The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Lettering

I have purchased the white "CHEVROLET" letters for the tailgate of my truck. Any tips on how to get them lined up properly the first time? The tailgate has the raised letters.
Thanks

What year?

Also, do you want to know how the factory did it?

I think Tim might be getting at this: some years were body color, some not. Are you a purist or a " I just like it that way?"

A trick I used on the rigs to attach squarely VERY sticky warning signs was get a bit of slightly diluted windex, spray on the wall, line up the sticker perfectly and lightly "squeegee" the sign smooth. The windex allowed you to be able to move it a bit before "commiting" to its final position. Worked like a charm.

It's the '55 that's in my signature. I'm assuming the factory originals were painted on. Yes, it would be interesting to know how they did it.

I'm not a purist and not at all knowledgeable in the specifics of various years. I just like the look. Mine are painted body color. The truck had a resto on it many years ago. Not sure who did it, but they cut a lot of corners. Based on that I assumed they just sprayed the tailgate as a quick and cheap option rather than try to preserve the lettering. This year may have had body color for the letters. I'll have to check that out. Maybe that's what Tim was getting at.
I think the Windex thing could work. Takes a lot of pressure off trying to get it perfect on contact.

It's a definite learning experience.

Before doing "research" on a question, it is nice to be sure that the truck series/year in question is the one in the signature. It often is not.

Thanks for the confirmation - 1955 Task Force

I'll try to post/add 1955 (and 1956-59) photos/documents/videos with original tailgates (all unpainted, I will bet/speculate).

Check out 4:09 minutes into this video.
Same truck, different ad - 5:00 minutes

1956 Stepside tailgate attached below (no painted letters)
1958/59 Fleetside attached below (painted letters) - 1958 "model change" year (stated in ads)
1960 Stepside (painted letters) - 1960 "model change" year (stated in ads)
1959 Stepside (painted letters)

Questions about possible painted letters:
- bedside vs fleetside (which had no "CHEVROLET" on the tailgate in some years)?
- with RPO chrome bumpers (front & rear)?

Nonetheless, it is your truck. Of course, paint the letters as suits you.

I have been working on the tailgate and was thinking about the lettering. The search feature on this forum is your friend!

check out: Old thread

Tim, You are absolutely correct. Thank you for the info and pics. Very helpful. My truck is a dark green (Juniper I think) I think the white letters will be a nice contrast. I've got whitewalls and trim rings on it which you wouldn't see that on a work truck back in the day.

I'll use the water Windex laying the letters. Ill show you what it looks like.
Thanks all
Jim

We put the decals on after painting but before clear coating. First spray a couple coats of clear around the letters but not on them and then spray across the entire surface with a couple coats. Once dry the area is color sanded more on top of the letters till they are level with the area around them. This gives a "no bump" feel when fingers are runs across the letters and being buried in clear they never fade or curl at the edges.

Neat.
That's a pretty "smooth" trick! 😎

That's very clever! Apparently the clearcoat doesn't lift the adhesive on the decals?

Vehicle sign shops have lots of experience installing vinyl graphics. No doubt they could install your lettering perfectly straight.

The first coat is dry sprayed, let flash off completely, and then the wet coats don't bother the adhesive.
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