Restoring Some Horn Buttons and Engine Badges - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Mayo · 03-23-2013, 08:06 PM

I went to the craft store today to get some felt so I could reskin my door panels, and I bought a little bottle of Testor's paint for $2.19. I bought a horn button months ago because it was nicer than mine and then bought a nicer one than the one I had bought. The only problem with them was the black lettering was faded and so was the black ring. Back when I was in high school, when ever I need to paint a really fine detail I would always use a pencil tip so I thought I'd do the same for the lettering but with a toothpick instead. That idea didn't work so I figured I'd try one more thing and it did work. I loaded some paint on the button above the lettering and took a tissue to wipe the excess off. This work out great, so then I got out a small brush and repainted the ring. While I had the brush out, I figured I might as well repaint the 292 badges I bought from Special K a long time ago. Anyhow, here are some before and after pics.

black_sheep454 · 03-23-2013, 08:37 PM

Nice
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Rkansasboy · 03-23-2013, 09:25 PM

Very nice.. well done.

JOJABOY · 03-23-2013, 10:21 PM

Those look fantastic now. Now that you have three horn buttons.....would you part with one?

**special-K** · 03-24-2013, 10:46 AM

That freshened the horn buttons and engine badges up like new.

**TBONE1964** · 03-24-2013, 11:11 AM

Excellent work. It is very enjoyable to bring something back to life rather than replace it with aftermarket parts, in my opinion.

*Mister-B* · 03-24-2013, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

Excellent work. It is very enjoyable to bring something back to life rather than replace it with aftermarket parts, in my opinion.

Absolutely. To complicate matters, you really don't have a choice with a 67/68 horn button, because they don't repop them just like that with the chevrolet wording and nice heavy metal. The closest I've seen is one off eBay that has a Bowtie in the center, which is not correct and would look a bit too modern the way they had it
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Mayo · 03-24-2013, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by black_sheep454

Nice
Posted via Mobile Device

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rkansasboy

Very nice.. well done.

Thanks for the kind words.

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

That freshened the horn buttons and engine badges up like new.

I'm really pleased with the weigh they turned out, I might get around to put the badges on my truck now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

Excellent work. It is very enjoyable to bring something back to life rather than replace it with aftermarket parts, in my opinion.

I have bought many new aftermarket things, but as far as I know you can't get these buttons and badges new. They now look really good and will last longer then reproductions ones if they were made.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister-B

Absolutely. To complicate matters, you really don't have a choice with a 67/68 horn button, because they don't repop them just like that with the chevrolet wording and nice heavy metal. The closest I've seen is one off eBay that has a Bowtie in the center, which is not correct and would look a bit too modern the way they had it
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Yeah, I just saw some of those today, they wouldn't be so bad if they didn't have horn logo on them.

gipper · 03-24-2013, 02:39 PM

I have a 68 GMC and did the exact same thing with mine. The chrome was bad so I had to have it powder coated.

GoaterAz · 03-24-2013, 06:29 PM

Those turned out really well!

Thanks for including the before pictures.

**leddzepp** · 03-24-2013, 08:41 PM

Those came out great! 67-68 horn buttons are the best looking IMO
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03-23-2013, 08:06 PM	#1
Mayo Cool Truck Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bowie,MD Posts: 1,869	Restoring Some Horn Buttons and Engine Badges I went to the craft store today to get some felt so I could reskin my door panels, and I bought a little bottle of Testor's paint for $2.19. I bought a horn button months ago because it was nicer than mine and then bought a nicer one than the one I had bought. The only problem with them was the black lettering was faded and so was the black ring. Back when I was in high school, when ever I need to paint a really fine detail I would always use a pencil tip so I thought I'd do the same for the lettering but with a toothpick instead. That idea didn't work so I figured I'd try one more thing and it did work. I loaded some paint on the button above the lettering and took a tissue to wipe the excess off. This work out great, so then I got out a small brush and repainted the ring. While I had the brush out, I figured I might as well repaint the 292 badges I bought from Special K a long time ago. Anyhow, here are some before and after pics. __________________ 1968 Chevrolet C20 Longhorn "Cool Truck" 1937 Chevrolet Pickup - Project Looking for a patina'd 68 50th Anniversary longbed

03-23-2013, 08:37 PM	#2
black_sheep454 Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Lebanon, Mo. Posts: 1,315	Re: Restoring Some Horn Buttons and Engine Badges Nice Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1968 chevy lwb, getting ready to join forces with the 70 gmc 1970 gmc swb, getting ready to be a 68 chevy swb 1971 gmc lwb 2500 2wd Sierra Grande 1988 chevy 1-ton crew cab 2wd waiting for a 12v cummins

03-23-2013, 09:25 PM	#3
Rkansasboy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Jacksonville,Arkansas Posts: 50	Re: Restoring Some Horn Buttons and Engine Badges Very nice.. well done.

03-23-2013, 10:21 PM	#4
JOJABOY Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Factory Posts: 681	Re: Restoring Some Horn Buttons and Engine Badges Those look fantastic now. Now that you have three horn buttons.....would you part with one?

03-24-2013, 10:46 AM	#5
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,861	Re: Restoring Some Horn Buttons and Engine Badges That freshened the horn buttons and engine badges up like new. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

03-24-2013, 11:11 AM	#6
TBONE1964 Cluster King Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Junction City, OR Posts: 5,263	Re: Restoring Some Horn Buttons and Engine Badges Excellent work. It is very enjoyable to bring something back to life rather than replace it with aftermarket parts, in my opinion.

03-24-2013, 02:39 PM	#9
gipper Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Fruitport, Michigan Posts: 172	Re: Restoring Some Horn Buttons and Engine Badges I have a 68 GMC and did the exact same thing with mine. The chrome was bad so I had to have it powder coated.

03-24-2013, 06:29 PM	#10
GoaterAz Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Arizona Posts: 222	Re: Restoring Some Horn Buttons and Engine Badges Those turned out really well! Thanks for including the before pictures.

03-24-2013, 08:41 PM	#11
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 19,995	Re: Restoring Some Horn Buttons and Engine Badges Those came out great! 67-68 horn buttons are the best looking IMO Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man



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