My gauge needles were looking super faded and in need of resto. Decided to do some badge resto while I was at it. Lots of small razor work to get the edges masked correctly. A hobby shop in my area carries a TON of colors for doing models and such for $9 I picked up a couple good colors to refresh everything. Pics Below!



Used note cards to keep the needles in position for paint


The glare is sorta bad but you get the point






Here's the XLT taped up


Ranger badge taped up pre-paint man this was a paint to get the edges right!


I decided to change the color from the original orange to Ford Blue


Back on the truck! I think the color combo with the grey works!


Thanks for looking!

 

Man, that looks real good. Are the badges just held on with two sided tape? I'd like to remove mine and repaint them as well.

 

Most of the badges I have come across have pins on the back of them that press into a bushing in the body. I'm not sure if it is true for all of them but I know that is how the F100 or F150 badge is held on.

 

If I remember right! The accessible ones have a spin on speed nut. The cowl badges not being accessible are push in.

 

I do believe you are right. I remember that the one on the glove box door has the speed nuts on them.

 

Correct. I have seen a mixture of both, depending on the truck, year and badge location, as well as "ingenious" ways previous owners held them on.

My 76 has a few of them with holes and screws drilled directly through the face of them!!!

 

I might just have to try this. What type of paint did you use? And how did you get the gage cluster screen off?(haven't tried but it doesn't seem like it would come off without breaking)

 

If I remember correctly the clear plastic is held into the gauge cluster by a series of pins. If you press the ends of the pins together, they will pull right out

 

@ AK FORD Guy- Yeah most of the pins on one of the badges broke off the back so now I've gotta get creative. I'm thinking JB Weld and rare earth magnets on the back since those things pretty much weld themselves to steel they're so strong!

I used model paint made by Testors the same stuff we all used to paint our model cars with when we were kids. To find the right colors I ended up finding a hobby store near my house that carried every color out there.

I didn't pull the clear plastic off the front I unscrewed the screws from the back of the panel and it comes apart. There are 4 or 5 small 1/4" screws in the back just take them out and you can pull it apart. Just be careful with the needles they're very delicate and easy to bend.

 

If you don't have a place nearby that carries the paint here is a place online that does.

Testors Hobby and Model Enamel Paint

I totaled up how much these badges cast from LMC new and it would've cost $140 to replace them! I spend $9 on all my supplies so i figure I win.

 

Excellent work on the badge restoration, your patience paid off. Not to hijack but if someone wishes to go custom I used these guys: Billet Badges - billet aluminum custom emblems and badges and they do outstanding work, the catch is you can't get copyright names. The badges used 2-sided tape which has held up for years, it may be an option for broken pins.

 

Awsome job. I really like the emblems....fantastic job.