Here is the conclusion to my valve cover decal quest ...
The sign shop produced a copy of my Thriftmaster 235 logo in yellow vinyl. When I attached it to the valve cover, I almost cried - - - because it
looks so GOOD! The owner of the shop told me that the adhesive may soften with the heat of the engine. We'll see.
He also made some stencils of the logo. I experimented painting the stencils with Rustolium "Gloss Sunburst Yellow" thinned about 50/50 and sprayed through an air brush. Really a good looking yellow. It took six coats to completely cover. Paint thinner dried too slowly. Lacquer thinner dried faster, but isn't recommended as a thinner for enamel. Acetone didn't mix well and stayed sticky for a long time. AND, the acetone and lacquer thinner melted the plastic jar and o-rings of my air brush! The vinyl left a residue when I pulled it off, but it can probably be removed with paint thinner after the paint is fully cured. If the vinyl logo on my valve cover fails, I'll experiment with Duplicolor yellow engine enamel in a rattle can.
Now for the cost -
The shop charged $10 to set up, and $7.50 each for four stencils and he gave me a positive for free (the one that I used on the valve cover.) Total $40. That's a great price and he is a great guy to deal with. I scanned and cleaned up the logo. Don't know if he used my scan or if he scanned it also.
FYI - the two decals that I ordered from
Chevs of the 40's arrived. They look good. They are on clear gloss material, not a matte finish. I don't know if the valve cover paint will show through the yellow.
> hellowmrwilson:
I placed the top bar of the logo 1/4" below the valley in the valve cover. Looks good to me and looks like the
the original location.Thanks to all of you who gave me insight and help.
- Lonnie
