Where Do You Find GMC Fiberglass?!
First off, I want to say I'm addicted to OFF-ROAD magazine! I am building an '06 GMC SIERRA crew cab and I'm having a very hard time finding front fiberglass for it. All the fiberglass manufacturers like Hannamann, Glassworks, FiberwerX, Perry's, and Trailer Products make fenders for '03-to-'06 Chevy Silverado. I've looked at the difference between the Chevy headlight assembly and the GMC headlight assembly and they look as different as a cow and a pig! I emailed Hannamann Fiberglass because they claim to make a fender that will fit a GMC, but by judging the contour of where the headlight assembly fits, it looks like it was made for the Silverado. They also told me in the email that I would have to do some cutting to make the fender fit. What is your take on this subject, should I listen to the pros and hack up a perfect fender to make it fit or is there another manufacturer that makes a fender that will work with no major cutting involved? Thanks.
Dan Furlong
Oceanside, CA
Dan, I guess this has never come up before, because I had no idea there weren't GMC fiberglass fenders available after GM split the front end designs of the Chevys and GMCs. Honestly, I couldn't do any better with a search engine than you did and I was unable to come up with any GMC fiberglass at all. Since we have some pretty knowledgeable readers, I'd like to pass this question onto anyone that might know where to find some '06 GMC Sierra fiberglass. If you know of a good source, please email Jerrod.jones@off-roadweb.com and I will pass any information onto Dan. Thanks, everyone.
Letter Of the Month
This issue the Letter of the Month winner is getting sent a pair of Daystar "Four Wheeling is Not a Crime" mudlfaps. Yes, they are awesome. Get yourself a set at your local 4x4 shop or check out www.daystarweb.com
Realistic Blazer Builder
Thank you so much for your Rant in the November '09 issue. I get so tired of the response that you have to have a '60 or coilovers, etc. I know most people don't have that deep of pockets. I've always felt part of wheeling is to make whatever you have last and still get through the trail. I run a '77 Blazer that is mostly off-road only. It has 35s, a Dana 44 front with an OX locker, a 12 Bolt rear axle with a Lockright locker, and 4.88 gears. I also swapped in a 383 V-8 TPI from a Camaro and a 700R4 tranny and NP241 T-case from a Suburban. I wheel hard in Moab, on the Rubicon, in the Northwest, and it holds together just fine. I miss the days when every rig was unique. I guess the cookie cutter Jeeps have done a lot of good to get people into our sport, but we are losing the learning curve that most of us (that are old enough) went through years ago as we slowly created our rigs. Thanks for a great mag.
Jay DeAngelis
Mulino, OR
Sounds like you have a cool Blazer, Jay. I'm a big K5 fan myself-I've had a '74, a '75, a '73, and right now I own two "new" '74s.
I definitely understand what you are saying about the cookie cutter Jeeps and the lack of uniqueness in vehicle building nowadays. In fact, that sounds like another good Rant! Since you're a Blazer nut too, maybe I'll see you at Blazer Bash sometime and you can show me off the Daystar mudflaps you're receiving since you wrote our Letter of the Month
-Jerrod
From the Sands of Dubai...
Balanced on top of a Dubai sand dune. I'll just give it a little shove to get it moving!
Paul Wade
Dubai
Editor's Note: If you want to say or ask something, email Unloaded at jerrod.jones@off-roadweb.com or write: Unloaded, OFF-ROAD Magazine, 2400 E. Katella Ave., Ste. 1100, Anaheim, CA 92806.
Remember, we're giving away swag every month to the author of our favorite letter. Be sure to include your address, so we know where to send your goods. And because we lost our copyeditor, please know that we are not going to be copyediting your letter if you are going to be hating on us, so you better check it over well before sending it our way! Thanks!