Painted FORD grille / tailgate letters

[Carl]

Ok, dumb question. I was looking at this pic in the For Sale section. How does one go about painting the Ford letters so neatly on the grille?

How about the tailgate Ford letters? Were they originally painted on or are they stickers?

 

[Tito]

You can get the stickers but one way to do it with paint is to paint it body color then put the stickers on and then paint it white or argent or black. I have seen some good tape jobs before though! I just plan to run stickers on mine, you can get them in a lot of colors.

 

[Carl]

Oh, I see! Thanks!

 

[csjr]

Where do you get the stickers?

 

[broncnaz]

Most of the Venders sell them. Try WH TOM's or JBG.
The tailgate letters were painted on. At least the ones I've seen. but I cant be positive that all years were that way.

 

[Fishbone]

Carl, if you're interested I can hook you up with a vinyl guy in Millbrook (just south of Plano) it probably won't be any cheaper than the vendors, but you will have more color options.

 

[Baja71]

The tailgate letters where painted in Wimbleton white or black and then the color coat was painted around them. Ford didn't use stickers.

 

[broncomaster]

My 66 looks like the tailgate letters were painted after the body was painted and it looks like they used a roller. paint is original.

 

[Carl]

Carl, if you're interested I can hook you up with a vinyl guy in Millbrook (just south of Plano) it probably won't be any cheaper than the vendors, but you will have more color options.

Thanks, but I'm not ready for them yet. I'll keep it in mind though.

 

[Baja71]

My 66 looks like the tailgate letters were painted after the body was painted and it looks like they used a roller. paint is original.

Someone probably went over the letters at some point.

 

[surfer-b]

Letters were painted on after the body color from factory, when I had my 74 Ranger painted I took a piece of paper taped it over the tailgate letters and scrubed with a pencil as so it would show the exact deminsions apart and also the size, then I took it to a vinyl shop had them scan it to the computer and make a decal, when it was painted the decal was layed on the t-gate and the letters were removed so as to cover all the surface around the letters, it makes it easy to paint and much better looking than trying to tape them up, this way its looks the same as from the factory.

 

[Jeepster]

Save yourself some time and possible heartache when the paint don't look right. for 3.99 at http://products.lyonsdesign.net/catalog/ its painless. e-mail Jeff and ask him about the color you want.

 

[blubuckaroo]

My 66 looks like the tailgate letters were painted after the body was painted and it looks like they used a roller. paint is original.

You're right!;D They actually rolled the letters on. That's how it's redone too at bodyshops. They use a really smooth small roller. Done right it looks great. Much better than the vinyl tape letters.

 

[Baja71]

You're right!;D They actually rolled the letters on. That's how it's redone too at bodyshops. They use a really smooth small roller. Done right it looks great. Much better than the vinyl tape letters.

That's not how I remember my '73. I'm going to have to find an non-repainted Bronco to eyeball. Thanks...one more thing on my list. The advantage to doing it that way is that you would not have to sand any tape lines smooth.

 

[onebadd73]

I got my stickers from JBG, they were super easy to put on and look great.

 

[allenfahey]

There are several ways to paint them on. Hand mask which would be time consuming. Get the individual letters made in paint masking vinyl which won't leave any reside when you unmask. Or like surfer-b did and get it out lined in vinyl. If it was me I would apply the color of the letters. Then get the individual letters in masking vinyl mainly because of the 'R' and the 'D'. The middle of the letters need to be body color. Just make sure the basecoat has flashed off before applying the vinyl, after the bodycolor is applied and flashed off peel off the letters. Then just clear the panel. That's how a bodyshop does it, we don't use rollers
Drew Peroni on the list (Bronchitis) can get the masking letters made for you. He might even have them in stock

 

[Brinco]

I just painted the grill letters on my bronco last month. I hand masked the letters (very time consuming) then primered them and sprayed them red. Had to be real careful removing the tape so it did not peel. Turned out good but not perfect

 

[72-Madisyn]

I hand masked all letters, front and rear, on my buddys 74 that i painted for him and it took soooooo much time that i am not doing that on mine. I am going with the mask letters so i can just spray it all and not waste that much time, really the way to go..

 

[onebadd73]

Just get stickers, cheap and easy.

 

[NicksTrix]

here's the tailgate.
decals on over the base coat and all under the clear