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Adding a 2019+ style illuminated GMC emblem to my 17

Jim85IROC

By Jim85IROC
in Modifications & Accessories

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Jim85IROC Enthusiast

Jim85IROC

Posted
Posted

I really like how the illuminated GMC emblems for the front grill look for the 2019+ models, but since GM doesn't offer it for the 16-19 style, I decided to try making my own.  Right now I only have the "C" because I wanted to see how well it worked.

 

I picked up a spare emblem on Ebay, and removed the red inserts:

50912923656_ba84de4b24_c.jpg

 

I bought some 1/4" Plexi and cut out a piece that matched the "C":

50912236433_33230ed283_c.jpg

 

I soldered up some segments of an LED light strip:

50912970376_72aafb1b1c_c.jpg

 

I put it into the chrome emblem, stuck the plexi over it, then put the red emblem over it.  I brought it out to my truck and tried it out after it got dark:

50912235768_05b9135574_c.jpg

 

Here it is with a darker exposure, which is a bit more realistic:

50913052052_3c39c86540_c.jpg

 

I'm not completely thrilled with how it looks, so I think I'm going to experiment a bit more.  What I don't really like is that because the plexi is exactly the same size as the red emblems, the light shines out to the sides more than forward.  I think I need to try a different approach by using a thinner piece of plexi and making it larger than the red emblem, then blacking out the sides of it so that it only shines forward.  I've got some 1/8" plexi so I think tomorrow I'm going to give that a try.

 

Overall though, I think this looks promising!

VanguardK2 Enthusiast

VanguardK2

Posted
Posted

1- I have a chevy, not a GMC.....
2- I already have an illuminated bowtie....


3- I'm following this cause of how amazing this looks and the workman ship you've put into it so far.

Keep it up man, that looks AMAZING


Sent from my SM-G986U1 using Tapatalk

  • Like 3
dieselfan1 Senior Enthusiast

dieselfan1

Posted
Posted

I like it. What's the size difference between the two years?

Can't make a 2019 version work on a 2017? Just asking out loud I'm a Chevy guy.5f8840bce4699f2fa289a5efcd09848e.jpg

 

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

 

After re reading your post I think your idea will work.

 

Jim85IROC Enthusiast

Jim85IROC

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Today I made version 2. This one is thinner and sits on top of the chrome.  This one looks much better when lit up.  I'm going to make V3 the same way but narrower.

 

50915932192_fb1a36bede_z.jpg

 

50915120533_d88d97579d_z.jpg

  • Like 6
Jim85IROC Enthusiast

Jim85IROC

Posted
  • Author
Posted

More progress!  Today I got the other letters cut, I got the lights all soldered up and installed into the chrome.  I used shoe goo to seal up all of the openings in the plastic and cover the soldered connections.  I used my silver paint pen on the edges of the plexi and was going to sand and coat them with matte clear but the nozzle broke when I popped the cap off, so that'll need to wait.  

 

Plexi cut:

50919183708_b3d7d07f09_z.jpg

 

Soldering the LEDs together:

50920007557_2acb186ca5_z.jpg

 

Installed:

50919183758_0b92539e8a_z.jpg

 

They work!

50920007012_7e22d771a8_z.jpg

 

  • Like 4
Jim85IROC Enthusiast

Jim85IROC

Posted
  • Author
Posted

All 3 plexi pieces are cut and painted with matte clear. For now they're just sitting in position for a photo op.  Next step is to glue things together.

 

50924335826_e0f1ac8db3_z.jpg

 

50924335841_ea0b0edc59_z.jpg

  • Like 8
frosty350 Enthusiast

frosty350

Posted
Posted
21 hours ago, Jim85IROC said:

All 3 plexi pieces are cut and painted with matte clear. For now they're just sitting in position for a photo op.  Next step is to glue things together.

 

50924335826_e0f1ac8db3_z.jpg

 

50924335841_ea0b0edc59_z.jpg

I am probably not the only thinking how much? I’ll take one set. 

  • Like 2
boettcher40 Enthusiast

boettcher40

Posted
Posted
14 hours ago, frosty350 said:

I am probably not the only thinking how much? I’ll take one set. 

No kidding, these are insanely cool! Following for details, nice work OP!

Diver6 Enthusiast

Diver6

Posted
Posted

I don't know why somebody doesn't manufacture these! I see lots of Chevy ones and ford ones lit up around here but nothing available for GMC. I'm sure they would sell a lot of them! 

sharkeysierra Enthusiast

sharkeysierra

Posted
Posted
18 minutes ago, Diver6 said:

I don't know why somebody doesn't manufacture these! I see lots of Chevy ones and ford ones lit up around here but nothing available for GMC. I'm sure they would sell a lot of them! 

Because people are cheap.. they expect something like this to be less than $50 dollars with a lifetime warranty even if the consumer messes up on the installation. And they want it before they order it knowing full well it’s hand made and OP probably has a life. I am not even going to mention install instructions....

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