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5 minute, $3 rear appearance mod.

T

TXAVy

SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2002
Messages
1,986
Location
McKinney, TX
Decided to stop by the hardware store today for a minor mod idea inspired by someone with paint elsewhere on this board (though I can't find it now).

Here's a before picture:
Rear_Before_s.jpg


And here's an after shot:
Rear_After_s.jpg


Too subtle to spot easily? Here's a closeup:
Rear_Close_s.jpg


And a real close one:
Rear_Closer_s.jpg


Used Stainless Steel Pan Head Phillips Machine Screws. Size was 1/4"x1" although 3/4" would probably have been long enough and fit slightly better on the 2nd hole from the top where I bumped into a tab inside the sail panel. I'll trim these off with a Dremel but if anyone else is interested stay under 1".

Shiny, inexpensive, no worries about rust or flaking paint, subtle, easy to do. If only more mods had those nice qualities. :)

 
I feel like a kid doing one of those "Spot The Differences" picture games! ;D But it IS a nice, inexpensive mod! Way to go!
 
TXAVy said:
Decided to stop by the hardware store today for a minor mod idea inspired by someone with paint elsewhere on this board (though I can't find it now).
Click to expand...

TXAVy... I'm pretty sure that you are talking about an idea that Entity5 had about using a testors pen on the same cladding bolts. He posted the idea in this thread...

http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?board=16;action=display;threadid=14343;start=msg232052#msg232052

And subsequently done a PS image to show what it might look like...

AVREAR3.jpg


Of course the stainless bolts is taking the whole idea one step further. (y)
 
Yup Skidd,

That was the thread I was talking about. I figured as inexpensive as they are, why worry about paint and reapplying when they chip, etc. from putting a screwdriver in there to install/remove them. Stainless steel did the trick for under $3 so I had nothing to worry about. :)

 
Isn't modding great? If the AV had come with screws like that, we would all be wanting to paint them to match the cladding.

I like the looks of this mod. I'm on my way to the hardware store.
 
It took me a minute or two to figure out what the mod was. At first I was concentrating on those tabs that are sticking up from the edge of the hard panels, trying to figure out what they are. Now I see the mod. No wonder people call me slow...... :cautious:
 
midlifecrisis said:
It took me a minute or two to figure out what the mod was. At first I was concentrating on those tabs that are sticking up from the edge of the hard panels, trying to figure out what they are. Now I see the mod. No wonder people call me slow...... :cautious:
Click to expand...
:) Those tabs are the corner brackets for my bike rack. Wrong thread to go into detail but there's a link in my sig to it.
 
JHC said:
Isn't modding great? If the AV had come with screws like that, we would all be wanting to paint them to match the cladding.
Click to expand...

ROFL. (But I'll probably do this one, too) ;D
 
Well just got done doing this one myself. A whole $1.76 for the screws. I did get the 3/4" long ones and did not have any problems with the lenght. One thing I did do, since it seems that the screws did not tighten down at all and since the pan heads do not fit in recessed like the factory screws, I added a small dab of silicone to the bottom of the screw threads. As you tighten it up, the silicone continued up the threads and helped seal the area. I feel it will also keep them from backing out and you having to continue to tighten them up. With the small amount I used, should not be a problem "breaking the seal" if I want to remove them. At least that is what I am hoping.
 
You used silicon, as in caulk? White or clear?

I wonder what gold screws would look like, since my black Av is highlighted with gold decals? Too ghetto?
 
Grizzz said:
One thing I did do, since it seems that the screws did not tighten down at all and since the pan heads do not fit in recessed like the factory screws, I added a small dab of silicone to the bottom of the screw threads. As you tighten it up, the silicone continued up the threads and helped seal the area. I feel it will also keep them from backing out and you having to continue to tighten them up. With the small amount I used, should not be a problem "breaking the seal" if I want to remove them. At least that is what I am hoping.
Click to expand...
Yeah, those screws aren't meant to get real tight. If they were we'd hope they weren't plastic in the first place eh? If you pull out the clip that the screws slide into you'll see that they're just meant to cause the legs to spread on the backside and hold the two sail panels together. Good idea about the silicone though.

midlifecrisis said:
I wonder what gold screws would look like, since my black Av is highlighted with gold decals? Too ghetto?
Click to expand...
I dunno where you would find gold screws, but you can certainly get brass ones which should be very close to the same color.
 
