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"How-To" Rearrange Your Trunk Lid Badging / Emblems....


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The following step-by-step "how-to" details the measurements I came up with to re-position the TAURUS trunk badge lettering.

 

I opted to perform this mod because I thought that the final outcome was more much complimentary to the SHO's overly large rear end.

 

You should compile the following tools to assist you in completing this project:

 

1 Grease "Stabilo" Type Pencil

1 X-acto knife / razor

1 Measuring Tape

1 Roll of Blue Painter's Masking Tape

1 Heat Gun (Hair Dryer Good Substitute)

1 Small Plastic Putty Knife

1 Bottle of Professional Grade Wax/Tar Remover

1 Bottle (of your choice) Rubbing Compound

1 Roll of 3M Automotive Grade Double Sided "Red Tape"

 

Here's some images of the above noted items:

 

006.jpg

 

001.jpg

 

002.jpg

 

004.jpg

 

005.jpg

 

003.jpg

 

I've always used a heat gun to warm up the adhesive on the emblems themselves to aid in removal.

 

Don't over cook them mind you by applying to much heat, but definitely warm them up.

 

I've always used a plastic putty knife to lift, dislodge, wiggle around and then remove each emblem.

 

I've heard others using fishing line, but I myself have never tried that.

 

Once your remove the emblem, there will be some leftover adhesive still stuck to the surface of the car.

 

This is where the wax/tar/adhesive remover works well. Using a small washcloth or what have you, dab or soak the cloth with the remover and apply it to the where the adhesive is at on the car. Wet it up pretty good (not dripping down the car mind you) but wet.

 

After letting the liquid break down the adhesive a little bit, start rubbing it off of the car. Turn your cloth as needed since the adhesive has a tendency of getting pretty gooey.

 

Repeat the process until ALL of the adhesive has been removed.

 

Inspect your clear coat for any fine scratches. If present, use the rubbing compound / scratch remover and buff them out.

 

Prior to re-installation of the letters / emblems, you must once again wipe down the entire area where you plan on placing the emblems with the wax/tar/adhesive remover. FAILURE to do so will inevitably cause your emblems to not adhere well.

 

If your asking yourself why would you apply wax/rubbing compound 1st, and then wipe it all off again prior to emblem reinstallation..... well, if you have minor surface scratches it will be a real PITA trying to manuever around each letter to buff them out, so it's just easier to do this step 1st while the trunk lid is free of all emblems.

 

As far as the measurements:

 

To locate the center line, 1st, I popped open the trunk lid and lifted it slightly. There is a small drain hole punched/formed into the underside of the trunk lid (toward's the bottom of the trunk lid). I then used this hole and the exact middle of the rear mounted camera (under the spoiler) as a guide to locate my center line/mark.

 

The total width of your emblem will be: 21.5"

 

Using the grease pencil to make all of your marks, 1st mark your center line.

 

Then, dividing the total width noted above in half (10 3/4") make secondary marks on either side of the center line, at 10 3/4".

 

To find the proper heigth for each letter, I followed the fold/crease in the bottom portion of the trunk lid itself.

 

I measured up from this crease, 2 1/8".

 

I noticed that this crease is not perfectly horizontal and that there's actually a slight upward curve to it as it relates to the over all width of the entire trunk lid. Weird huh?

 

All the more reason since it's a visual anomaly, to use that fold/crease line as your guide for your measurements.

 

Next, in order to line up each letter properly (since your expanding them considerably) I ran a strip of that blue painter's tape along the upper edge of the letters, using my 2 1/8" marks as a guide.

 

Doing this step will assure that you place each individual letter "level" in relation to the fold/crease line.

 

Next as far as the spacing between each letter, I 1st started with the 'T'. After placing the 'T' on the far left side, lined up with my far left mark, left of center, I then measured 2 3/8" from the FAR RIGHT EDGE of each letter, to the beginning FAR LEFT EDGE of the next letter.

 

I then placed the 'A', and the 'U' using these same marks of 2 3/8" apart.

 

Wanting to make sure my measurements were spot on, I then went to the far right side and placed the 'S' using the farthest most right hand mark.

 

I then began working my way from right to left, this time using the FAR LEFT EDGE of the 'S' and measuring 2 3/8" (to the left) and then placed the FAR RIGHT EDGE of the 'U'.

 

I then only had the 'R' left to place onto the trunk lid.

 

Again just as a means of double checking all of my measurements, I measured 2 3/8" to the right of the 1st letter 'U' and made a mark.

 

I then made a mark 2 3/8" to the left of the 2nd 'U'.

 

I then had my exact placement of the letter 'R' which I'll add was spot on as it relates to it's width.

 

Here is a picture of my measurements and letter placement, along with the tape and grease pencil marks.

 

If you notice the only letter that has two marks (on either side of it) is the letter 'R'. That was a result of me following the steps I detailed above to double check all of my measurements.

 

TrunkLidMeasurements.jpg

 

Once you've exposed the backing of the double sided tape and placed ALL of your letters, then remove the blue painter's tape, wipe off your grease pencil marks and re-wax your trunk lid using any commercial wax product of your choice.

 

I always use Meguiar's products.

 

I didn't explain how to apply the 3M double sided tape to the back of each letter, but I figured that would be self explanatory.

 

I did not "clean off" the back side of each letter, opting rather to leave on whatever factory applied adhesive was left on them after removing them from the car.

 

The X-acto knife is used to aid in cutting and trimming of the 3M tape that you apply to each letter.

 

I suppose some people will ask why not just go and buy a new set of letters from Ford, which I suppose some would prefer to do, however, that 5' roll of 3M tape only cost me like $7 w/ tax, so a far cry from what I'm sure Ford would be charging for a replacement set of letters don't ya think?

