De-blinging - got rid of gold on front T emblem

[CharlieS]

Well, I suppose this one is going to get moved too. I never seem to have enough technical content to belong in here.

Anyhow, I took off my front grille (five screws and a clip) and then removed the emblem (three phillips head screws from the back).

I took the emblem inside, cleaned it, scuffed it with a 3M pad and sprayed it with black "hammerite" paint. It is a bit shiny right now, but it is better than the gold. The hammerite has a textured finish.

Here is the before and after:


It is a very easy project. If you don't like the gold, it is a huge improvement.

Charlie

 

[alaskacruiser]

Let's see a pic of it once it's back on the truck!

 

[T Y L E R]

I was lost at "Phillips head.."


TY

 

[medtro]

Black paint makes it look smaller too

 

[1000-oaks]

I need to try that on my *bling* LX...

 

[mickyfinn]

Any suggestions for de-blinging the rear? I was thinking of trying a heat gun to soften the adhesive to remove them for painting for possibly for good but welcome
suggestions.

E

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

There are many posts about that already. Some use fishing line heat gun/hair dryer, IIRC.

I'm thinking of doing mine......

I have always been a huge hater of all things gold bling (especially the plastic crappy GM stuff).....but the weirdest thing has happened since I bought a gold bling 94.....

I cannot do anything about my grill, except for paint over the letters, which would be a huge taping issue unless I spray the whole thing.

But on the rear, I hate to admit it, but it doesn't look all that bad.....Gold bling clashes with a lot of Cruiser colors, but mine is red with a tan pinstripe, and for whatever reason, it just doesn't make my stomach turn the way that most do....

I'll still probably do it someday, just not in a hurry like I'd thought I'd be.

 

[Landpimp]

FIRST thing I did on my 100 was to de-bling it, I rattle caned all the emblems black

 

[CharlieS]

I couldn't get a definite answer about whethr the rear emblems had posts on them - so here is what I found. At least on my '96 (I know this varies by year) - the Full time 4wd emblem didn't have any posts, only sticky adhesive. However the T symbol DID have posts and adhesive.

As a result, I'm painting the T black and reinstalling it.

To remove it I tried the several methods, but I ended up using a putty knife with some painting tape on the "blade" to protect the paint. I inserted it between the emblem and used it to cut the adhesive bond. With the T symbol I had to pry (gently!) upward to remove it after cutting all the adhesive bond. Then I scraped the adhesive off the back of the emblem I am reinstalling.

I used a product called goo-gone, a plastic scraper and some elbow grease to remove the adhesive from the tailgate.

When I reinstall I will reuse the plastic grommets that are still there, plus use some 3M trim adhesive I have from an old project (available at body shop supply stores).

I like the black better. The gold is okay too, just not my style... too flashy for me.

Pictures of it on the cruiser will come after I get the back all finished.

Back to my , ah, er, painting project...

Charlie

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

I'd like to know more about the 3M stuff, and could you post pics of it applied B4 you stick it on? Or maybe what the 3M product looks like?

Anybody have suggestions for the T O Y O T A on the grill other than painting the whole piece? Anybody take the time to tape of and just paint the letters? ('94)

 

[CharlieS]

I know that others have used a double sided trim tape.

I just happen to have some of this trim adhesive left over from when I did some stuff to a previous car, so I am going to use it. It won't take much to keep the emblem from falling off. In fact, the existing plastic grommets will probably hold it well enough that it shouldn't need the extra adhesive.

The stuff I have comes in a squeeze tube, a lot like toothpaste. The adhesive itself is black, similar to the consistency of RTV sealant or caulk. When it is new you take off the cap, flip it over and use the built in point to puncture the seal, then squeeze it out like toothpaste. I can't remember why I bought it, maybe to glue in vapor barriers in the door or something. Anyway, I think I have a bunch of it left over in a tube in the basement.