Yes Midlife, silicone as in caulk and it was clear. Don't use much or it will ooze out and around and cause a big mess. I do not know of gold ones, but there were brass. Although then you would have to worry about them tarnishing. Maybe you should just keep the plastic screws and paint them with gold model paint.
 
TimInOhio said:
I feel like a kid doing one of those "Spot The Differences" picture games! ;D But it IS a nice, inexpensive mod! Way to go!
Click to expand...


took me over 5 minutes to figure out what you'd done. ;)
 
midlifecrisis said:
I wonder what gold screws would look like, since my black Av is highlighted with gold decals?
Click to expand...
I was JUST thinking about where I could get red screw heads to match my red Av. Sounds like a good idea to me, MidLifeCrisis!
 
TimInOhio said:
I was JUST thinking about where I could get red screw heads to match my red Av. Sounds like a good idea to me, MidLifeCrisis!
Click to expand...

I have seen screws that were anodized in blue or red... at motorcycle accessories type shops.

HTH
 
TimInOhio said:
I was JUST thinking about where I could get red screw heads to match my red Av. Sounds like a good idea to me, MidLifeCrisis!
Click to expand...

The hardware shop that I got my screws from had some pre-colored screws in a couple different colors. There was Blad, White, and Tan and perhaps one or two other colors. I'm not sure how they were colored though or how durable that color is, nor what the original intent was to use them for. The hardware store I went to was Elliott's Hardware in Plano, TX. They're a great hardware store with a LOT more and better selection than even the big boys (Home Depot/Lowe's) for the things that they carry.
 
Went to WalMart for the Mobile 1 on sale. Picked up a plain chrome plate holder and mounting screw kit with the chrome/plastic caps for the screws. Screws didn't fit for the plate mount, but........................
Tube of 3M trim cement and another trip to the store and this is what I came up with. Even the wife things it looks good.
 

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Just one more of the rear. Wish we had a decal now with the club site. (y)
 

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Looks great! I especially like the contrast with the '03 cladding color. It also looks good as it comes close to a match on the color of your AVALANCHE letters on the tailgate.

 
Col_Chester said:
Went to WalMart for the Mobile 1 on sale. Picked up a plain chrome plate holder and mounting screw kit with the chrome/plastic caps for the screws. Screws didn't fit for the plate mount, but........................
Tube of 3M trim cement and another trip to the store and this is what I came up with. Even the wife things it looks good.
Click to expand...
What was the trim cement for? Was this in place of the caulk?

Fireeater
 
Fireeater,
Yes, it set within an hour (FL sun) and should be easy to remove because of the trim material. Want to see how long they hold up in the heat, washing, etc.
 
Mine's done. Looks great.... thanks TXAVy! Will keep looking for anodized aluminum in red though just to match the red decals.

Was also thinking about filling the holes with red super-bright leds.... sort of like clearance lights... but since I don't have clearance lights on my Av it might look odd... will have to sleep on it again. They could be tied into the brake light as well. For those of you with LOF's, this might be cool too.
 
While at ACE hardware picking up bolts for this mod two fellow AVs drove up. We are talking about a 15 parking space shopping center, and I was there what 5 minutes? The other guys (one arrival blue, one yellow WBH) had not heard of the site yet.

For those wanting to make this a $30 mod ??? rather than $3 I did see ACE has 1/4"x3/4 CHROME bolts for $2.39 each with a nice hex head rather than phillips. >:D
Stainless will work for me.
 
Blue_03 said:
For those wanting to make this a $30 mod ??? rather than $3 I did see ACE has 1/4"x3/4 CHROME bolts for $2.39 each with a nice hex head rather than phillips. >:D
Stainless will work for me.
Click to expand...

I like your way of thinking. >:D
 
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