 

I hope this is of some help to those in the Taurus / SHO community that may be considering doing this, and/or some variation of this mod.

 

Kudos and please be sure to post pics and/or let me know how it worked out for those of you do actually do this.

 

If any of you have any other questions, feel free to ask away.

 

------------------------------Mike :thumb:

 

A couple of final pics of the finished look:

 

 

Ford2ToneEmblem.jpg

 

MidSizeshotofFordEmblem.jpg

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EBB-Quick explanation: Worked at a "Institution of Incarceration" and because I was able to use the computer and was familiar with booking procedures, I was posted as the intake officer on many occasions...that meant doing strip searches of all incoming....emmm "guests". It had to be done with some diligence since some PD officers were not the best at searching when taking someone into custody...(No offense intended to a certain Moderator). But doing those searches were referred to as doing: "nuts and butts".

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  • 5 months later...

Hey guys sorry to revive this thread so late, I am interested in doing this mod but I don't have a heat gun or a blow dryer and have no interest in buying either.

 

Is there a product that will eat that adhesive without heat and I can just pull fishing line or dental floss behind them once the adhesive is eaten?

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Others have used fishing line almost like dental floss & pulled the line behind each letter....

 

Once the emblem is removed, you can use Goo Gone, or Mineral Spirits to help degrade the remaining adhesive left behind.

 

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2

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Not necessary.....

 

But heat certainly helps the process along.

 

If you're unwilling to purchase a heat gun, or even a hair dryer, let your car sit out in the hot sun for a couple of hours before commencing your project.

 

That oughta suffice.

 

Post up some pics when you're done :thumb:

 

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2

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  • 6 months later...
Hey guys sorry to revive this thread so late, I am interested in doing this mod but I don't have a heat gun or a blow dryer and have no interest in buying either.

 

Is there a product that will eat that adhesive without heat and I can just pull fishing line or dental floss behind them once the adhesive is eaten?

 

Yeah brother a hair dryer lol:clap2:

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I'm kinda of a "less is more" kind of guy. The less badges the better. I've always thought "The people that know.....know. And those that don't, lol, don't care." Plus, being a detailer, the less crap I have to work around, polish around, blow water out of, or ruin my towels.....the better. Not to mention I just can't get into the "NASCAR" level of badging. Smooth, clean lines. Let the car speak for itself. Good writeup nonetheless. :)

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After my car will be wrapped, I was told that he cannot put back the badges on the trunk. I just had the SHO left, but if he uses double face tape, it can damage the vinyl. And since there won't be any chrome left on the car, the fenders will be blacked. The taurus letters will be filled before being painted. So the only indication left will be the SHO on the back side windows that will be painted in blue.

Actually there will be only the Ford signs left in chrome, but just the word itself as the outline oval will be black too. The blue oval should blend well with the rest if the car.

Pictures coming when I come back from vacations in early January.

Cheers!

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Well....... I finished up with my 3rd (and what I think will be final) revision, of the trunk lid emblems / letters.

 

I had to pick up another set and individually sand and paint each letter if you recall.

 

I also opted to completely ditch the "ecoboost" portion, including the newer one I had recently installed that was the black one borrowed from the Lincoln product line.

 

So here she sits as of this morning, and I'm liking it a lot. Hopefully y'all will to :noidea:

 

W/O getting into the entire debate of remaining badged, or to de-badge, I think this latest revision plays off my entire black / white theme rather well.

 

Take a look for yourselves -------------------------->

 

 

DSC_0037_zps60d6739f.jpg

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It looks great, Mike. I thought the black Ecoboost played well with your theme of black/white. Although it looks fine without it. The whole badge/debadge debate could go on, I've thought about getting involved, but really, it comes down to what you (the owner) like best, so there really is no debate...

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Well....... I finished up with my 3rd (and what I think will be final) revision' date=' of the trunk lid emblems / letters.[/b']

 

Sorry to burst your bubble. :)

 

 

Ha! :RpS_lol:

 

No bubble being burst here my friend. :nono:

 

However, heeding your suggestions (on relocating / centering the 'SHO' letters) I realized now why they were off center from a vertical perspective.

 

It was due entirely to me having hacked off the original 'ECOBOOST' emblem and separating out the 'SHO' letters for painting (in black).

 

Once I did that, I had my tour of the Chicago Assembly Plant, and was provided with the 'ECOBOOST' emblem from the Lincoln Product line.

 

It was in black, and is an entirely separate piece, unlike the Ford product line where both the 'SHO' and the 'ECOBOOST' are one, combined piece.

 

Under this most recent "3rd" revision, I decided to completely ditch the 'ECOBOOST' logo in it's entirety.

 

Thus, as a result of doing this, the 'SHO' letters appear (and are) off center from a vertical perspective.

 

Here's a couple of images of the evolution of the process:

 

 

OEM / Factory placement:

 

2010FordTaurusSHOpics001.jpg

 

2010FordTaurusSHOpics009.jpg

 

 

 

"1st" Revision:

 

002-4.jpg

 

003-4.jpg

 

 

 

"2nd" Revision:

 

2012-11-17_15-44-06_275.jpg

 

2012-11-17_15-44-38_627.jpg

 

 

 

"3rd" (and what I thought was final) Revision:

 

DSC_0037_zps60d6739f.jpg

 

 

 

So with all of that said, I feel a lil better that I didn't purposely, or unintentionally, throw those 'SHO' letters, off center.

 

It was just a mere oversight on my behalf, once I decided to ditch the black 'ECOBOOST' emblem.

 

I'll re-center those 'SHO' letters on that lower panel of the trunk lid as you suggested Kolk1 and then re-post accordingly.

 

Thanks for the keen eye, however, I'll be happy to take back that "anal retentive" title from you.

 

Hahahaha..... :fish:

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