How-To: Painting Front Emblem GMT900.

[GasHog369]

Here's a simple mod anyone can do with a little time and little $.

 

First step is to remove the bowtie.

What i had to do since i have big hands was remove the plastic cover that is over the radiator. There is about 8 pins or so.. Pry the pin up and remove the clip.

Here's the piece i am speaking of..

 

 

Next take a small slotted screwdriver with stubby handle and there are 2 clips behind the bowtie. You have to put the screwdriver next to the clip and pull to opposite side of vehicle (driver to pass ans pass to driver)

Be sure to hold emblem with other hand so you do not drop it.

Here is what the clips look like front behind.

 

Next step is to pop the emblem apart. This is if you want to have 2 colors.. I chose to leave the stock black border on there and have white in the middle.

To pop apart I took a slotted screwdriver to either side and worked it in very slowly. Once the screwdrivers are 2" in or so, it will seem as it wont go any further because of the combination with glue and tape. Very gently start turning the screwdriver to slowly pry it apart. This may take a while.

 

Once you have popped them apart it will look like this.

 

 

Some people may sand the factory emblem for a better bond, I prefer a bonding primer meant for plastic. This way you keep that smooth finish.

The primer I used was made bu duplicolor , and is meant for plastic bonding.

 

Spray light and even, 2 coats..

 

Next it to spray your color of choice, mine being white to match my front end. I also did 2 coats of this.. Product used was duplicolor "perfect match".

 

 

The final application step is to spray on the clear coat. For this be sure to use only duplicolor perfect match clear... I used a different brand at first and it yellowed! I re-sprayed and topcoated with the "perfect match clear " and it turned out great. Be sure to spray a couple coats of clear to give it a gloss look and durability.

 

Allow topcoat to cure for a day or 2, before handling to glue back together.

 

Next step is to mend them back together. For this I chose hot glue for the reason if I wanted to re-separate later on and re-paint it would be easier to pull apart than a epoxy..

 

Here is the final outcome after gluing.

 

To re-install on truck, simply line up on grill and push back on. It snaps in.

 

Some final pics on the truck.

 

 

 

 

 

Any questions, feel free to ask.

[JrocK817]

nice write up. looks good

 

GO BILLS!

[99silveradoz71]

Looks great

[waumo1]

I like it!

[j-ten-ner]

Looks awesome!

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[cobrajet84]

Looks good and nice write up, I'm gonna have to remember this when I have time to paint my bowtie.

[kstruckcountry]

Sexy

[GPGuy]

Great job!

[GasHog369]

Thanx, so far its holding up great. I was a little worried about putting it back on so soon after just painting it. it has been covered in salt / snow all week, juest wiped it off with wet towel and it shines perfect and not marks from salt. So i think it will hold up great.

[maxco]

That looks great! Love the Black/white contrast. Do you happen to know if a GMC Logo pops off just as easy?

[Spryguy]

Looks great, was the primer you used the perfect match primer?

[Chris]

It looks good, Now paint the back

[GasHog369]

Looks great, was the primer you used the perfect match primer?

No the primer I used was a platic bonding primer. Pretty much any plastic bonding primer will work too.. You dont want to let the primer sit on there to long (for more than a couple days) otherwise it gets to hard and cured to accept the topcoat

 

 

 

 

The back will be done soon. I'm probably just gonna stick with white fro the back also.

[white1500]

The contrast of the gold emblem is great imo. I don't understand why there's a need to paint it.

[GasHog369]

The contrast of the gold emblem is great imo. I don't understand why there's a need to paint it.

Thankyou for bumping my topic with your opinion. Although there is no NEED to paint the emblem. Many people WANT to paint it to give the vehicle there own personal touch. That is the wonderful thing about owning your own vehicle and personalizing it .

BTW, I don't see the need of having the Michelin man in your avatar.... I guess its just something you wanted to do to personalize the forum to you liking....