What is the easiest wat to remove hood emblems on a 80s Turbo Buick Regal? They seem to be held on with a 3M like tape. One side is cracked and I would like to replace the pair so they match.
Plastic putty knife or just twist them off, then use either your thumb to roll the tape off or take it by a body shop and have them use an eraser wheel on it, which is probably what you'll have to do. Plastic razor blades and mineral spirits will worl to but messy
I've gotten foam taped on emblems off with high test fishing line before. However, being they're on the hood "hump", its a bit of an awkward spot so that may not work in this instance as you need to be able to get above and below the emblem to work the line in behind it.
Look at the backing on the emblems from an close angle to determine method of attachment. If (and it is a MIGHTY big IF) these are factory style emblems, they have the foam backed adhesive: Lay out some wide AUTOMOTIVE painter's masking tape for the upper and lower boundaries all the way against the remainder of the emblem (usually the "3." breaks off) to set up correct position. Pull the emblems off with a PLASTIC putty knife or scraper. Wipe off the remaining adhesive with bug-tar remover, or GOOP brand adhesive remover on a soft cloth rag. DO NOT USE LACQUER THINNER under any conditions, as the original paint was lacquer based. If the emblems have been re-applied with trim adhesive, good luck with the GOOP. Usually Trim adhesive has toluene and other complex aromatic hydrocarbon solvents that dissolve the paint to adhere. The mask provides a template of sorts; These emblems never look right when being re-attached without a template. it also kees the solvents away from the non-emblem area, minimizing discoloration. Also the Trunk emblem on 86/87 T's is not the same as the hood emblems: Trunk is all chrome, hoods are black edged. Even though most people don't use the correct trunk emblem. (Repro's for both available from Kirban performance http://www.kirbanperformance.com/products.php?search_text=trunk+emblem&submit_button= http://www.kirbanperformance.com/products.php?search_text=hood+emblem&submit_button=
The 3 is exactly what is broken off on one side. I bought a set of the repos with the black outline in case I end up needing both sides if they don't match. On another note do you know if they make rubber floor mats with a T Type logo for the car? I ned mats and I am not sure if the carpeted ones will last. Thanks Steve
https://www.accmats.com/floor-mats/ Try ACC. They generally make the best reproduction carpets; I got a set of Tri-shield embroidered carpet mats for my WH1 years ago at same time as the carpet; Granted, it is rarely used, but they look and fit great. Get a set of generic mats for everyday, and a set of ESSEX mats for show. (You MAY want to drive barefoot with the ESSEX mats!!!). For a T-type logo, I recommend getting the black outlined power 6/ T-type mats. (T logo's start around #50) That offsets the logo more than plain. For a GN, that would be a waste... MEH...see below... http://www.kirbanperformance.com/products.php?search_text=floor+mats&submit_button=
I realize this is an old thread. I used everything available to try and take off a pair of emblems, including goo gone, oops, wd40, heat, plastic knife, and so on. I can't get it all off so I ordered a 3m eraser wheel, any tips on using this before I give it a whirl?
Looks like it's painted around,....if so you're gonna make a mess with the eraser wheel,...but when the tape is older like on that T car,...some 1k grit paper used carefully works better
I may have to take it to a body shop. I thought I would get lucky with this, the emblems where loose, but loose from the emblem side not the body side. If it doesn't come out, I may have to put it back on or put a GN emblem on at least it would be in the right place.Here is another pic with the flash.
So I've come to the conclusion that these emblems where put on when the paint wasn't fully cured. I sanded with 1000 grit and then buffed with polishing compound and it's smooth all around. The bottom I can feel a slight ridge but I believe its paint.
It looks to me like Hugger described the problem correctly. The emblems were left on the car when it was being painted. The center of the square is likely original paint and the white outline is the edge of new paint. If that description is correct, I would say you have three choices: 1. Sand only the new paint very carefully, starting with 1K grit and going progressively finer to minimize the edge and effectively blend the paint. I doubt you will ever get a perfect blend. 2. Sand the imperfection smooth, respray the area to blend the color, and then re-clear the entire fender (if it is a base-clear paint job). If the current paint includes no clear coat, repaint the entire fender. 3. Stick an emblem over it and call it good.
Well that makes some sense, you guys may be right. Crap, oh well I couldn't leave well enough alone, but it bothered me they where in the wrong location. I just never thought of the possibility the emblems where taped on the paint job. Thanks for the input guys.
I had a guy paint my GS and we had to get another trunk lid and he didn't fill the hole for the SKYLARK emblem. Burns me every time I look at it.... I guess I can put one of those fake bullet holes over it.....
So you where right, went down to the body shop and it was taped. They want $800 per fender, $1600 total.
Now if your saying they want $1600 to clean the old tape off and the emblems weren't painted around,...then them fools are smoking crack I would paint both fenders for $650 if they needed it,..$100 would get the tape cleared and polished out,...will be some discoloration but,...
Yeah, that was fixing the area and clearing the fenders. He would take the moldings off but not the fenders, just taped.
I have another guy coming by over the weekend. He does side jobs, he sold his body shop. I've used him before, I think I'll get a better price.