Head light conversion - W/T style to dual head lights

[twmooney]

Guys - New to this forum as a registered member, but read here for a long time. I have a project Tahoe working on for my son. I've already built him a slick all black one and he totaled it last year. This is now my second one. Here's what I need answers on in a bulleted list for simplicity sake.

• The Tahoe I bought him this time have the old single headlight W/T grill. I've bought all new head lights and signal lights with a new chrome from grill. Are the core supports the same where I can mount the new gear to the existing core support?

• I want to paint the entire area behind the grill black so that it's nice and clean. Anything to watch out for and mask? Can I paint the radiator and fan, and everything black without worries of not over heating or doing unwanted damage?

• I'm running a 3" body lift, bars cranked just enough to sit level, adding 18x9's on Nitto Terra Grapplers, 325x65x18. What's the best method of trimming the front bumper to accomodate the 35"s?

• Need to replace the shocks soon. What's the best replacement that doesn't break the bankl? I can't afford $350 for new shocks at this point. I could have bought him a new Tahoe at this point, but NOOOO it had to be a 2 dr. lol

This is all I can think of at the moment at work and not staring at the darn thing. Thank you for all of your help for a noob!

 

[Gzes]

The new grille and hardware will bolt up but I believe there's a little wiring difference. There should be a cooler right behind the support cover that not much else around there besides lines. 35s on 3in should fit might need a lil trimming but idk I have 3in body lift on mine aswell but new 265s so can't do 35s right now. Don't know about shocks mine are atleast 10 years old 8 years of sittin and are still fine but I hear ranching shocks are good and fair priced. And 2drs are badass wouldn't trade mine for a 4dr lol

 

[SunlitComet]

the grill and light assemblies should bolt right in but for the painting on the condenser or radiator or other coolers you have installed use a paint design for such a job. Most paints will be to thick in viscosity when spraying and would retard the heat transfer ability. Try something like this.

 

[_Dylan_]

tell that little ******** to buy his own car, then he might not total it this time.




The lights will swap, you will need the wire pigtails for the 9006 and 9005 bulbs to replace the single wire for the sealed beams.

Paint is fine on the radiator. I would probably use a high temp paint on it though.

Just use an angle grinder on the bumper.

I can't recommend shocks, I haven't really looked into them much. I've always just gone with cheapos.

 

[twmooney]

Much appreciated guys. As a couple mentioned, I had to remove all of the bolts from the totaled Tahoe mounting the head lights, and used those bolts. The pigtails were removed and I wired those up to the existing wiring for the new lights on the new Tahoe. Daytime running lights are working, but that's fine as I'll put his HID's in the low beam side.

Where is the easiest place to get the hex head nuts that secure the bowtie, and marker lights to the grill? Also, I'm having issues getting the front bumper to line up correctly on the new Tahoe since the body lift. Are there any tips for getting this to line up better? I'm using the brackets provided to raise the bumper, but with those brackets secured to the frame per the instructions, I can't slide the bumper towards the drivers side enough to get it to center.I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'm off between 1/4 and 1/2 an inch. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SunlitComet]

you can grab the hex nuts either from those miscellaneous hardware areas at part or hardware stores or get them from a dealer. Marker lights can be from a dealer or parts store as well. Likely have to be ordered at a parts store tho. With the bumper and the brackets placed in the right positions like both on the inner or both on the outer side of frame rails?

 

[twmooney]

I was able to get the bumper all taken care of, I just had to loosen all bolts and tighten each one while positioning it correctly. It was a severe PITA. The marker lights that came with my set dont fit the grille I purchased but have plenty of OEM lights. I just wanted all clear to match the set. No worries.

 

[Gzes]

Glad its working out. Shoulda made him do all the work once he sees the hard work that gets put in he might not wreck this one lol

 

[twmooney]

He's been right there helping me every minute. Sometimes I wished he wasn't there. These kids have about as much common sense as God gave a billy goat!