So i bought a used GM Brush/Grille guard from my local cadillac/hummer dealer for $200. They said it was a take off in like new condition, which it was except for some scuffs on the very end of it, but for that price i was stoked. Well when i installed it it turns out those scuffs were from somebody obviously clipping something big with it. the entire guard was shifted about 3" to the left! the supports on these things are pretty pathetic and they bent with ease. its just a 1/4" piece of mild steel welded vertically between the bars with a sheet metal cover over it to hide the bad welds and make it look beefier(the covers on the chrome brush guards are plastic!). Went back to the dealer and showed them, and since i thought i might be able to fix it they knocked an additional $75 off.
So i took it to a local fabricator and i had them cut out the vertical supports and covers and replace them with 1 1/4" square bar stock to strengthen it up and straighten the guard out back to normal. Plus he painted it black for me instead of the oem smoked gray. all for about $120 more. Here are some pics, but im not done with it yet.
I think it looks good enough for now, but since i work alot with sheet metal im gonna fab up some covers to go over the supports that set it apart. Probably some 14 guage steel at least, making the covers about 2 1/2" wide when looking at it from the front, and protruding out past the bar an inch or so when looking from the side. But instead of the roundish, rolled over covers i've seen on most i want them to be more rectangular and blocky like my H3. haha. Then i will have it powdercoated black.
Does this make any sense to anyone else? lol. Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions.

 

Sounds like you've got a good plan! Now, to complete the look of it, go to the dealer and pick up some of the plastic caps to cover your rusted tow hook bolts. I don't have a part no., but the factory started putting them on in '09.

 

Man I've been looking for something to cover those rusty bolts. I didn't know they finally got smart and put them on at the factory. I'lll have to do some looking. Thanks B Halo

 

thanks for noticing the rusty bolts haha. yeah, im gonna powder coat the tow hooks as well...they're pretty faded.