Need tips on removing side body emblems

[RacerRich]

I purchased the upgraded chrome body emblems for my Final Edition GTS from Parts Rack.

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I noticed the the stock body emblems are attached via some extremely strong double-sided tape. It seems to me that it will be very difficult to pry them off and I do not want to damage both the stock emblems and the car in the process. I assume a heat gun might facilitate this process but once again I am not entirely sure. Before I attempt this, any advice from those that have done this before will be greatly appreciated. Tips on installing the upgraded body emblems would be great as well.

Thanks in advance.

 

[VinR1]

I used to work at a body shop when I was in high school. We would just run a long piece of dental floss under one corner of the emblem and 'saw' back and forth as if one were flossing his teeth. Be careful not to pull on the emblem as it could break in half... just 'saw' the adhesive. And, if theres any adhesive left, WD-40 works wonders. I dont know if the Viper paint is any different, but the WD-40 didnt harm any of the cars/motorcycles I worked on

 

[Hisserman]

VinR1 is right. Use the floss or nylon fish line to cut the adhesive. Use a hair dryer to loosen up the adhesive too. Don't use a heat gun -- it's too hot and will damage your paint. You may want to take masking tape to mark the position of the letters before you take them off so that you can get the new ones back into the same place. Take your time and you will be fine.

 

[GTSPOWERED]

After you have removed the old emblems use goo-gon to clean off the leftover glue it worked great for me.

 

[KERS-VPR]

I just did mine 2 months ago. I tried the dental floss but it started to cut the 3m tape off the back of the original decals and left a lot of residue on the car to clean off. I asked my wife to use her finger nail to get the edge of the letters peeled back a little and then pulled the letters off slowly and there was no residue to clean off. The only clean up was the wax around where the letters used to be. Be sure to clean area with alcohol before re-installing new emblems. Be sure to tape around old emblems before removing them so you know exactly where to put new ones.

 

[Neil - UK]

I did the same as KERS with a hair dryer to warm them up, they just peeled right
off leaving a fairly clean surface

 

[CHAD]

In 90 degree weather, I used my fingernail and some rubbing alcohol for final cleanup and prep for the new decals. If it is cooler where you are, the hairdryer should work fine to bring up the temp, then just use your fingernails. Once you get an edge strarted, grab the letter with a pair of plyers and gently pull back.

Chad

 

[venomblue550]

use hairdryer to heat it first, then just peel old ones off...easy....then use rubbing compound to clean up the area, then alcohol clean, then new ones go back on....

by the way we have the rear GTS CHROME emblems in stock, which you can't buy them anywhere else...let me know if we can help you...thanks

 

[GTSPOWERED]

venomblue550 you have a PM

 

[RacerRich]

Thanks guys so far for the advice!

 

[Lee00blacksilverGTS]

Just take a fast drive, the fender will heat up nicely, they will come off with your fingernail, get some wax paper and stick the old letters on the wax paper to preserve the adhesive for later reuse, DO NOT USE WD40 to remove residue, it is a lubricant, and it will leave a residue of oil which is not good to apply adhesive to. Use prep sol or lighter fluid or rubbing alcohol to clean residue and wax off. Masking tape strip on the left of the upright part of the big V in Viper and underneath the word Viper and another small piece under GTS, that will give you a three way orientation for height, left and right position and level. Put the tape on BEFORE you remove the letters, just use your cleaner with the tape on, it will not remove the tape if a little cleaner gets on it. I just did this, it worked like a charm. Props to Chuck Tator for the lighter fluid and wax paper ideas! He is DA MAN!