04z71rado's Build Thread - First gen rear side step bumper..Completed.

Re: Z71RADO - From the start

Few progress updates

Plasti dip zq8 flares
Painted front valence and rear bumper plastics
Color matched door and tailgate handles
HID's hi/lo with hi/lo mod
GM black painted windshield cowl and wiper arms
Removed side steps.
Balljoint flip mod
Valence billet insert
Painted the chrome on the grille to make it look like a canyon/colly grille combo.

Re: Z71RADO - From the start

Soo.. it's been awhile since I have updated the thread. A lot of changes have been made. For some reason I just can't make up my mind on what I want to do exactly at times. But I keep moving forward as long as the bank account allows me. :lol:

Hopefully I can get everything in the right order on things I have changed, added, removed, etc. Everyday seems to be a different look to the truck.

First off, I'd like to thank those that are apart of the nation that share mods, or different ideas they have put on there rigs that I could incorporate into mine with a twist. Would also like to give a thanks to the staff for making my progress with the nation or with the truck for that matter a success in the last 3 years. :thumup:

Now that I have bored about every single one of you that probably just skimmed through the reading anyways. On to pics.



Starting from the last pictures that were posted, would probably be right before I put the canopy (that originally came with the truck the day of purchase) back on. Theres more pictures some where but this will work.


Next I decided, to give the front a new look (even though some day I would like to convert to Silverado lights). Came up with a pretty easy way to hide the hideous amber, plus give it a unique look.

In the last post, I painted the valance blue to match the truck. But in time, the combination of blue and chrome didn't suit me. Decided to do black. That's what scheme I was going with in the first place. And look, the drl overlays. Unique right??


After finally receive some LED's for the drls, since the valance is black. Why not paint some more and put black on the crossbar. Definitely made a separation of the front.


Who gets tired of polishing? This guy! hahaha Painted the cab guard in semi gloss black, what other color would I use? During the drying process, spent a little time sanding down the lens paint over the reverse lights.


As I don't want to remove the fogs just yet, plus I don't really use them all that often. Got this idea to make them "hidden" with ideas from a few members. Gutter screens, who knew there were some many uses.


Plasti dip on the front and rear bumpers. New headlights with new reflectors. Made by Dan (un4giv3n) Huge difference with that dip. On the plus side, no polishing! Ohh, can you see the fogs?


Just tiny needles makes all the difference, gauge needles of course! Picked these up for a pretty fair price from Ivan. Easy install too. Look at that mileage, not bad for an 04.


Picked up some LED license plate bulbs from Supermod. He also did an awesome job with my mirrors that I had sanded and painted.



Custom grille? Sure! Spend about a month figuring out how to put this grille together with the "rivet" shroud piece. Had it installed for about 2 days before taking it back off to do some more figuring. Hoping to get it figured out soon. Liked the look of it.


To the latest mod, probably the one that tops the list. Adding the suspensionmaxx body lift (1.5) and getting new wheels and tires for it. Out grew the chrome or aluminum on my old wheels, plus once putting on the body lift. My old tires looked toooo... small! :lol: So here is the end result to the latest improvement. Wheels are 17x9 Raceline Raptors mounted on 285/70/17 Open Country TOYO's. The DRL's in the pictures are my old halos ones in the past posts. Waiting for new ones to arrive in the mean time.

Re: 04z71rado's Build Thread

Rivet grille pictures finally added.

When I got the grille


Sanded it down, adhesive promoter, etching primer. Adding the color.



My original plan was to color match the grille and add a billet insert.


This is the start of making the shroud piece.


Stated back in the previous post, I had mentioned the grille being done but wanted to reconfigure it. I ended up using 1/4 SS bolts to hold the shroud piece to the billet insert. It left about a 1/2 gap in between the two. Couldn't stand it, plus I didn't like how big the bolt heads were. Then more ideas came to mind...


I ordered some aluminum mesh from eBay at a decent price and got my rivet supplies ready. I had to cut the grille more so I could get the mesh closer. They only sell certain lengths for the rivets. This is the back side. Trimmed the mesh to fit. You will notice the rivets are already installed with washers. Never got a chance to take a lot of progress pictures.



As it was all coming together.


Rivets set in place. It pulled the mesh closer and actually made the mesh fit the curves. Wasn't really expecting it too, but I was happy with it.


Installed the billet insert behind to hide the radiator. etc.


About a week later I installed it but didn't like the chrome-ish look the mesh gave. Another member suggested darkening it with a Black Chrome spray paint by Duplicolor. Stopped at the Oreillys after work and they had it. Black tint, and clear coat.

Re: 04z71rado's Build Thread -- Rivet Grille Pics added 5-27-14

Put together another grille. Just another thing to add with all the other parts and accessories.


Mock up


Mesh I bought off eBay

Test fitting is key.




Prepping the shrouds for paint.



Adding the rivets




Pretty much complete at this point. Except for needing to paint the upper mesh.




Pics of it installed.