Tailgate trim, said no to woodgrain. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

barn9 · 10-20-2004, 06:30 PM

The old woodgrain vinyl was cracked and weathered pretty bad on my tailgate, and I debated about replacing it, but took this route instead. Removed the letters (hated to, but had to bite the bullet), and painted the area satin black. Since I had ground the rivet style attachments off of the letters, I taped them back in location, and used JB Weld to re-attach them. They seem to be solid, but I'll find out next time at the car wash. It was worth a try at the price of a new set of chrome letters. I never have been a fan of the woodgrain vinyl used on these trucks, so I am happy with the way it turned out, looks a lot better IMO, but of course, that is my opinion, and I'm sure there are some that prefer the woodgrain.

**68 Stepside** · 10-20-2004, 06:44 PM

I like it LB!!! I don't care for the woodgrain either.

*Shane* · 10-20-2004, 07:04 PM

Me likey too!

Woodgrain belongs on station wagons.

*Randy70C-10* · 10-20-2004, 07:31 PM

Looks great Larry, I've always loved that truck dude.

**Palf70Step** · 10-20-2004, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane

Woodgrain belongs on station wagons.

Amen and only on wagons for folks way older than us LB... It looks very good that way. Time will tell on the letters.

hobby67stepside · 10-20-2004, 09:58 PM

Wood grain doesn't belong anywhere except on real wood.

Longhorn Man · 10-20-2004, 10:23 PM

I've always liked the woodgrain, but I have to say though, the black looks good...esp on a red and white rig.
Instead of JB weld, you could use the 3M emblim glue. Works great, even on heavy emblims...that's whats been holding my CST/10 badges on.

teeitup · 10-20-2004, 10:28 PM

I like it LB!! I'm going to have to do that on my blazer, when its done. I'm going with the black trim on the side and I want the band on it so I got to paint it black like you did. Good job!!!!!!

djracer · 10-20-2004, 10:29 PM

I agree say no to FAKE wood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HeavyD · 10-20-2004, 11:31 PM

I had always liked the tailgate strip but not the woodgrain..looks like you found the answer! Good job.

landon4421 · 10-20-2004, 11:47 PM

looks greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat

70GMC_BOB · 10-21-2004, 01:51 AM

The black is cool. I wonder if it would be imposible to remove the letters and paint the viynl piece black and reattach the letters???

looks sweet. I may save it if i restore it to stock, but then again it looks way cool.

Brainchild · 10-21-2004, 02:18 AM

I like it better.That is a great looking truck,even though all I can see is the tailgate.

I agree with Longhorn Man on the 3M Emblem Adhesive.That is some good stuff

72 CustomCamper · 10-21-2004, 02:20 AM

Looks great. I've been thinking of doing mine body color...

Chuck

Edmond · 10-21-2004, 04:03 AM

That looks great man.
Easy to do, and simple ideas are mostly the best.

Cya,
Edmond

**Yukon Jack** · 10-21-2004, 09:44 AM

Much better, remember you talking about that a couple years ago - nice improvement.

PMS · 10-21-2004, 10:35 AM

I went to a plastic shop and had them cut a thin piece of black plastic to fit inside the trim piece. I attached it using the doubled sided automotive tape for emblems / body panels that body shops use. It has been on the truck for 5 years without problems.

barn9 · 10-21-2004, 10:40 AM

Thanks everyone, good to know I'm not the only one that doesn't like the woodgrain. As to using adhesive, I think that could be risky, due to the fact that the letters are not solid on the backside (hollow, just the outline), so there isn't much surface area for adhesive. When I ground off the rivet type head from the back side to remove the letters, I did it carefully to leave the stem even with the metal. The individual stems of the letters are hollow, so I was able to squeeze the JB Weld into the hollow part of the stems, as well as into the hole where the stem came through the metal, and left a small glob of it on the backside to form a good backing. The letters seem to be on tight, but time will tell. A set of these letters are in the $70 range, so it was worth trying to re-use my old ones, but if the JB fails, looks like I'll be shopping for some new ones.

1-PU70 · 10-21-2004, 10:54 AM

Yes, Black is Beautiful.

10-20-2004, 06:30 PM	#1
barn9 Half a bubble off! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Winfield, Ks, USA Posts: 5,588	Tailgate trim, said no to woodgrain. The old woodgrain vinyl was cracked and weathered pretty bad on my tailgate, and I debated about replacing it, but took this route instead. Removed the letters (hated to, but had to bite the bullet), and painted the area satin black. Since I had ground the rivet style attachments off of the letters, I taped them back in location, and used JB Weld to re-attach them. They seem to be solid, but I'll find out next time at the car wash. It was worth a try at the price of a new set of chrome letters. I never have been a fan of the woodgrain vinyl used on these trucks, so I am happy with the way it turned out, looks a lot better IMO, but of course, that is my opinion, and I'm sure there are some that prefer the woodgrain. __________________ Just call me LB. '71 Cheyenne, 402BB, hauls blondes, brunettes, or redheads.