I'll try to take a picture, but as you can see above, I'm not very good with a camera. I am on coat #3 of rattle can paint, I'll do one more and then try to install it tomorrow.

Have you considered using a roller to paint the toyota letters? Assuming the letters are the high point of the grill, you could use a narrow trim roller and some paint. The gold isn't in the valleys, or low spots, so the paint should cover the (high) shiny stuff. Just an idea. A lot less time and labor than taping and spraying...

Charlie

 

[Tigerstripe40]

I like the black pearle emblems on a sage green 40th Anniversary cruiser...

 

[mickyfinn]

Thanks for the suggestions, I shudda searched before I wrote but the thought just hit me when I was reading Charlie's original question. I'll try to be more dilligent in the future. I'm curious about the fishing line method, I'll hunt it down. I've got to fix a big ding on the tailgate so I might just scrape off the full time fwd and leave it off after I repaint it (note to self, call CDan about factory paint...)but the gold symbols I'd like to make a bit more ... subtle.
Thanks again, E

 

[CharlieS]

Tigerstripe40,

I like the black pearl too, but I can 't see spending $100 on what I can do for $3 in spray paint. I'm not that concerned with it being that perfect. This is close enough for me.

Mickeyfinn,

The fishing line method is simple. You just take a length of monofilament fishing line and use it as a sort of blade to cut the adhesive in a back and forth sawing motion. Works best if you can heat up the adhesive some, since it isn't really all that sharp. A heat gun or hair drier will work fine.

You can also use two pieces of dowel or the handles of screwdrivers, to wrap the ends of the fisnign line around and use as handles. The fishing line could cut your hands if you just wrapped it around them like you were flossing.

I was working outside (no garage) and it was cold and snowing, so the heat gun wasn't an option. The metal putty knife worked fine, but I had to be mindful not to gouge the paint.

The 4WD emblem took longer since it has more adhesive on the back. The big concern with the T symbol was to not break it since it is on the thin side.

I didn't finish the back since I had to hit it with 2 more coats. The gold emblem doesn't take paint all that well even after scuffing it with a 3M pad. The sharper edges seem to repel paint. It takes many thin coats to get full coverage.

Charlie

 

[Landpimp]

recently the OEM black pearl 100 series emblems were at a closeout price of $60 ($200 before)for the complete set................never know maybe the 80 are on closeout?

 

[BOUNDER]

I dunno..

The gold "bling" on my 96 metallic Gray looks decent - doesn't offend me either way. By now it has mellowed in color and actually blends nicely and inconspicuously - really a non issue. Now my rear bumper cross member (flat black rattle can?) and the center hubs on all 4 wheels (search for fix on this site) is another thing...

 

[wob]

recently the OEM black pearl 100 series emblems were at a closeout price of $60 ($200 before)for the complete set................never know maybe the 80 are on closeout?

They were on a closeout at SOR, and I picked up a set. I see they are discontinued now.

 

[e9999]

I just sanded the gold off my rear loopy emplem. Was shiny metal underneath.
Maybe was a dealer lot "plating" job? (the big Landcruiser name in the back was still silver).

I have mixed feelings about whether it was a good idea to do it or not. Doesn't bother me a lot. Now I've got a mixture of gold and silver so may finish the job...

 

[Tooth Fairy]

I think I'm just gonna paint my whole grill black. If it wasn't the wife's DD I'd rattlecan the whole thing. Not even kidding.

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

I just sanded the gold off my rear loopy emplem. Was shiny metal underneath.
Maybe was a dealer lot "plating" job? (the big Landcruiser name in the back was still silver).

I have mixed feelings about whether it was a good idea to do it or not. Doesn't bother me a lot. Now I've got a mixture of gold and silver so may finish the job...

Are you talking about the Plastic cover over the recessed license area? I think all of those are the same....

I have the "24K" Toyota package, which includes grill, antenna dress ring, and both rear emblems. I think in another thread the dealer applied gold did not do the antenna ring.