Pete's (Now Nate's) 2003 Denali Budget Build thread

[drowssap]

I have a set of depots on my tahoe and there's 2 significant hot spots. It drives me crazy. Right now I just have some 5000k HIDs in my stock denali headlights

The Tahoe lights do create hot spots even with just the halogen bulbs. Best would be to get a new set of clear bulbs and retro in some decent projectors. I don't think there is anything else that you can do with those lights to achieve the quality you are after. Also....I may be wrong about this so please do your own homework but better projectors may even help the denali lights. No mods needed as it is just a plug and play with adapters that some sell.

 

[Bombsquad85]

The Tahoe lights do create hot spots even with just the halogen bulbs. Best would be to get a new set of clear bulbs and retro in some decent projectors. I don't think there is anything else that you can do with those lights to achieve the quality you are after. Also....I may be wrong about this so please do your own homework but better projectors may even help the denali lights. No mods needed as it is just a plug and play with adapters that some sell.

Oh yea I'm aware. I have had retros in the past. I'm not concerned about the tahoe. I'm selling it now that I have my denali

 

[Sevenevez]

Perhaps

Btw do you have a list of supplies you used for paint? I need to paint my roof, hood, bumpers and hatch and I'm thinking of tackling it myself possibly

i think i listed everything i used, but off the top of my head. the single most important thing is - does your compressor have enough CFM to lay it out without having to recycle itself during the middle of your spray? if you have at least 6-7 CFM and about a 20-30gal tank you can do it but the gun you use has to be able to use a lower CFM as well.
if you dont need primer/sealer you can get away with your base color and reducer. then clear and hardener. You will good supply of tape and masking paper and plastic covering saves a ton of time unless you plan on spraying everything separately off the vehicle. mixing cups and sticks, respirator, prep-sol/degreaser, tack rags, paper filter funnels etc.. If you get it mixed in your city at a paint shop they will get you what you need as well. better quality paint and clear you use is pretty important. Might sound like a lot. But man, once you get to spraying, it all goes kinda fast. Also, you generally want the temperature in your garage/outside to be at least 60 degrees or higher

 

[Sevenevez]

The Tahoe lights do create hot spots even with just the halogen bulbs. Best would be to get a new set of clear bulbs and retro in some decent projectors. I don't think there is anything else that you can do with those lights to achieve the quality you are after. Also....I may be wrong about this so please do your own homework but better projectors may even help the denali lights. No mods needed as it is just a plug and play with adapters that some sell.

i miss the factory self leveling Projectors in my BMW and Lexus were great

 

[Bombsquad85]

i think i listed everything i used, but off the top of my head. the single most important thing is - does your compressor have enough CFM to lay it out without having to recycle itself during the middle of your spray? if you have at least 6-7 CFM and about a 20-30gal tank you can do it but the gun you use has to be able to use a lower CFM as well.
if you dont need primer/sealer you can get away with your base color and reducer. then clear and hardener. You will good supply of tape and masking paper and plastic covering saves a ton of time unless you plan on spraying everything separately off the vehicle. mixing cups and sticks, respirator, prep-sol/degreaser, tack rags, paper filter funnels etc.. If you get it mixed in your city at a paint shop they will get you what you need as well. better quality paint and clear you use is pretty important. Might sound like a lot. But man, once you get to spraying, it all goes kinda fast. Also, you generally want the temperature in your garage/outside to be at least 60 degrees or higher

Nice thanks. My compressor right now will definitely need to be retired. It was a sale item from HF and is too small. I want a reason to get a stronger compressor. Unfortunately I might have to wait a year or so until I can get a house with a garage.

In the meantime I might look into wrapping the roof and bringing the hood and bumpers to a body shop

When I took my roof racks off I saw that there were white spots where the clear coat AND color had rubbed off

 

[HiHoeSilver]

hmm. doesnt the higher number constitue brightness? i need to take a look at mine closely and see if its printed on them

The K(elvin) rating is the color. It has "nothing" to do with brightness. An incandescent light bulb is 2700K. As the scale goes up, the light color gets cooler. So, think this:
2700K, traditional warm light
3500-4300K, pure white light
4500-5000, retail /operating room
6000K, blue

 

[Sevenevez]

The K(elvin) rating is the color. It has "nothing" to do with brightness. An incandescent light bulb is 2700K. As the scale goes up, the light color gets cooler. So, think this:
2700K, traditional warm light
3500-4300K, pure white light
4500-5000, retail /operating room
6000K, blue

oh snap. nice. i get it now. haha i was way off. i bet mine are like 6000k then.
thanks for the explanation

Nice thanks. My compressor right now will definitely need to be retired. It was a sale item from HF and is too small. I want a reason to get a stronger compressor. Unfortunately I might have to wait a year or so until I can get a house with a garage.

In the meantime I might look into wrapping the roof and bringing the hood and bumpers to a body shop

When I took my roof racks off I saw that there were white spots where the clear coat AND color had rubbed off

i mean, if you dont have a garage and there is a day with No wind, you could do it outside. And regarding the roof, mine was the same. i just sanded those areas smooth and honestly my roof probably only got 2 coats of everything. Well the front and the back i did 3 coats but the bulk of it is so hidden to the human eye i didnt care. All i am saying is.. you can do it. its a good amount of work but i can tell you the feeling of accomplishment when you are done is amazing.

 

[Bombsquad85]

oh snap. nice. i get it now. haha i was way off. i bet mine are like 6000k then.
thanks for the explanation



i mean, if you dont have a garage and there is a day with No wind, you could do it outside. And regarding the roof, mine was the same. i just sanded those areas smooth and honestly my roof probably only got 2 coats of everything. Well the front and the back i did 3 coats but the bulk of it is so hidden to the human eye i didnt care. All i am saying is.. you can do it. its a good amount of work but i can tell you the feeling of accomplishment when you are done is amazing.

I have no doubt I could do it I just don't know how good it'll look haha. I think I'm gonna try my hand with a wrap yo hold me over. At least that way I can grind down the bolts for the roof racks, plug the hole for onstar and xm and the body work will be done. The wrap can cover it until I'm ready for paint

 

[05Single]

The Tahoe lights do create hot spots even with just the halogen bulbs. Best would be to get a new set of clear bulbs and retro in some decent projectors. I don't think there is anything else that you can do with those lights to achieve the quality you are after. Also....I may be wrong about this so please do your own homework but better projectors may even help the denali lights. No mods needed as it is just a plug and play with adapters that some sell.

Then he loses the u-bar, and we don't want that lol.
But yes there is an adapter to put in better bowls and cut off shield for oem Denali heads that are straight plug and play and create a much better output.
Maybe the u-bar lights are similar but I haven't seen anyone try it yet as they're a pretty new style.

 

[Sevenevez]

Then he loses the u-bar, and we don't want that lol.
But yes there is an adapter to put in better bowls and cut off shield for oem Denali heads that are straight plug and play and create a much better output.
Maybe the u-bar lights are similar but I haven't seen anyone try it yet as they're a pretty new style.

ha, true. the U-Bar heads are staying!