10-20-2004, 06:44 PM	#2
68 Stepside huh? Join Date: May 2000 Location: Washington, Illinois Posts: 5,692	I like it LB!!! I don't care for the woodgrain either. __________________ Someday when I'm lonely, Wishing you weren't so far away, Then I will remember Things we said today. RIP El Jay

10-20-2004, 09:58 PM	#6
hobby67stepside Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 952	Wood grain doesn't belong anywhere except on real wood. __________________ '05 2500 HD Silverado 6.0 liter '97 2500 4X4 454 eng '92 2500 4X4 350 eng '78 K20 4X4 400 eng '70 Boss 302 (owner for 27 years) '57 Ford shortbox 383 stroker TH350 tranny '23 T-bucket (built in '78) '02 Explorer '67 C-10 short step NW Iowa

10-20-2004, 10:28 PM	#8
teeitup Just like to part out trucks!! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Meriden, Ks-North of Topeka 10 miles Posts: 27,396	I like it LB!! I'm going to have to do that on my blazer, when its done. I'm going with the black trim on the side and I want the band on it so I got to paint it black like you did. Good job!!!!!! __________________ 67 Chev swb stepside 4x4 283 4 speed SOLD 72 blazer 4x4 4 speed Cheyenne 72 GMC swb 4x4 fleet 4 speed, original paint 1958 Cameo (one of 1405 built, it was my dads) 2020 chevy Apex 4x4 crew cab 1969 Z28 with the 302 1980 chevy swb 4x4 1964 chevell Malibu SS 1976 K20, sold new originally out of my dads chevy dealership Members that I've met, over 200 probably closer to 300 in the 12 years I've been on this site, everyone I met "It was a pleasure"

10-20-2004, 10:29 PM	#9
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	I agree say no to FAKE wood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!

10-20-2004, 07:04 PM	#3
Shane Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: over yonder Posts: 14,270	Me likey too! Woodgrain belongs on station wagons.

10-20-2004, 07:31 PM	#4
Randy70C-10 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A. Posts: 15,320	Looks great Larry, I've always loved that truck dude.

10-20-2004, 10:23 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	I've always liked the woodgrain, but I have to say though, the black looks good...esp on a red and white rig. Instead of JB weld, you could use the 3M emblim glue. Works great, even on heavy emblims...that's whats been holding my CST/10 badges on.

10-20-2004, 11:31 PM	#10
HeavyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wakaw, Sask, Canada Posts: 3,177	I had always liked the tailgate strip but not the woodgrain..looks like you found the answer! Good job. __________________ "You can take the man out of PA, but you can't take PA out of the man"

10-20-2004, 11:47 PM	#11
landon4421 Life is Good ! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hollister, Ca. Posts: 1,992	looks greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat __________________ '72 Chevy C10 4x4 shortbed "Project" '71 Chevy C10 2wd longbed "partsrunner" '91 Chevy Burb 4x4 "kidrunner" '14 Honda Accord Sport "commuter"

10-21-2004, 01:51 AM	#12
70GMC_BOB Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Lynnwood, washington Posts: 121	The black is cool. I wonder if it would be imposible to remove the letters and paint the viynl piece black and reattach the letters??? looks sweet. I may save it if i restore it to stock, but then again it looks way cool. __________________ 1972 chev c20 2wd lwb 350v8/th350. (dad's)1970 gmc longstep (9ft commercial bed), 1 ton, 2wd, 350/th400.

10-21-2004, 02:18 AM	#13
Brainchild Still drivin' a Rat Rod Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Monett Missouri Posts: 4,925	I like it better.That is a great looking truck,even though all I can see is the tailgate. I agree with Longhorn Man on the 3M Emblem Adhesive.That is some good stuff __________________ Rusty Member #13872 Instead of saying.....you are a discomfort in the back of my front.....one should be able to say...... you are a pain in the a$# 71 GMC LWB 49 Chevy 85 Chevy G20 Check out my website

10-21-2004, 02:20 AM	#14
72 CustomCamper huh ??? Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fredericksburg,Va. Posts: 3,369	Looks great. I've been thinking of doing mine body color... Chuck __________________ 90 Blazer Silverado 350w/ 700R4 and 32" Kelly's "I am a bomb technician. If you see me running try to keep up!"

10-21-2004, 04:03 AM	#15
Edmond Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,062	That looks great man. Easy to do, and simple ideas are mostly the best. Cya, Edmond __________________ 1971 Chevy C/20 Longhorn, 350/TH400, Edelbrock Performer, IMPCO 425 LPG Carb 1974 Chevy Camaro Z28 (Original) ------------------------- Capelle a/d IJssel, The Netherlands

10-21-2004, 09:44 AM	#16
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,683	Much better, remember you talking about that a couple years ago - nice improvement. __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14



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10-21-2004, 10:35 AM	#17
PMS Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 79	I went to a plastic shop and had them cut a thin piece of black plastic to fit inside the trim piece. I attached it using the doubled sided automotive tape for emblems / body panels that body shops use. It has been on the truck for 5 years without problems.

10-21-2004, 10:40 AM	#18
barn9 Half a bubble off! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Winfield, Ks, USA Posts: 5,588	Thanks everyone, good to know I'm not the only one that doesn't like the woodgrain. As to using adhesive, I think that could be risky, due to the fact that the letters are not solid on the backside (hollow, just the outline), so there isn't much surface area for adhesive. When I ground off the rivet type head from the back side to remove the letters, I did it carefully to leave the stem even with the metal. The individual stems of the letters are hollow, so I was able to squeeze the JB Weld into the hollow part of the stems, as well as into the hole where the stem came through the metal, and left a small glob of it on the backside to form a good backing. The letters seem to be on tight, but time will tell. A set of these letters are in the $70 range, so it was worth trying to re-use my old ones, but if the JB fails, looks like I'll be shopping for some new ones. __________________ Just call me LB. '71 Cheyenne, 402BB, hauls blondes, brunettes, or redheads.

10-21-2004, 10:54 AM	#19
1-PU70 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 1,036	Yes, Black is Beautiful. Attached Images __________________ 1970 CST/10 402,700R4,3:73 posi,AC,PS,PB,TLT,PW,Buckets with heaters Last edited by 1-PU70; 10-21-2004 at 11:43 AM.

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