Avalanche Painted Cladding

ChevyAGoGo · December 8, 2001

After looking at some pics of the Avalanche with the cladding painted, and looking at the Caddy Escalade EXT, I think the Avalanche would look cool with the cladding painted body color. Anyone do this yet?

chevy4x4trucks · December 8, 2001

Yes the do look good like that, not just good, great (not to sound like tony the tiger there). But, if you look at almost every sema avy they had the body cladding painted to match. It's definetly something worth looking into.

Shaners · December 8, 2001

The first 2500 8.1L Av my dealer got in, the person that ordered it wanted the cladding painted. The dealer did the paint work in his body shop. I didn't see the truck when it was finished, but I'm sure it was pretty sharp looking. This Av was black.

Jason@RDowningChevy · December 8, 2001

Charles,

If you get it done, please send me some photos!

gandolphxx · December 9, 2001

I would have my black beauty painted in a NY minute - what dealer - where - how to get in touch.

ChevyAGoGo · December 9, 2001

check out the cadillac escalade ext pics to get an idea.

http://www.cadillac.com/escalade/index.htm

gandolphxx · December 9, 2001

I get the idea - I just need enough info to have a pro do it. I don't think you just fire up the spray gun with Latex black. What kind of prep - what kind of paint - how many coats...

Shaners · December 9, 2001

Did you get my email??? This dealer is a good bunch of guys. They aren't very big, but I think they really know their stuff. Bonny or Todd in service are great, but I don't know the guys in the body shop.

This avalanche was painted a few months ago, so maybe they can give you an update on the paint etc... as to how it is holding up...

I know you have to use some special primer etc... when painting flexible plastic.

gandolphxx · December 9, 2001

Got the Email - will post details when I talk to them. Thanks

Thumper · December 9, 2001

I asked a good friend of mine that has been a bodyman for the last 30 years and he owns his own very successful shop about this. According to him, the material used in our body cladding is not the same material as used in most bumpers. He said that even the plastic bumpers don't hold paint during even the slightest impact. He basically convinced me that even a slight door ding in one of these panels that was painted would crack the paint and pop it off of the panel. I asked about flex agents and the newer primers that actually eat into the substrate of the material being painted - he said that it helps but does not prevent the cracking and release of the paint from the poly type plastic that this cladding is made from. He said that if I wanted painted panels that I would be better off buying the Caddy panels and to paint them my color. Apparently the Cadillac's panels are made of a different material.

Regards - Randy "Thumper"

gandolphxx · December 9, 2001

That doesn't sound very encouraging - anybody else...

bshef · December 9, 2001

I agree with the body-shop owners comments! I've had serveral incidents with the cladding. 2nd night with my new Avalanche my kid dropped his bike against the side. It Caught all cladding and didn't leave a mark! You've all seen the pictures of the Lady and her two boyfriends that hit my front bumper with her Lexus. This incident left a nice crack and "scrap" marks (which of course will be replaced with a new "skin". I'll let you guys know the details of the repair).

Brad in SoCal

ChevyAGoGo · December 9, 2001

Great feedback all. IMO the Caddy panels look like a different design than the Ava panels. If the panels are not paintable, then maybe the 3rd party manufactures will come out with some that are. I know the difference in price between the caddy and the chevy would help justify this cosmetic change.