You saved so much money--go have it powder coated. It will really look nice. You won't regret it. Lots of exposure under the R.
Steve
Steve
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Knocking off the ugly for a cheap upgrade 4 bolt rear brace
I had an old Trail Blazer 4 bolt brace laying around I got from the U Pick a Part salvage yard and decided to knock off the ugly real quick hit it with a little primer and paint and put it under the Red Headed Step Child for a cheap and easy upgrade.
The Trail Blazer brace I think they charged me about $10 for it with entrance fee and the part. I probably used up a sanding pad so another $1.50 there. Some left over spray paint figure $5 for it and maybe a half hour time cleaning it up. I can't charge myself for my time so I figure I have less than $20 in this upgrade. Well I will need to get some longer bolts so it may push it to about $25 total. So the price just went up on the truck now.
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The Trail Blazer brace I think they charged me about $10 for it with entrance fee and the part. I probably used up a sanding pad so another $1.50 there. Some left over spray paint figure $5 for it and maybe a half hour time cleaning it up. I can't charge myself for my time so I figure I have less than $20 in this upgrade. Well I will need to get some longer bolts so it may push it to about $25 total. So the price just went up on the truck now.
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This one is going under my red truck, that I will be selling. So not worth the extra costs versus the benefit for this one. This truck will never be a show truck and most likely not anyone looking under to see the difference between powder coating and Rustoleum paint.
I always use Rustoleum paint because you can buy it anywhere, and I can touch up the paint more times then I will do in my life time and still be money ahead over having it powder coated. Plus I would have to clean it a lot better for powder coating then I will to paint it. There is a place for powder coating and a price point for paint and this is the paint price point if you know what I mean.
I bought one of your Trail Blazer braces at the Branson International rally nearly four years ago. Sanded and rattle-canned it black. I'm the only one that's noticed. And that was the idea.
I recently installed the same thing on my 04.
Easy to remove here in Florida as only had minimal wear and tear. Degreased , primed and painted with some left over caliper paint.
I got the bolts as well. The SSR bolts are too short.
Easy to install as the four threaded holes are there.
Best to clean out the threads before installing the longer bolts
Regular Trailblazer has the same cheesy round bar as the SSR.
The EXT or equivalent GMC Envoy has the same crossmember.
I
Easy to remove here in Florida as only had minimal wear and tear. Degreased , primed and painted with some left over caliper paint.
I got the bolts as well. The SSR bolts are too short.
Easy to install as the four threaded holes are there.
Best to clean out the threads before installing the longer bolts
Regular Trailblazer has the same cheesy round bar as the SSR.
The EXT or equivalent GMC Envoy has the same crossmember.
I
Attachments
Rear ward on the underside of the frame there is a very small single tube brace that goes across the frame from side to side. What the real intent is, is beyond me, because there is no way in the world the stock one could see any structural brace with what the factory used. On the Trail Blazer XL they used the wider brace I have pictured and it bolts in with 2 bolts on each side so it became known as the 4 bolt brace. The hope is it helps to stiffen the frame a little but, I question how much it can actually do with the way it mounts but I added it anyway. My reason for questioning it, is the way it is held in place is by 4 pieces welded to the frame from the under side. If the brace is actually pulling on the attachment points it would pull the welded piece out of the frame with little to nothing to stop it other then the piece it self. It is not like it is a nut plate mounted on the inside of the frame and uses the frame for strength. But it looks good when it is there.
I am sure this may raise a few eyebrows.
I am sure this may raise a few eyebrows.
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