if the outside trim was able to separate? I am thinking of buying the same grill for my AT4, but only want the insert. I'd like to re-attach it to the original trim piece as it is the body color (white).

Thanks

J

Jonofmac · August 12, 2020

On 8/4/2020 at 1:06 AM, Jeffrey Soulages said:

Did you notice when you were installing your grill if the outside trim was able to separate? I am thinking of buying the same grill for my AT4, but only want the insert. I'd like to re-attach it to the original trim piece as it is the body color (white).

Thanks

J

I did look, but it didn't look like it would separate. It looked like there was molded plastic/melted plastic used to hold parts of it together. I can go take a closer look though, I still have the OEM grill.

Regarding the window trim. If you are patient and have had success with vinyl, then go for it.

I've built engines, transmissions, differentials, and made my own PCBs and write firmware. For the life of me, I cannot do vinyl. I tried to install it today after washing the truck. I made it through the 1st piece on the first window, realized it doesn't really fit right without heat guns and knives to trim and I threw that ****** in the trash. I loathe vinyl to begin in, and I loathe vinyl in precut kits that doesn't properly line up.

So i guess if I want that chrome deleted, I'm goign to have to take it to a shop. fk vinyl

Truckasaurus · August 17, 2020

Great thread... this is precisely why I went with a fully loaded AT4 over the Denali.... I hate chrome and the Denali had a LOT of it. Bonus was getting the CarbonPro which had even more blacked out goodies (badges, tailpipes, etc.).

Jonofmac · August 17, 2020

Great thread... this is precisely why I went with a fully loaded AT4 over the Denali.... I hate chrome and the Denali had a LOT of it. Bonus was getting the CarbonPro which had even more blacked out goodies (badges, tailpipes, etc.).

If only the mag ride was an option on the at4.

I drove both, liked the looks of the AT4 but the Denali rides better

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Truckasaurus · August 17, 2020

1 hour ago, Jonofmac said:

If only the mag ride was an option on the at4.

I drove both, liked the looks of the AT4 but the Denali rides better

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Yup... the only difference. Mag ride versus the AT4s offroad suspension with factory lift (I also got the DuraTrac tire upgrade). My buddy bought a '19 Denali while my special order '20 was stuck on the line at the factory in Fort Wayne during the strike. I generally prefer "offroad package" trucks for their smaller diameter wheels and offroad tuned suspensions. More appropriate for USFS roads with my dirtbike in the back.

DenaliDave · August 17, 2020

2 hours ago, Jonofmac said:

I drove both, liked the looks of the AT4 but the Denali rides better

I haven’t driven an AT4 other than as loaners, but surprisingly I think my 2019 Sierra Denali rides much better than my wife’s 2019 Yukon Denali.

Jonofmac · August 17, 2020

I haven’t driven an AT4 other than as loaners, but surprisingly I think my 2019 Sierra Denali rides much better than my wife’s 2019 Yukon Denali.

I was looking between a 2020 AT4 and a Denali because I wanted the tech package. Was really hoping they'd ride the same, since it's primarily used to tow my Vette to and from race tracks. I don't really off-road. Twice a year I tow the Vette out to an area to drive it on fun roads and there's lots of fun off roads trails to go do in the truck, but they're not that crazy.

The truck 99% of the time is on concrete or tows. So I wanted comfort on highway more than anything else. Figured I'd test drive both and see how different they were, thinking it wouldn't be noticable... That was disappointing haha. Plus I've towed with trucks that had off-road tuned suspension (aka more travel and softer) which is a tad sketchier with some weight behind you. Though I'm sure with modern assistants on these trucks, that's probably not an issue.

I really like the Denali as a truck. It drives great on the highway. It's comfortable, and the cabin is quieter than the Accord EXL we got my wife. We take the truck on any drive longer than an hour.

I knew it would be a pavement princess since the only reason I need a truck is to tow my other pavement princess (Vette) to tracks. I find driving road courses so much more fun ha.

Now if only GM would allow you to get options on a truck you want with the looks you want...

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204Denali · August 18, 2020

I do not understand why GM refuses to offer a blackout/midnight/etc. package for the Denali. When I picked mine up almost everyone at the dealership looked at me cross eyed when I told them I'm blacking mine out asap. The denali provided what I wanted over the At4 so that was a no brainer.

I will admit though that I'm enjoying putting in the work myself and blacking out my truck and making it my own, which does allow me to have a truck that not many others will have from a looks perspective. Where I live people won't put the effort in to make cars look different, so I get to enjoy having the lone blacked out Denali so that is my silver lining lol.

Now if only someone could put together a chrome delete for window trim or door handles, that would be great and reduce my effort level.

BIGDOGx · August 18, 2020

Love the chrome delete, wish gm would realize that taste change and chrome is no longer the desired upper end finish most want. It is why the at-4 and even all terrain models of the older k series trucks are far more popular and in demand vs. the denali package, i would guess that a large majority denali owners were those looking for an at-4 but settled for the denali instead because they got a decent deal.

hotrodz37 · August 18, 2020

Couldn’t agree more with all of this. I wanted an AT4 but got a smokin deal on my Denali. I much prefer the ride of the Denali so that’s good and I could get the walnut interior and some of the features I wanted like the digital dash without having to upgrade to the “technology package” like you do in the AT4.

Soon I’ll level mine and color match everything.

Has anyone gotten any quotes on color matching (or blacking out) the grille, door handles, vents and trim yet?

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