Shield install

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 1:12 pm

f9k9 wrote:...Am heading out to do battle with the shields.....lol

Give us a "blow by blow" on the install

Never hurts to have a new perspective on how the install goes for someone new

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 2:40 pm

Have the tranny one on and figured out most of the front of the two but, those multilple piece brackets (stripped one on the passenger side) appears that if I pull originals bolts that s### will fall apart or I need to support stuff to get the brakets back on.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 6:50 pm

Ok, exhausted two rechargeable maglights. Passenger's side mount is on, driver's side will not pass through the last obstacle. I should have learned a lesson with the shackles that anything suspension related should not be attempted on a surface not level. May work is one axis is level but. I am dealing with driveway sloped front to rear and right to left. May be common sense to you mod veterans but, wouldn't hurt to tell the newbies in your mod section. Am sure an evening of thought and a new day will solve the small problem tomorrow. I didn't have the problem of too long a bolt so maybe my attempt on an uneven surface flexed stuff enough to get it started.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 11:00 am

Lessons learned by a displaced Yankee, born in micihigan and raised in Ohio:

1. Don't use ramps on uneven gravel driveways.

2. Don't use ramps for anything, except maybe an oil change.

3. After buying quality tools for 35 years and having to have a full blown tool chest and tool box to keep them in, one will always discover something he/she doesn't have a tool in the midst of a job and either the truck you are working on is disabled, if it isn't disabled, you have had four beers and shouldn't drive and you're too proud to ask your better half to drive you somewhere.

4. Murphy was an optimist

Anyway, the shields are on and I appreciate the help. In the mod section there is a GM part number for the front shield that contains a hyphen. Drop the hyphen to locate the part and GMpartsdirect.com is a whole lot cheaper than http://www.gmpart.com/

Hope the rest of your weekend is a good one

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 4:15 pm

f9k9 wrote:...In the mod section there is a GM part number for the front shield that contains a hyphen. Drop the hyphen to locate the part and GMpartsdirect.com is a whole lot cheaper...

Does this mean that you ordered one?

You do know that the composites are replacing the aluminum shields , and it is a "crap shoot" as to which stock that you will get (old aluminum, or new composites).

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 8:11 pm

Am not ordering one, I just revisited the mod instruction page during my install and tried to check out ordering one if my salvage yard attempts failed. I tried looking up that part number back in May and nothing came up from either source and I had emailed both as they suggested but, never heard from either one.. I dropped the "dash" in the part number and got results from both places. BTW, thanks for your help!

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 8:15 pm

No problem

I'll keep my eyes open on this end, as usual

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 3:05 pm

I finally heard from one of the sources posted in the shield mod section and will pass it on to.

"Kimberly,

As I understand these "shields" could be either a synthetic or of metal. Is there anyway you could verify that they would be metal?

Thank you for your quick response,

Reed Wetter"

"Hello Reed,

According to the catalog the shields are aluminum.
Here is the price quote you requested!

Part Number Description List $ Sale $
15561150 bracket 11.51ea 9.78ea - 0 in stock,
can order
15155700 shield 123.14 104.67 - 0 in stock,

If you have any questions feel free to call me at 800-238-6450 ext 756.

Thanks
Kim"

Just to let you all know that the front is still aluminum.

Post by **HenryJ** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:04 pm

f9k9 wrote:...Just to let you all know that the front is still aluminum.

Yes, the catalogs do still have them listed as aluminum and the part number is the same.
Unless they lay their hands on it and open the box...you never know.

There is some NOS still out there, but they are no longer making the aluminum shields and the composite shields are replacing them.

Like I said "it is a crap shoot".

I have had good luck, as well as have others. It only took me two tries to get an aluminum shield.

Now the shield package does have the aluminum front shield, so far as we have seen

Brad · Post by **Brad** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 6:16 pm

I was quoted 60 bucks for the front sheild at my dealer. I get a deal under my job.

Brad

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 9:03 pm

$60 bucks is a good deal. Am having a friend's husband, who is a service manager for three small dealerships in SE KY, check into the shields. If he could find a new Vega motor in the crate at one of them last year, he should be able to find a metal shield

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 4:59 am

Update.......

Got the front shield from service manager buddy for $70. I bet I called 30 or more salvage yards and could not locate one. I did have the first place I called tell me that they had one and that I should drive down and get it. Learned a lesson on that one!

I threw it on and a WISE man from a far, far, far away galaxy (named Oregon)

told me to polish it with NEVR-DULL. I asked him if it was really worth it and he said that it was. Well, I wasn't convinced but, tried it for five minutes laying on my back under the truck and was surprised. I then ran into the house and grabbed my trusty rachet and socket and jerked it off. I spent another 20 minutes and it really started to shine. I was also told that it will get better each time I shine it.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 6:30 am

They really do look go that way

I thought mine would stand out more and look a little strange, but quite the opposite is true. Polished like that it acts as a mirror and reflects the image of what ever surface you park on.

It is almost like adaptive camouflage

24digger · Post by **24digger** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:58 pm

f9k9 looks like you really got those torsion bars cranked.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:20 pm

I hope not

I had a shop do it with an alignment. I specified a 1.5" crank.

I should have took measurements before the work

Am now afraid that they did the crank without letting it settle on the rack or after a short drive.

It may be more than what I asked for but, I didn't make it clear to them so, it will be my fault.

Retep · Post by **Retep** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 4:33 pm

I really like the polished look.

I might have to do this to my front skid.

Pete

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 5:46 pm

Retep wrote:I really like the polished look.
I might have to do this to my front skid.

Pete

It's easy and fast but, just be careful if you remove yours to do it, be careful not to snug the bolts as tight as you want to when you reattach. They easily strip the threads in the frame:)\

I know...........they shouldn't be that easily stripped but, they are. Just be sonservative:)