The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Front Hood Emblem on a 6400

I have looked thru the archives and haven't been able to find any reference to anyone who makes a replacement emblem for the 6400. Below is a few pictures of the one off my truck along with one on a 3/4 ton pickup. They are close but the last picture shows the 6400 is larger at the top. Anyone have any idea if an emblem in this bad shape can be re-plated? I was told by one plating firm that very few places will do these since it involves chemicals that the EPA is real tough on. I had at first thought I could just use one for a pickup but apparently not. I did find one post on this site that the repros are pretty poor quality.
Steve
Front Hood Emblem from 6400 Comparison of the two Emblems Another View

There are no replacement (side) emblems for the "Big Bolts",but the front hood emblems,(Available through "Classic trucks",Brothers","L.M.C".,and "Jim Carter",are the same for the pick-ups,as well as their bigger "Brothers". They're pricey,over $200.00,for T.F.hood emblem,(L.M.C.) I bought a pair of 6500 fender emblems,(from E-Bay),for about $75.00. A few pock marks,but much better than the originals! Looks like the emblems (in your pics), are from different years. Try soaking emblems over night in a 1-part white vinegar,2-parts water solution,making sure both emblems are completely submerged. Next day,use 00#,or finer steel wool,and gently scrub the surface,until rust and most pock marks come clean. The larger pock marks may require some more detail work,but the end result will surprise you. Not as good as new,but a little patina is expected on these vintage trucks,unless you're going for show quality. If you wish to have them re-finished,and re-plated,check the "links" section,under the "Services" heading. Beware: It's not cheap!!

The emblem attached to the yellow hood is on a 51 3/4 ton, I have a couple of 52 half tons, both basically parts. I compared the 2 ton emblem to those and it is different, slightly larger on top. I guess it won't cost anything to try to clean it up and see what it looks like. This thing is really rusted on the inside but that shouldn't be an issue. I'll see what I can do, thanks.
Steve

Update on the hood emblem, I cleaned most of the rust off but it is in really bad shape. I'm going to be repainting the whole truck so a pitted beat up emblem won't look good at all. The emblem is definitely different than what is on the parts pickups I have. I checked with a company called Collector Auto up in BC Canada. Their site shows the emblem with the correct part number indicating NOS. When I called them I found these are repros too made "offshore", priced at $110. I checked with a plating outfit, they want between $400 and $500! Back to square one.

I found mine,( pair of side emblems,T.F. 6500),for $70.00 on E-bay. You may find the hood ornament for your truck there,too. Just be patient. A month before I bought mine,there was an identical set that a guy wanted $200 for! Could've been the same set-just reduced price. You could post one in the "Parts Wanted" thread on the "Bolt Swap Meet" page,too. Another possibility,would be a little magazine called "Truck Round-Up". it's up-graded monthly,and has all kinds of parts and services,along with some COOL old trucks! Good Luck!!

I'm for sure not going the $500 route to have this replated, I'm wondering on the repros the guy in Canada has, no idea on quality or if it even is the right one. They were listed as NOS but are repros. I could use the old one but don't think it would look too good with the new paint. I'm not to the point yet of getting the hood ready anyway. For some reason Ebay doesn't work very good on my laptop, search function won't work. It works on my desk top but after using the lap top is kind of a pain. I have another emblem on a junk 52 6400 I have out back for parts but it is cracked almost all the way up the center. I will try some of these other routes you suggest. I also have a question about a couple holes in the center strip on the hood. There was nothing mounted there when I got the truck 9 years ago, the old farmer had a bungee attached to the grille and hooked in one hole. Wonder if the hood wasn't coming loose, will need to look close at the latch. I will get a picture and measurements of the holes if that would help in identifying what might have been mounted there. Thanks for all the help Willy, sure helps to have people who know more than I do to ask.
Steve

I'm not sure if this is considered off topic or not but I guess someone will tell me if it is. It is a slightly different question from my ongoing issue with the front hood emblem. This also involves the hood from my 52 2 ton. About 18 1/2" back from the front edge of the hood are two holes thru the center strip, the rear hole is 2" behind the front one. The holes are about 1/4", there was nothing there when I got the truck. I got a picture of this yesterday, just wondering if any of you guys have any idea what it might have been for. Could it have been for one of the accessory hood ornaments? Thanks,
Steve

Holes in center strip of hood

Apparently no one else has any idea what these holes could have been for either. The one accessory hood ornament I have seen has a completely different bolt pattern so I have no idea what this could have been. Guess I will try to fill the holes somehow. Thanks for looking.

Most often those trucks had Dealer installed '49-'50 car hood ornaments installed on them. With those holes that close together, no telling what was there. Too close for anything i've seen.

Thanks for the advice, I looked at various old accessory ornaments on Ebay and various places and couldn't find anything with that bolt pattern. This old truck may have started out as a commercial gravel truck, it has the old commercial red paint and a friend looked at the hoist setup and thought it had originally had a gravel box attached. It was turned into a grain truck later in NE ND. Wonder if it could have been some special attachment some contractor had on it in the 50s. I still don't know but I think we can eliminate the accessory hood ornament. Thanks for the help. Maybe I'll go out to the shop and work some more on it since the weather is miserable, cold and snowing.
Steve