When restoring 60-66, sticker or paint tailgate letters?

[Str8axle]

Originally Posted by jbgroby

I wonder why chevy decided to revert to the art deco style (closest style I can think of) on the stepside lettering vs. the fleetside style. Anyone know?

The fleetside gate is a newer design than the stepside. Fleetsides didn't come about till '58/'59. The stepside gate debuted in '54 I believe, and never changed from '54 to '87 if I am correct.

[DAN66]

Paint

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by jbgroby

I wonder why chevy decided to revert to the art deco style (closest style I can think of) on the stepside lettering vs. the fleetside style. Anyone know?

My guess would be that the fleetside tailgates are double walled and the stepside tailgates are single wall, so they have raised letters so they dont protrude up when the tailgate is down and get damaged.

[PAPA KENT]

Originally Posted by oem4me

It depends on what you mean by "restoring". Originally they were sprayed using a die or stencil, and it shows. Some of the letters have lightly fuzzy edges and sometimes they are a little off-registered from the stamping, and I love that! But there is no way to reproduce that look though without making your own stencil, which IS doable, but a ton of work.
Tape jobs are also lots of work and will look terrible if not done well. Even if the taping is done perfectly, you are going to have hard edges.
I think good quality stickers are the answer for the average repaint. They are super cheap and stick like mad. I have done two 60-66 tailgates using the stick-ons over single stage acrylic enamel and never had ANY issues with lifting. To this day, almost fifteen years since the last one I did, the stickers are tight all around and look great despite NO special care or attention. They really almost look like paint, except they are too perfect.

agreed!

[66clow]

I'd say paint. Even my rattle can came out pretty good. You just need a lot of patience taping around the letters.
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[jonzcustomshop]

why not use the stickers themselves as a stencil? I was thinking of trying it... paint the gate white, put the stickers on, paint the gate color, and remove the stickers../?? would it work??

[Captainfab]

I would say that depends on how good the adhesive on the stickers is.

I would say use the stickers and then spray clear over the entire tailgate.

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

why not use the stickers themselves as a stencil? I was thinking of trying it... paint the gate white, put the stickers on, paint the gate color, and remove the stickers../?? would it work??