Minor Mods, under $20.00

[MountaineerTom]

I thought I'd start a list of minor mods you can do yourself for around $20.00 or less.

 

1.) Painted Bowtie and Grille Insert

 

Paint:  Probably around $5.00 per can depending on what you use.  I also used some clearcoat on the Bowtie that was around $5.00 also.

 

 

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2.) Painted/Pinstripped Intake Cover and Highlighting the raised area's of some of the text under the hood

 

Paint:  Again, around $5.00 per can.  I used some adhesion promoter on the intake cover before I painted it, and I think it was around $6.00 per can.

 

Highlighting:  Use a Testors paint pen that can be found in the model car section at Wal-Mart.  I don't remember the exact price, but it was less than $10.00 for a 3 pack that included Red, Black, and White.  They had another pack that had Blue in it, but I can't remember the other two colors.  You can also buy them individually.  It useually takes me about 3 coats to get it the way I want it.  If you mess up and get it somewhere you don't want it, it cleans up pretty easy if you do it right away.

 

Pinstripping:  It's hard to see in the pic, but the ribs on top of the intake cover are perfect for pinstripping.  Mine are silver.  1/8th of an inch wide pinstripe fits perfectly.  Tip: Put the pinstripe on a little longer than needed, then use a ruller and razor blade on the ends to get a clean, even cut.  For the circular area where it's bolted to the intake, it's easist just to "eyeball" it.  If you still have the factory air filter box, you can pinstripe it too.

 

Search the local junkyards for old emblems.  I found the Chevrolet emblem on the front of the intake cover in a garage where my brother used t live, but I've also went to the junkyards and got a handful of various emblems for $5.00.

 

 

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3.)  Front bumper opening screens

 

Gutter Guards:  Around $4.00 for a piece that was about 3-4 foot long by about 6-7 inches wide.

 

Paint:  Around $5.00

 

I found the Gutter Guards at Lowe's in the section where rain gutters are.  They are used to put over your house gutters to prevent debris from getting in them.  First, I traced the plastic inserts that go in there with a majic marker, then cut them out and slowly trimmed them to fit in the openings of the front of the bumper.  They are made of aluminum and I painted them with some Rust-oleum (sp?) Metalized Aluminum paint so they would be a little brighter.  Mine are just pressed into place from the outside.  They have been on around a year, or so, and have not loosened up or fell out.

 

 

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4.)  Painted rear end cover

 

Paint:  The same Metalized Aluminum paint that I used on the Bumper Screens.  Around $5.00

 

Not as nice as chrome, but different from stock.  When I changed my gear oil, I decided to paint the cover and bolts while they were off.  An easy way to do the bolts are to stick them through a piece of cardboard so the only the heads are sticking out.  Then you can paint all of them at once with out getting paint on the threads.

 

 

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Now, lets see some from some of you other guys.  I know some other's have drilled out the stock air box to let more air in, the throttle body coolant by-pass mod, and who knows what else, so lets see, or hear about them.  

[MountaineerTom]

Come on! Someone has to have some things to add?!

[sincityZ71]

Well I don't have anything to add, but what kind of paint did you use to paint the grill and how did you prep it?  Looks like you painted everything but the chrome strip on the front of the grill?

[MountaineerTom]

I only painted the chrome inserts that are inside the grille shell.  The rest of the Silverado grille is already black, which I'm sure you know.     I had to cut the inserts out with a dremel tool.  I just cut the plastic welds off that hold it on.  For prepping it, I sanded it (don't remember what grit off-hand, but it wasn't real course) then used some satin black bumper and trim paint that I've had for a while.  When I reinstalled it, I "glued" it back together with some silicone sealant.

[sincityZ71]

I may have to give something like that a try.  I would like to get rid of all of the crome one of these days.  Going to do a contrast of sunset orange and black; don't want all orange that would be too much.  Just kinda scared to try to paint anything.

[MountaineerTom]

You could probably do it with the insert still in the grille shell if you mask everything off good, but it was alot easier to work with after taking the insert out.

[Blue Bowtie]

Hey Tom, did you use primer on your bowtie to prep it?  How is it holding up after being on for a while?  I'm thinking of doing this in the springtime to mine   By the way, nice truck!

 

Brandon

[MountaineerTom]

Thank you.

 

I used some of that adhesion promoter primer stuff for the first coat on it.  The first time I painted it, I feel like I put too many coats of red on it, because it chipped really easy.  I sanded it back down about a month later and reapplyied some adhesion promoter adn repainted it without so much red and applied some clear coat to it.  It's held up pretty well since.  Just the other day, I got a couple very small nicks in it but you can't really see them if your more than a couple feet away.

[chevy4x4trucks]

feel like I put too many coats of red on it

Tom, is there such a thing as too much red?

[MountaineerTom]

No, not really.  

[TahoeMan]

MT, great post, my question too is related to "paint survivability" because I've tried a couple times painting my windshield wiper housing only to have it chip off again...could someone enlighten me on this "adhesion promoter"?  With this adhesion promoter, paint, then clearcoat, will this help the paint adhere, then last awhile?

 

Thanks!

[silverado man]

another under $20 mod is Amber DRL's.  Just go to the local auto parts store and pick up a set of replacement bulbs, they are Sylvania 3157/4157NALL

[MountaineerTom]

Good one mike, I forgot about Amber DRL's.  I don't have any pics of mine though, yet.  

 

Tahoe Man,  adhesion promoter is a spray that you spray onto the surface that your going to paint that allow the paint to stick better.  I've seen several different brands, but all I can remember off the top of my head is Bulldog Adhesion Promoter.  I think Plasti-Kote and Mar-Hyde may make some too, but can't remember for sure.  It's suppose to be really good for flexible materials like rubber and plastic bumpers.  I have some fud flaps that have a rubber molded piece that has faded since this past summer, so I'm going to try it out on that.  Hopefully it works as advertised since I havn't actually used on anything that flexible yet.  

[silverado man]

thanks i will have some pics as soon as i get the pics scanned.  Oh and I forgot to add the price they were only $5 a pair.

[RyanbabZ71]

things i have got for under $20

 

amber drls ($3 something)

door sill guards ($19)

small toolbox under back seat ($13.99 from sears)