I was reading the recent thread on anti rattle window kits and it sounds like a real hit or miss if you get a good kit or not. I need to replace mine sometime between now and spring. Also I was wondering if the repo emblems are of decent quality. I thought I saw a F150 custom cowl emblem which looked perfect, but it was WAY thinner than the original.

The reason I ask, or question this is I need one F150 custom emblem for the right side which is missing and on the left side it is there, but kind of pitted and looking it's age of 31 years.

On the bed, driver’s side the explorer emblem is missing, but on the right side it is there and looks pretty decent. I don’t want to buy one and it is so much thinner than on the other side. Now I could but two and they would be the same, but that would bother me because I know they are thinner and not period, or original correct.

If this is the case, maybe I should start visiting the bone yard for originals that are in good shape.

Any knowledge, or experience is appreciated, pictures would be real nice too!

 

Who is going to be measuring your emblems with a micrometer? If you are doing a concors correct show truck, I would have your existing emblems re-chromed. If its a daily driver that I wanted to look nice, I would hit the junkyards first for nice embelms, but ,more than likely wind up buying reproduction. It is seldom to find good nice emblems on something 30+ years old. I have seen them, but its been rare.

 

Thanks bro, I appreciate your input!

 

Nice emblems can be found in wrecking yards, in dry states.

Such as ones you can find in California. Mild buffing usually makes them shine really well, but they may need repainting.

There are two different types of Explorer emblem for the 1973-1981 trucks, but they all look exactly identical from the outside.

1973-1975 Explorer emblems have "5 mounting lugs" on the back and are marked with a enginerring number begining with D3TB or D4TB.

1976-1981 Explorer emblems only have three mounting lugs, and are marked with a number starting with D6TB.

The "D6TB" Explorer emblem, is a direct replacement for the "D3TB and D4TB" and will fit 1973-1981.

The 1973-1975 "D3TB and D4TB" Emblem can also be used as a exact replacement, 1973-1981, except you will have to drill two holes in the truck for the other extra mounting lugs, if not previously drilled. Etc... Etc... []

Explorer Hood Ornaments begin in 1975 and end in 1981.

1975 - Explorer over world.

1976-1977 - Explorer Blue

1977-1979 - Explorer Black

1980-1981 - Explorer Black

Check out Blue Oval Truck parts for emblems. The year they say their parts fit, has to be taken with a grain of salt, not very acurate on what years fit what, when it comes to year correct restoration, etc... but their quality for the emblems look good. They even have the hard to find explorer hood ornaments as well as the wreath with three lion variety found on the 1976 XLT Luxury group, and others.

 

Thanks, I appreciate the impute. I was finding it hard to believe that no one bought any emblems for their dent sides, or had any experience in dealing with the companies that sell reproductions.

 

Still expensive, but I recently bought some replacement reproduction emblems off ebay from made from Dennis Carpenter but they are supposed to have some kind of defect in them or something. They are being sold cheaper than if you would buy directly through their website. I checked out each emblem I bought and could never tell that there was something wrong. So, take that for what it's worth. I was happy. As a side note, I have heard that replacement emblems paint comes off easier and don't last as long as originals, but that is hearsay.

 

I would believe it before I did not believe it..... Sounds typical. How often do you hear stories of something reproduction, or aftermarket lasting LONGER than OE?

 

I'd say 1 out of 1000000.......... or just maybe never.

 

Sad, but true!,..........

 

Just because the emblems are obsolete, it doesn't mean that new originals are not available.

Ford & L/M Dealers don't always return their obsolete parts to Ford in the time allowed, and are now STUCK with them.

D7TZ16720M .. Custom 150 Emblem / Fits: 1977/79 F150.

Bob Allen Ford in Overland Park KS has FOUR = 800-676-0675

Kinsel L/M in Beaumont TX has FOUR = 800-816-2894

Rockbridge Ford-Mercury in Buena Vista VA has ONE.

M & M Ford in Liberty NY has ONE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
D3TZ9925622D .. Explorer Nameplate / Fits: 1973/79 F100/350.

Van Cleve Ford in Morton WA has ONE.

Frontier Ford in Diamondville WY has ONE.

Bell-McCall Ford in Hamilton MT has ONE.

Bob Allen Ford in Overland Park KS has ONE.

Kinsel L/M in Beamont TX has ONE.

Hite Ford in Bellevue OH has ONE.

Ted Green Ford in Stockbridge VT has ONE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since these emblems cannot be returned to Ford, the prices are usually reasonable, sometimes well below the original list prices.

 

SWEET!, Thanks Bill now were talkin!!