hey all, was wondering what is the best and easiest way to remove the FORD letting that is on the hood of our car? we want to keep them intacked so we can replace them back onto the hood after it is painted. was going to pry them out, but was affraid to bust them, so we figured best to ask you guys about safest way.
do they just pop out then pop back in? or are they mounted from inside the hood area? we have the under hood insulation removed and it isn't going back onto the car.
any help will be great. thanks
I've removed emblems using a flat screwdriver. The letters and emblems have retaining "nuts" on the prongs that go into the sheetmetal. I believe the paint/body shops can replace the retaining nuts. I've never replaced emblems myself but I have removed them! lol.
thanks blu, when you took them off does the "nut" part stay inside the area that they came out from? and if so, if i was to go to a body shop and asked for the retainers they just slide over the posts and I would just push the whole works back into place?
thanks
I forget what the little "nut thingie" is called (retainer?) but most of the time they will stay stuck in the hood and then you can pry them out as well. They haven't been used in quite a while so the body shop may or may not have new ones, so try to save the old ones. When you put them back the retainers go in first, then push the letters back on. The posts on the letters spreads the retainer a little and makes them tight.
I was going to ask the same thing so this answered both of our questions :D I am guess the same principal works for the other emblems ?
Quote from: blupinto on May 22, 2010, 10:20:37 PM
I've removed emblems using a flat screwdriver. The letters and emblems have retaining "nuts" on the prongs that go into the sheetmetal.
I use a plastic "spatulla" would be the best way to describe the tool (found in the paint section of walmart) to pry the emblems off, masking tape under the emblems so I don't damage paint, if the paint is in good shape. Work them slow and even to keep from breaking them. I have been able to get the the body inserts from the local paint and body shop, take an example with. Letters and emblems all come off/go on the same way in my experience.
They go on with barrel clips when you pull up they spring closed same when installed .
great info people thanks, however, still need this one question answered. How do you get to the back of the "clips/retainers"? there is no way of getting a grab on the back side for the hood is enclosed where the letters go. if the retainers fall into the enclosed area they will possibly rattle around in there>? or do they/can they be pulled out as the letters come off. are the retainers/clips spot welded or anything to make this easy? maybe we will need to take the hood to a body shop after it is painted to ask them to put them back on..... arhg
by any chance does anyone have a pic of how they returned the letters/took out the letters?
thanks all !!!!
Quote from: 78_starsky on May 23, 2010, 10:25:38 AM
however, still need this one question answered. How do you get to the back of the "clips/retainers"? there is no way of getting a grab on the back side for the hood is enclosed where the letters go. if the retainers fall into the enclosed area they will possibly rattle around in there>? or do they/can they be pulled out as the letters come off.
they should not fall into the hole... once the letters are removed you will see how they work, they pull out the same direction as the letters. If they do not come out with the letter they are easy to remove once the letter/emblem is out of the way. Maybe a small needle nose will be the tool to use once the letter is removed. Relax... it's pretty simple once you have done it and see how it works.
ahhhh ok THANKS very much guys!!!!! We will take them off and peek inside. We just didn't want to bust them. I am sure they are a pain in the butt to replace.
cheers
Quote from: 78_starsky on May 23, 2010, 11:00:01 AM
ahhhh ok THANKS very much guys!!!!! We will take them off and peek inside. We just didn't want to bust them. I am sure they are a pain in the butt to replace.
cheers
the letters are pretty sturdy, Pinto emblems you have to be a bit more careful... best advice I can give... take your time, work them slow from all sides and angles and they shouldn't break. Masking tape between the letters and body... important! if the paint is good and you want to keep from damaging the sheet metal/paint. The clips/retainers are still available, just have to find a local source (a paint and body supply house - check with local auto parts stores or body guys to see where they get their stuff)
when you pry them up the clips will come will come up with them or stay in the hood if they stay in the hood remove them before you paint ..Ive took the clips out with my finger nail...
These are similar to a wall anchor used around the house. As you push the post in they expand against the outer hole. I fyou do need to replace them, National Parts Depot has them. They are used to hold emblems on older Mustangs. I once needed a fuel sending unit float and it was the same for a 1972 Mustang. You can get a catolgue from them that is very useful for a lot of little parts.
Boy after reading all the posts I realize I must be doing this all wrong. I have carefully pulled letters and emblems and half the time the retainers come out with the emblem and the other half they stay in the car. I tried to get the retainers out but most of the time they will break at the top and the back half falls into the hood, or what ever I am pulling them from. I have tried my fingernails to pull them out all the way up to needle nose pliers. Most of the time mine (retainers) break. Maybe it is just CA cars! LOL
no you need new ones when you put em back on
ok I see how that worked...lol easy and I can see a trip to a body shop to get replacments. I used a pocket knife to start them and a screwdriver to pop them that last bit. when you guys said retainers i was thinking some sort of backing flat washer type things. as starskyhutch nailed it more better, a barrel type clamp is more appropreit.
thanks all.
ps I took a couple pics if anyone wanted to see and were wondering what this looks like. (ask and I can post to photobucket)