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Escalade Masquerade: Part Two

Turning a two-door Tahoe into a "Chevylac" SUV
By Dick DeLoach, Saul Vargas
Chevrolet Tahoe Front Side View Tahoe With Escalade Front Clip
Chevrolet Tahoe Rear Side View Tahoe With Escalade Front Clip
Coming or going, our Tahoe... 
   
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Chevrolet Tahoe Rear Side View Tahoe With Escalade Front Clip
Coming or going, our Tahoe looks more like a two-door Escalade than ever thanks to some creative custom bodywork by G's and a set KMC rims matched with Nitto radials.
Chevrolet Tahoe Rear Side View Tahoe With Escalade Front Clip Being Sanded For Paint
1. After installing the Mer... 
   
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Chevrolet Tahoe Rear Side View Tahoe With Escalade Front Clip Being Sanded For Paint
1. After installing the Mer Tek front end kit, the boys at G's got busy blocking out the complete SUV leaving it ready for paint.
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2. While the truck was being... 
   
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2. While the truck was being blocked, Jose moved onto the building of the side moldings (body cladding), purchased at Whittier Auto Dismantling.
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3. As you can see, the Mer... 
   
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3. As you can see, the Mer Tek fenders are solid and will have to be drilled out for the OEM factory moldings.
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4. The fenders were drilled... 
   
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4. The fenders were drilled out to access the clips that hold the fender moldings in place.
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5. Jose started off by bolting... 
   
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5. Jose started off by bolting the rear molding in place to the rear quarter panel.
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6. The rest of the panels... 
   
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6. The rest of the panels were put in place and were marked where they're going to be shortened.
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7. Jose started off by cutting... 
   
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7. Jose started off by cutting the panel with a die cutter.
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8. The rear molding were overlapped... 
   
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8. The rear molding were overlapped and screwed in place to allow them to be shortened.
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9. Jose made sure that the... 
   
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9. Jose made sure that the panels were secured in place by drilling several screws into the panel.
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10. Flipping the panel over... 
   
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10. Flipping the panel over you can see how much the panels need to be cut.
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11. Jose masked off where... 
   
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11. Jose masked off where the moldings started and finished to show where to cut the molding.
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12. Jose followed up by cutting... 
   
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12. Jose followed up by cutting the molding down the line.
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13. This is the most important... 
   
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13. This is the most important piece of building these moldings. They must overlap to joint them. This is going to be done by thinning out the panels, or should we say "feathering" them down.
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14. The same process is done... 
   
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14. The same process is done to the inner side of the panel, which is going to be overlapped onto the old piece.
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15. The panels are now going... 
   
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15. The panels are now going to be connected using 3M Plastic Repair, which serves as an adhesive.
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16. The plastic filler was... 
   
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16. The plastic filler was spread on in layers.
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17. Once the filler was applied... 
   
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17. Once the filler was applied to the panel it was smoothed out and spread thin.
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18. The sectioned panel was... 
   
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18. The sectioned panel was then placed in position.
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19. Jose made sure the panels... 
   
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19. Jose made sure the panels didn't move by screwing them down in the proper locations.
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20. Once the panels were dry... 
   
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20. Once the panels were dry they were ground down smooth in the same manner as with automotive filler.
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21. Jose ran his hand over... 
   
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21. Jose ran his hand over the surface to estimate how much more plastic filler was going to be needed on the panel.
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22. Another thin coat of filler... 
   
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22. Another thin coat of filler was spread on the panel.
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23. The panel was left to... 
   
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23. The panel was left to dry and would be sanded smooth afterward.
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24. Next, Jose moved on to... 
   
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24. Next, Jose moved on to the front of the panel which was shortened.
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25. The joints were ground... 
   
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25. The joints were ground down to allow them to be filled in and smoothed out.
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26. The same steps in building... 
   
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26. The same steps in building up the joints were used throughout the panel.
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27. The rear tailgate was... 
   
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27. The rear tailgate was also going to receive a panel.
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28. These new GM panels and... 
   
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28. These new GM panels and clips were purchased at Ostrom Chevrolet.
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29. The panels were test fitted... 
   
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29. The panels were test fitted numerous times to make sure that they worked.
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30. This panel was ready to... 
   
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30. This panel was ready to be primered and blocked out.
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31. These one-piece panels... 
   
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31. These one-piece panels were sprayed in primer and prepped to be painted.
Chevrolet Tahoe Rear Fender
32. The rear panel was now... 
   
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Chevrolet Tahoe Rear Fender
32. The rear panel was now ready to be fitted with the Cadillac trim.
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33. Jose and his helper started... 
   
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33. Jose and his helper started mounting the panels to the body.
Chevrolet Tahoe Tail Light Stock
34. While we were at G's we... 
   
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Chevrolet Tahoe Tail Light Stock
34. While we were at G's we had them swap out the stock taillights with a new pair from APC.
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35. These APC Euro Taillights... 
   
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35. These APC Euro Taillights are DOT approved.
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36. You need to use the hardware... 
   
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36. You need to use the hardware from your stock taillights.
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37. Jose bolted on the light... 
   
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37. Jose bolted on the light hardware.
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38. The light was then plugged... 
   
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38. The light was then plugged into the stock harness and bolted in place.
Chevrolet Tahoe Altezza Tail Lights
39. The DOT-approved Euro... 
   
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Chevrolet Tahoe Altezza Tail Lights
39. The DOT-approved Euro taillight was plugged in and the next stage of the "Chevylac" build-up was complete.
Chevrolet Tahoe Tahoe With Escalade Front Clip Front Side View

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