"FORD" letters on tailgate

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Oct 3, 2003 | 07:33 PM

sigtauenus

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From: Virginia Beach

"FORD" letters on tailgate

I'm repainting my truck, its a 78 F-150, and the color is Midnight Jade, a dark green. The "FORD" letters on the tailgate (the ones stamped out of the sheetmetal) should be white, and I planned on painting the white on. I was debating which color to paint on first and how to mask it when I got the new NPD catalog and saw they sell transfer emblems for the tailgate. Basically, I can put the FORD back on the tailgate in white as easy as putting on a transfer "stripe" or decal, however you would describe it. Is the transfer emblem the way the factory did it, or was the "FORD" tailgate letters painted?

Oct 3, 2003 | 08:50 PM

Jigsaw

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From: Itasca, IL USA

Ready for this? Paint the entire tailgate the color of the truck. Then paint the entire area that is lettered white. Paint the tailgate the body color again. Now the fun starts.... Carefully sand off the last color coat (only) from the raised letters. Of course the first step was to make sure that the letters are perfectly flat!

Oct 4, 2003 | 12:48 AM

GeneStoner

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From: Great NW

Or...

You can have a sign shop fab up some nylon stickers in the same size/font as the tailgate. Who knows, you may even find some NOS ones somewhere.

Oct 4, 2003 | 06:30 AM

sigtauenus

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From: Virginia Beach

Well, these transfer emblems are basically stickers. and for $17 for the set I don't think you can beat it.

Oct 25, 2003 | 08:02 AM

uk1050

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From: indiana

USE THE DECALS UNLESS YOU ARE TRYING TO HAVE AN ORIGINAL SHOW WINNER.....KEEP IT SIMPLE

Oct 25, 2003 | 11:54 PM

ffraley

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From: NE Ohio

Quote:

Originally posted by Jigsaw
Ready for this? Paint the entire tailgate the color of the truck. Then paint the entire area that is lettered white. Paint the tailgate the body color again. Now the fun starts.... Carefully sand off the last color coat (only) from the raised letters. Of course the first step was to make sure that the letters are perfectly flat!

OK, so what's the procedure with the late 80's that have depressed lettering? I'm guessing the same, but mask the lettering before the second body color coat rather than sanding after?

Fred

Oct 26, 2003 | 07:25 PM

Jigsaw

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From: Itasca, IL USA

Paint the tailgate the body color, paint the letter area the color you want the letters, then carefully sand off the excess letter color around the letters. (do not mask the individual letters, only the areas that you want to avoid having to un-necessarily sand)