XLDenali06's Build Thread

[adventurenali92]

So, just how much work is it to get the esky 3rd brake light to work on ours? I probably won't pull the trigger too soon, but I'm liking the idea more and more as I think about it. I've read that you have to change out either the hatch or the hatch glass or something. Is that true for every nali or only certain ones?

If you get an esky third off a 2005 or 2006 esky the mounting holes for the screws under your plastic trim piece will line up the mounting holes under the esky light base. If you end up with one from a 2002-2004 third light, the holes dont match. If you can get the contour of the base to match the shape of the top of your glass under that plastic trim piece than double sided tape or adhesive will hold it in fine. I ended up with a 2004 hatch and a 2004 light because the 2004 light didn't match the mounting holes in my 2006 hwtch, and the shapes didn't quite match so adhesive wouldn't quite hold it on and the gap in between the base and my hatch annoyed the heck out of me. So I ended up swapping the glass to a 2004 hatch and now the holes line up and contours match, and everything lines up correctly. A little more work that way, but satisfies my ocd side haha.

 

[adventurenali92]

You'd have to swap out your entire cluster if you wanted to add those chrome rings. I'm not sure if they came on certain Esky models like the Platinum. I have a cluster out of an 04-05 Esky and mine aren't chrome. View attachment 80283
They're just painted and gray. View attachment 80284

Your esky cluster is out of a pre 2005 esky. 2005 and 2006 eskys had the chrome rings, both the regular and platinums versions. But the platinum versions had white backed gauges behind the chrome rings.

 

[XLDenali06]

I was hoping I could just buy this (pic from eBay):


...to make my gauges look like this (pic from this forum):


I'd think it would be a fairly straightforward swap, but maybe I'm mistaken.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I was hoping I could just buy this (pic from eBay):
View attachment 80287

...to make my gauges look like this (pic from this forum):
View attachment 80288

I'd think it would be a fairly straightforward swap, but maybe I'm mistaken.

I don't think the gauges will line up with the chrome rings how they should.

 

[adventurenali92]

I don't think the gauges will line up with the chrome rings how they should.

I don't see why it wouldn't. It's the exact same gauges and the sizes don't look different from the pics.

 

[XLDenali06]

I don't think the gauges will line up with the chrome rings how they should.

Well crud. I guess that idea's toast. Better to find out now than >$100 later.

 

[XLDenali06]

I don't see why it wouldn't. It's the exact same gauges and the sizes don't look different from the pics.

That's what I was thinking, BUT I'm definitely going to look into it more before I spend the money on the Esky piece. Our maybe I'll get lucky and can find one super cheap at a salvage yard locally, then I can find out for sure without having to shell out too much cash.

 

[adventurenali92]

That's what I was thinking, BUT I'm definitely going to look into it more before I spend the money on the Esky piece. Our maybe I'll get lucky and can find one super cheap at a salvage yard locally, then I can find out for sure without having to shell out too much cash.

I'll be super jealous if your pick and pulls stock eskys. Lol. Mine don't. The wrecking yards further away that I have to pay them to go out and pull the part do but they run a little bit more on the pricey side and are further away near los Angeles.

 

[XLDenali06]

I'll be super jealous if your pick and pulls stock eskys. Lol. Mine don't. The wrecking yards further away that I have to pay them to go out and pull the part do but they run a little bit more on the pricey side and are further away near los Angeles.

It's been years since I went out to any of our local yards. Back then at least one of em was cool with you looking and pulling parts yourself, another wouldn't let you. No telling now, and Idk what they stock. They had a decent mix of cars back then. Maybe I'll make time this Saturday to run over to that side of town and check em out.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I think @Red Rocket might have a better idea of fitment. He bought an overlay for an Esky, if I'm not mistaken, for his Denali, and it was a little off. One or two of the overlay cutouts was obscuring some letters, not much but it was. Hopefully he'll chime in.