De-chroming a 2020 Denali

[nobaddays]

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

All of the aftermarket Denali grilles in black that I have seen are 1 piece. I went through this same process on my 2018 Denali, and ended up having to tape off and paint the surround to match my truck, keeping the center black. I love the Denali grille, and I would put one on my AT4 if you could just get the insert.

 

My 2018 also required me to pull the front bumper in order to change out the tow hooks and skid plate to black ones. They definitely don't make it easy!

[204Denali]

1 hour ago, BIGDOGx said:

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.

Maybe a rarity then, I always knew I was getting a Denali, never had any intentions of getting an AT4, just did not interest me.  Some of the parts though I would gladly have swapped over to get rid of some of the chrome though.

[204Denali]

1 hour ago, hotrodz37 said:

.

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


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I ended up doing the work myself, painted out the grille surround (left grille insert chrome), fog surrounds, mirror caps, 3rd brake light, emblems.  I haven't gotten to window trim or handles yet, cannot decide what I want to do (paint vs. vinyl vs. swap parts)

 

I never got any paint quotes yet, but I did have a guy quote me on the vinyl before, and it was roughly $400 Cdn to do the grille, fog surrounds, fender vents, door handles and skid plate.

[hotrodz37]

 
I ended up doing the work myself, painted out the grille surround (left grille insert chrome), fog surrounds, mirror caps, 3rd brake light, emblems.  I haven't gotten to window trim or handles yet, cannot decide what I want to do (paint vs. vinyl vs. swap parts)
 
I never got any paint quotes yet, but I did have a guy quote me on the vinyl before, and it was roughly $400 Cdn to do the grille, fog surrounds, fender vents, door handles and skid plate.

That seems like a pretty good deal to me. I’m going to do some shopping on getting all those pieces done and then I can just swap the grille out to the black one.

Wondering how long a good vinyl job lasts these days. Or I guess a lot of shops probably have a guarentee of some kind.


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[204Denali]

19 minutes ago, hotrodz37 said:

That seems like a pretty good deal to me. I’m going to do some shopping on getting all those pieces done and then I can just swap the grille out to the black one.

Wondering how long a good vinyl job lasts these days. Or I guess a lot of shops probably have a guarentee of some kind.


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Vinyl holds up really well from my experience, and my paint guys tells me the same.  I have him shopping for a set of handles for me to paint so I can throw them on my truck.  Hopefully he can find a set that come unfinished and then I know they will hold up well, paint the chrome handles I'm not sure will hold up with the amount of abuse they receive.  Time would tell I guess.

[204Denali]

Thought I’d add my version of de-Chroming and the progress I am making. I’m still waiting on my vinyl guy to fit me In sometime over the next couple months here to do my handles and fender badge, but otherwise I’ve made some good progress so far on my Denali I think  

Edited September 10, 2020 by 204Denali

[Jonofmac]

That looks great. What did you end up doing to the front grill?

 

Edit: saw you painted it yourself. Looks good.

 

Wish I were motivated but I've got my track car Corvette, a Volvo I rebuilt the engine and trans on and currently re assembling into car, and a RX8 project car for the wife keeping me busy. The truck has just been driven to tow the other cars haha

 

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[204Denali]

53 minutes ago, Jonofmac said:

That looks great. What did you end up doing to the front grill?

 

Edit: saw you painted it yourself. Looks good.

 

Wish I were motivated but I've got my track car Corvette, a Volvo I rebuilt the engine and trans on and currently re assembling into car, and a RX8 project car for the wife keeping me busy. The truck has just been driven to tow the other cars haha

 

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Yeah I ended up painting the surround, dog surrounds and skid plate. The aftermarket grilles I did not like and didn’t mind keeping the mesh part chrome.  I contemplated Painting it or vinyl wrapping the mesh? but the more I researched It the more it seemed like a bad idea. 
 

lol I don’t blame you, and that’s funny, I’m only doing this since I have time right now, I’m currently looking for a corvette for a new project car and need to get the wife a new car shortly, so when either those happen my truck time will be zero lol. Hoping to get the exhaust done before winter but that’s looking doubtful. 

[DenaliDave]

5 hours ago, 204Denali said:

Thought I’d add my version of de-Chroming and the progress I am making. I’m still waiting on my vinyl guy to fit me In sometime over the next couple months here to do my handles and fender badge, but otherwise I’ve made some good progress so far on my Denali I think

 

Looks great!  I’ve got the same truck, black Denali.

 

Did you use an etch primer before you shot the black?  If this was this done with a rattle can, eg spray paint, what brand did you use?

[204Denali]

10 hours ago, DenaliDave said:

Looks great!  I’ve got the same truck, black Denali.

 

Did you use an etch primer before you shot the black?  If this was this done with a rattle can, eg spray paint, what brand did you use?

Process used was to sand, adhesion promoter, etch primer, paint and K1 clearcoat.  Paint was supplied by local autobody paint distributor, so I did use a rattle can but not off the shelf products found just anywhere.  I'm from Canada so my supplier is Rondex, but I'm sure you could find an equivalent for yourself locally as well.

 

Edit: Forgot to mention the key is prep work, and ensuring you sand between coats as well.  If do not do the prep, it will never work, especially in such a high chip factor area as the front bumper.

Edited September 10, 2020 by 204Denali

[DenaliDave]

3 hours ago, 204Denali said:

Process used was to sand, adhesion promoter, etch primer, paint and K1 clearcoat.  Paint was supplied by local autobody paint distributor, so I did use a rattle can but not off the shelf products found just anywhere.  I'm from Canada so my supplier is Rondex, but I'm sure you could find an equivalent for yourself locally as well.

 

Edit: Forgot to mention the key is prep work, and ensuring you sand between coats as well.  If do not do the prep, it will never work, especially in such a high chip factor area as the front bumper.

Thanks for the details! I really appreciate it. I really like the look you created by blacking out the grille surround while keep the center chromed, along with the other blacked out bits. 

[204Denali]

37 minutes ago, DenaliDave said:

Thanks for the details! I really appreciate it. I really like the look you created by blacking out the grille surround while keep the center chromed, along with the other blacked out bits. 

No problem.  appreciate compliment.  Don't know why GMC doesn't have a similar package they offer, but same time I dont mind making it look how I want my way either.  Only the vinyl left to go and exhaust then I'm done with mods, well also new wheels come next spring (I've got winter coming) then I'll be officially done.

[Landry]

Got the black grill and now just waiting for it to cool down to do the window trim and the door handles.  Anyone have the tri-mode power running boards with the chrome strip on them?  Wondering what you have done with those to remove the chrome.

[204Denali]

24 minutes ago, Landry said:

Got the black grill and now just waiting for it to cool down to do the window trim and the door handles.  Anyone have the tri-mode power running boards with the chrome strip on them?  Wondering what you have done with those to remove the chrome.

Take a look at my pics, mine are done, Chrome is gone. Either wrap them or even plasti dip them. Don’t paint them. Won’t last, it’s a high chip area. Probably why they come with the fake chrome. 

[DenaliDave]

15 hours ago, Landry said:

Got the black grill and now just waiting for it to cool down to do the window trim and the door handles.  Anyone have the tri-mode power running boards with the chrome strip on them?  Wondering what you have done with those to remove the chrome.

 

I remember seeing a post in the forums where the chrome strip was removed. Believe it was heated with a heat gun and “peeled” off. Not sure if I’d recommend that.