My '02 GMC Envoy; new wheels installed!

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

OK- here's a few shots of my 2002 GMC Envoy SLE. I've had it for a little under a year now, and have put quite a bit into modifying a few things on it -- mostly using OEM parts. Here's the truck as it looked when I picked it up from the dealer on 12/30/04:





And here it is as of today, after installing the new wheels:







The wheels are 18" OEM Polished Aluminum, from a 2006 Envoy Denali. The grille is also OEM for a 2005/6 Denali.

The rearview mirror backs were a textured plastic which I smoothed, painted (primer/base/clear) and wetsanded with duplicolor paints and meguiars sanding/polishing products. (Yes, all paint was applied with "rattle cans" in my basement... I even baked it in my kitchen oven!!)

Enjoy!

[Mike Phillips]

Looking good! The Envoy body lines are pretty hard to beat for a nice looking all purpose rig. We looked pretty seriously at these as well as the Yukon/Suburbans before going with the Honda Pilot.

Do you have now or are you planning on placing any advertising on the windows or paint for your detailing business?

[benhui86]

i like ur grille.... wouldve thought it was factory if i didnt see the be4 pic though.... and ur step rail looks nice too

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
Looking good! The Envoy body lines are pretty hard to beat for a nice looking all purpose rig. We looked pretty seriously at these as well as the Yukon/Suburbans before going with the Honda Pilot.

Do you have now or are you planning on placing any advertising on the windows or paint for your detailing business?

Thanks! Yeah I looked at the pilot as well, but overall I just love the Envoy's styling better, and I got a much better price than I ever could've found for a pilot at the time I bought it.

I've considered putting vinyl on my rear quarter windows, but for now I'm not actively pursuing that. I may wait until next spring, too, since I'm already getting booked ahead into this fall with existing customers. I do, however, have a couple yard signs on order that may bring in a few more people from the neighborhood.

Originally posted by benhui86 i like ur grille.... wouldve thought it was factory if i didnt see the be4 pic though.... and ur step rail looks nice too

Actually, they ARE factory. Just not factory original to my truck in particular. The grille is a GM part that was painted to match my Envoy, and the step rails are GM parts for a 2004 Buick Rainier. Thanks!

[escape]

Very nice looking. I like the mirrors a lot. I always find it cool when people modify their cars in small distinctive ways.

[sean]

I like small mods too. Grille, mirrors, etc. Looking very nice!

[oc detailer]

looks real good, i had envoy as rental when my car was in the shop and boy did that thing guzzle gas, do u notice that as well?

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by oc detailer
looks real good, i had envoy as rental when my car was in the shop and boy did that thing guzzle gas, do u notice that as well?

Hmm... mine isn't bad, really. I get 14-15 MPG in the city, and 20-21 (I've gotten as high as 23!) MPG on the highway.

And that's with tall (4.10:1) gears and a limited slip rear differential -- I know people who get 17-18 city with 3.42 open diff.


I guess it depends what you're used to, though -- I came to the Envoy from having an S10 Blazer for three years; it only got 12 MPG city, and 17 highway!

[ebpcivicsi]

I think it look awesome!! IMO, that is how a vehicle like that *should* be modded, it looks OEm only better. You would have to show most people what has been modded. Great job!!

How did you go about purchasing the wheels? Ebay? Or do you know someone at the dealer?

[gb387]

Looks good! Really looks sharp with the chrome!

[Ranger72]

Originally posted by gb387
Looks good! Really looks sharp with the chrome!

I agree with this dude!

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by ebpcivicsi
I think it look awesome!! IMO, that is how a vehicle like that *should* be modded, it looks OEm only better. You would have to show most people what has been modded. Great job!!

How did you go about purchasing the wheels? Ebay? Or do you know someone at the dealer?

Thanks again (to everyone)! What you stated is exactly how I think -- I wanted it to be unique, but I didn't want something that would stand out as "over the top" like some folks do. It really takes the right person to know what they're seeing when they look at my truck. I've got a mod list that spans two printed pages, and 80 to 90 percent of what is on it are genuine GM parts. I'm sure that will also help when I go to sell this vehicle (several years from now).

As far as how I made the purchase, yes it was eBay. The wheels, I believe, were on one of the "production ready" pre-release test mules that the executives get to drive. They only have 2-3K miles on them, and I got them from a source in Detroit that stocks original and reconditioned OEM wheels/tires.

Actually that's how I've gotten the majority of my parts -- "like new" take-off parts from other vehicles, or factory overstocks. The running boards were a brand new in the box set, and would've cost me $450 to buy from the dealership. I got them on eBay for $150 and picked them up from the seller (who it turns out works for the parts department at the dealership I bought the truck from). He had ordered them with an "at-cost" discount for his '04 rainier, not realizing that his buick would come with them pre-installed. So, he sold the extra set for the same ammount they cost him.



Actually, I think the majority of the "non-OEM" mods actually can be found under the hood: