Painting stepside tailgate letters - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Botietruck · 01-07-2008, 03:52 AM

I'm ready to paint (bc/cc) the tailgate today on my stepside and looking for some close up pics of the letters-original paint if possible. A couple of questions...

Were only the tops of the letter white, or were the edges of the letters white also?

My thougts were to shoot the letters, then tape them off with fine line tape, and then shoot the tailgate with the body color, then clear. Is there a better way? Any thoughts/ideas? Has anyone done this before? What was your method?

I want to look as factory as possible?

And, I wil be shooting today, hopefully, so I would like to get some ideas pretty quick.

Thanks!!

68gmsee · 01-07-2008, 04:04 AM

I always thought that you paint the complete tailgate asm first then the letters. At least that's what I did on mine many years ago. It came out o.k.

Sorry no pic at this time.

**special-K** · 01-07-2008, 04:17 AM

The factory painted the gate,then stenciled the lettering.Here`s an original one I have.The paint kinda rounded the edge a bit.It`s a light grey Special Paint color that looks like primer,now.Kinda hard with little contrast.But,this is factory...

68gmsee · 01-07-2008, 04:40 AM

Sho' looks like stencil. Company probably had a large stencils with Chevrolet/GMC letters that was placed over the tailgate stamped letters. That would explain the uneven edges.

I actually taped mine but I did notice that the original letters did not have the straight sharp edges that a tape makes.

68shortstep · 01-07-2008, 07:44 AM

Painted gate letters-area white, then taped-off letters & painted color (looks like).

I didn't do it. Truck was just recently-painted when I bought it.

72BLUZ · 01-07-2008, 03:20 PM

BEFORE

AFTER

Botietruck · 01-07-2008, 08:28 PM

Thanks everyone for the information. Thanks special K, those pics really helped! I shot the letters today, just finished taping them up and I'll shoot the color & clear tomorrow.

Hey Chuckles, no pics, just red x's. Would like to see your pics.

01-07-2008, 03:52 AM	#1
Botietruck '71 chevy s.bed/s.side Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 1,571	Painting stepside tailgate letters I'm ready to paint (bc/cc) the tailgate today on my stepside and looking for some close up pics of the letters-original paint if possible. A couple of questions... Were only the tops of the letter white, or were the edges of the letters white also? My thougts were to shoot the letters, then tape them off with fine line tape, and then shoot the tailgate with the body color, then clear. Is there a better way? Any thoughts/ideas? Has anyone done this before? What was your method? I want to look as factory as possible? And, I wil be shooting today, hopefully, so I would like to get some ideas pretty quick. Thanks!! __________________ STILL PLAYS WITH CARS...AND TRUCKS!! Parents! Be good to your kids...they get to choose your nursing home! 250 I-6 with a 3 speed Saginaw and Borg Warner Overdrive...She's got overdrive!

01-07-2008, 04:04 AM	#2
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: Painting stepside tailgate letters I always thought that you paint the complete tailgate asm first then the letters. At least that's what I did on mine many years ago. It came out o.k. Sorry no pic at this time.

01-07-2008, 04:17 AM	#3
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,858	Re: Painting stepside tailgate letters The factory painted the gate,then stenciled the lettering.Here`s an original one I have.The paint kinda rounded the edge a bit.It`s a light grey Special Paint color that looks like primer,now.Kinda hard with little contrast.But,this is factory... __________________ "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 ~ Last edited by special-K; 01-07-2008 at 04:23 AM.

01-07-2008, 04:40 AM	#4
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: Painting stepside tailgate letters Sho' looks like stencil. Company probably had a large stencils with Chevrolet/GMC letters that was placed over the tailgate stamped letters. That would explain the uneven edges. I actually taped mine but I did notice that the original letters did not have the straight sharp edges that a tape makes.

01-07-2008, 07:44 AM	#5
68shortstep Looks good at 20-ft ..... Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mtn Home, AR Posts: 707	Re: Painting stepside tailgate letters Painted gate letters-area white, then taped-off letters & painted color (looks like). I didn't do it. Truck was just recently-painted when I bought it. Attached Images

01-07-2008, 03:20 PM	#6
72BLUZ Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: lafayette, ga. Posts: 832	Re: Painting stepside tailgate letters BEFORE AFTER __________________ Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.... Ronald Reagan Last edited by 72BLUZ; 01-08-2008 at 05:58 PM. Reason: INFO

01-07-2008, 08:28 PM	#7
Botietruck '71 chevy s.bed/s.side Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 1,571	Re: Painting stepside tailgate letters Thanks everyone for the information. Thanks special K, those pics really helped! I shot the letters today, just finished taping them up and I'll shoot the color & clear tomorrow. Hey Chuckles, no pics, just red x's. Would like to see your pics. __________________ STILL PLAYS WITH CARS...AND TRUCKS!! Parents! Be good to your kids...they get to choose your nursing home! 250 I-6 with a 3 speed Saginaw and Borg Warner Overdrive...She's got overdrive!



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