Body Emblem Restoration

[secondchance]

I think that the new one with plastic pin is also secured w/ metal nut (skimpy kind) that tightens up as you twist on.
If someone wants to steal the rear emblem(or any emblem), more difficult it is to remove, more damage is likly to be done to remove it.
Nonetheless, in 24 years of Corvette ownership, never had any emblems stolen (thank god!-not that the replacement is a concern but the damage to the car).

 

[Interceptor430]

Yea, I'd hope nobody would try and steal a C4 emblem too.
The new emblem I received didn't include the nuts, and since the plastic studs weren't threaded, it didn't occur to me that some little nuts might be needed. Nuts on there would definately
make them secure on the car, and be easy to remove when waxing(of course, if not taped)....oh well....too late for me now...mine are taped on and have no nuts on the backside(don't need 'em since the tape is super strong).

I was and still am, baffled that the new GM emblems I got from
tld were plastic and the original ones on my car were cast(heavy).
I didn't realize the diff till I had the first old one off, and I guess
an original 'cast' emblem wouldn't sell for $20 either.
The new ones do look nice!

 

[The Car Whisperer]

Is that correct, the new emblems are plastic? Do they look as good as the cast metal ones?

 

[Interceptor430]

Yes, the new ones I got from ltd were in a GM box, and are 100% plastic....and yes, they do look good, but I think they are a tad
smaller.....i.e. seems like the 'circle' around the emblem is thinner on the plastic....
again, my car is a '91 and the same emblem is correct for many years....but I don't know what year GM stopped using the heavy
cast emblems and switched to the plastic ones....anybody know?
Just beware.......I've not seen any of the vendors state if theirs
are 'cast' or 'plastic' - they seem to just advertise them as 'new'.
If I could rewind...I call the Vendors and ask them specifically...
my guess is the 'cast' emblems are more expensive - if they can be found.

 

[Baldie88]

I ordered mine from Mid-America Design and both are cast just like the originals on the car now (it's an 88). Funny that other companies have plastic. Nose emblem came in a Chevrolet box also but not the gas door one. This is my project for the weekend. I figure I'll probably need a handfull of nuts to put on the nose piece because my fat fingers won't work in the small holes they give you to work with.

 

[VetteGarage]

I think that the heavy cast emblems only were made for up to 1990. I wonder if the cheaper plactic ones fit and do they look exactly the same?

 

[Baldie88]

Well I replaced both emblems last night. Why is it that the simpliest things take the longest time?

Used both a hairdryer and fishing line to finally get the emblem off the gas door (picked up these hints off this site). Took about 1/2 hour. Once off and cleaned up the new one goes on in about 30 seconds. Nose piece came off fairly easy but had a heck of a time getting the nuts back on (naturally dropping a couple down in the hood in the process).

Oh well, the emblems look great, it's going to be sunny and 65 here today and I drove the Vette. Going to be a great day!!

 

[jeepie]

I changed them on my 91, the old ones were both metal and the new ones I got from GM were both plastic. I was a little ****ed that they switched them to plastic but once they were on they do look the same. I also did not remove the paper from the tape backing, I just used the bolts.

 

[The Car Whisperer]

Putting the nuts on the hood emblem is easy. Just put the nut in the socket, wrap some electrical tape around the end of the socket so you just catch the nut then it won't fall off of the socket. After you get the nut on part way pull the socket off the nut, remove the tape and then tighten the rest of the way. I've take my emlem off the hood several times and haven't lost a nut yet.

 

[secondchance]

Double sided scotch tape or masking tape work well too.

 

[jedi]

Ok, What do you do if you loose the nuts? Besides replace them of course. I lost them inside the hood but can't seem to find a way to retrive them. Any ideas?
Jedi

 

[Ken]

Why is it that the simpliest things take the longest time?

Hey, that's my line! :L

... lost them inside the hood but can't seem to find a way to retrive them. Any ideas?

I was able to retrieve mine with a magnet on an extension, which I believe I had to bend pretty severely - ruined it actually. :eyerole

Good luck, and use putty or something in the socket when you try it next time.

 

[LongTimer]

I use the wife's floral arrangement clay inside the socket. It's green and kinda sticky. It will hold the nut, but let go as soon as the thread is started and very rarely leaves any residuals on the nut. I used to have some little magnet thingys that came with my 30 year old Craftsman tool set, but I've lost some of the sizes over the years.

Great thread, by the way.

 

[AV8R]

I just bought a set of front and back emblems for my 1990 coupe from Ebay for $60 + SH. That was the easy part.

The only thing I can add to what was already said here is this:
a. remove the fuel door from car.
b. 1600 Watt hair dryer worked fine in loosening up the rear emblem.
run it until the metal emblem is hot to the touch but not burning hot.
c. get a thick plastic scraper to wedge between door and emblem, make sure you unscrew the nuts first of course. I used a yellow one used for fiberglass use from the auto parts store.
d. clean the black sticky (or in my case it was hard baked on from 20 years and some time in the sun) bonding stuff from fuel door.

I still have to do the front emblem but there are plenty of links at this site to help with that. The secret seems to be in removing the aircleaner first to get more reach room.

Lastly, cut off the bolts from the old emblem and give to your kid as their first Corvette. My 8 year old little girl loves it and says it reminds her of me. Next generation kicked off...