Tail gate letters

[ukc10]

My '71 Fleetside has a smooth tailgate fitted. I have a set of 'CHEVROLET' letters I want to fit but require the following correct spacing dimensions:- from the outer edge of the tailgate to the outside edge of the C & T,bottom of the tailgate to lower edge of the letter and the space inbetween each letter. Any help would be appreciated as apart from placing the 'R' in the middle I have no further info.
Thanks.

[chevy72blu]

I'll take a look in my factory assembly manual tonight if no one else gets it for you. Not sure if it is there or not...

If not, I'll take dims off my truck.

[Tinkermc]

why not measure decal and find the middle. Then meaqsure the tailgate and mark the middle. Then align marks and whoppie !!! there U go.

[ukc10]

Thanks for the quick reply. It's appreciated as I have a show on Sunday and would like to get it sorted.

[ukc10]

Regarding measuring the decal it is a 3 piece set and the letters are not spaced correctly.

[SS Tim]

The decals are intended for application on the factory tailgate which is debossed for the letters. The dimensions will not be in the assembly manual so direct measurements will be required from repeatable edge locations. Biggest thing after keeping them on a level plain will be the spacing. I'd pull the gate off for marking and installing the letters. Measuring and boxing (with tape) an upper and lower limit would be a good start then spacing the individual letters out after cutting them apart.

[luvbowties]

Originally Posted by ukc10

My '71 Fleetside has a smooth tailgate fitted. I have a set of 'CHEVROLET' letters I want to fit but require the following correct spacing dimensions:- from the outer edge of the tailgate to the outside edge of the C & T,bottom of the tailgate to lower edge of the letter and the space inbetween each letter. Any help would be appreciated as apart from placing the 'R' in the middle I have no further info.
Thanks.

I cannot help with dimensions, but from my experience, I'd pay a good trim shop to install them. Unfortunately, to look correct, the distance between each pair of letters often varies. If installed wrong, it shows from a "mile away".
Sam

[jmking9]

Originally Posted by luvbowties

I cannot help with dimensions, but from my experience, I'd pay a good trim shop to install them. Unfortunately, to look correct, the distance between each pair of letters often varies. If installed wrong, it shows from a "mile away".
Sam

This is true, they arent all the same. Here is a crude painted picture of mine. All these measurements were from the decal to decal at the closest point. EX: The distance from the V to R was measured from the very top right hand side of the V to the left edge of the R. The 10.25" measurements are from the edge of the gate to the closest part of the decal. The red line is the body line right above the decals. I hope this is what you were looking for, and good luck!

EDIT: WOW i thought that would be bigger. If you cant read any of that let me know...

[luvbowties]

Hey king9, that looks great and should help someone doing it himself--assuming, of course, that both sets of letters are the same dimensions.
Sam

[ukc10]

Originally Posted by jmking9

This is true, they arent all the same. Here is a crude painted picture of mine. All these measurements were from the decal to decal at the closest point. EX: The distance from the V to R was measured from the very top right hand side of the V to the left edge of the R. The 10.25" measurements are from the edge of the gate to the closest part of the decal. The red line is the body line right above the decals. I hope this is what you were looking for, and good luck!

EDIT: WOW i thought that would be bigger. If you cant read any of that let me know...

Looks good to me. Many thanks for your help.

[chevy72blu]

Glad you got the dimensions. In case you screw one up, take a heat gun or blow dryer and heat them up before remove them. The heat makes them come off very easily without tearing. A razor is handy to have, as well.

Make sure you use a credit card or something similar and install from the top down. Its very easy to trap air bubble that make the end result less than stellar

[JOJABOY]

Originally Posted by jmking9

This is true, they arent all the same. Here is a crude painted picture of mine. All these measurements were from the decal to decal at the closest point. EX: The distance from the V to R was measured from the very top right hand side of the V to the left edge of the R. The 10.25" measurements are from the edge of the gate to the closest part of the decal. The red line is the body line right above the decals. I hope this is what you were looking for, and good luck!

EDIT: WOW i thought that would be bigger. If you cant read any of that let me know...

If you are going to try it your self....shoot a laser level across your tailgate and put masking tape down the line. Do that for the top of your lettering and again for your bottom.

Then do the math. Base it off of what King9 has displayed above and mark each letter on the masking tape. Once you are "confident" that you have the correct locations.....Begin laying the lettering in between the masking tape lines and the markings for your spacing.

I have done this several times with lettering on windshield banners and back windows. Only on windows you have to factor in the curvature of the glass.

[WIDESIDE72]

Use soapy water in a squirt bottle to give you adjustability. Spray the surface then when you get the letters where you want, use a squeegee to work the soapy water out.
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