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I Cut My GM Hood Protector Down!

pktwatch

pktwatch

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Sep 23, 2002
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Location
Emporia, Indiana
I had the protection package installed when I bought my '02 Z66. This included the BugShield, VentVisors and the molded mudflaps. I never did really like the bugshield, it was just to big and funky looking, but I wanted the protection. I was looking for somthing to do to it to it and was thinking about taking it off today. I was painting my Projekt?rz headlight accents and thought I might as well paint the bugshield as well. I had been thinking for some time, if I could cut it down, it would look better. Well here are the before and after shots, you decide. I took about a inch and a half off along the top of the shield, right where it "filps" up. After we cut it I decided NOT to paint it. I have a carbon fiber bowtie and a black SpeedGrill so the black on the bugshield looks good.

So, in this first shot you will see the factory BugShield. I also have a differant front plate, but it is the same Avalanche!

AV_front.jpg


And the second picture shows the new projektorz headlight accents AND the bugshield with about 1 1/2" cut off along the top.

New_Front_Right.jpg


Am I the first one to cut down a bugshield here? I had a friend help me and to be honest he did most of the work! He is a old hot rodder from way back and I have not found much that he can not do! Let me know what you think, do I need to paint it? If anything the wind noise quieted down a little after we cut it. I got up to 90MPH for a short strech on the way home just to test it! >:D

Butch

 
Butch:

Very nice job, looks excellent. Much improved over the original. I choose the weathertech Bugshield Vs. the GM bugshield because it has that low profile look right out of the box. It may not do much to protect the windhield from bugs. But, I only wanted the bugshield to keep rocks from chipping the leading edge of the hood. With all the road sanding they do in New Hampshire, rocks/sand is a bigger enemy than bug guts.

Again looks good. How clean/smooth did the edges come out? What did you end up using to cut the bugguard? Did you score it first to control cracking/splitting?
 
Two of us held it on a table and the third guy was using a fine toothed sabre saw. He would cut a little and then we would slide a little more out to him. He finished it up with a belt sander! No scoring was done. I have never seen the WeatherTech one, all that I have seen were about the same as mine. Have you got a picture?

Butch
 
Butch:

I cut the corners off mine right after I installed it, about 1-1/2 years ago. I like the looks a lot better with the ends cut off also. I did mine with a fine-blade saw, I cut mine off even with the gap between the hood and fender. Then I took a file and smoothed off the edges. You wouldn't know it didn't come like that from the manufacturer.

I initially thought the curved ends might be contributing to the wind noise, it was before I found out about the windshield garnish molding mod!

MBT
 
CA-AV said:
I like it. Was that a GM bug sheild that you cut down?
Click to expand...

Sure was!

blackchevy, you better watch it I may see you again soon!!

Butch
 
Where did you get the headlight protectors?
Thats what I want to know-


Do tell...
 
sands611 said:
Where did you get the headlight protectors?
Thats what I want to know-


Do tell...
Click to expand...

Our oldest son is a AutoZone manager and he got them for me for me for Christmas. He said he had to order them as AutoZone does not stock them.

Butch
 
That now looks quite a bit like my weathertec deflector. You'll have to report back when bug season starts to let us know if you experience more bugs hitting the windshield than before. I get tons of them on the windshield with mine.
 
Main One said:
That now looks quite a bit like my weathertec deflector. You'll have to report back when bug season starts to let us know if you experience more bugs hitting the windshield than before. I get tons of them on the windshield with mine.
Click to expand...

I got tons of bugs on the windshield with they way it was before I cut it! I am sure that it does offer a little less protection, but think the cool factor out weighs this, at least for now!

Butch
 
Butch:

Here is a shot of my WeatherTech Bugshield. It is very low profile, no raised edge like the GM. It also does not require bumpers for the hood, etc. It is strong enough, as is. It attached to the factory holes in the hood like the GM shield.


And, no I would not paint your bugshield. I think it complements/coordinates well.

Best Regards,

SpottyJ
 

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Very COOL! I have never seen one of those I guess, or at least I never noticed. All that I have seen were bigger like mine used to be I kind af agree that the dark smoke does look better with the other things that I have going on with the front end. I was all set to paint it after we trimed it but decided to wait and see how it looked first. I also have the GM vent visors and was/am thinking about painting them. If I decide to do this it will be next summer and I can take them all off and paint them at the same time. I may be ready for a new look by then!

Butch
 
Butch,

I wouldn't paint it.

Most of the painted ones are clear and the paint is applied from the back. That way if something hits the shield it won't chip the paint. Since yours is smoke you'd have to paint the face and it is more likely to chip if something hits it. I think you'll just end up regreting it. :E: :E:

I like the look you got going there, the lower profile is much nicer cleaner lines. Now I want to do it to my GM shield too. ;D ;)
 
I really like the headlight protectors too...

would you ask who manufactures them and where your friend bought them....

very nice
 
danlwil said:
I really like the headlight protectors too...

would you ask who manufactures them and where your friend bought them....

very nice
Click to expand...

They are made by VentVisor (there is a link in the first post. My son ordered them at AutoZone.

Butch
 
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