Tail Gate Trim

[Ptjsk]

Hey Guy's,

I'm sure I'm not the first to come across this.

The GMC letters on the tailgate trim are riveted to the panel. I want to go back to the simulated wood panel trim, yet I really don't want to drill the rivets out, unless there is a resolve to place the emblems back onto the panel.

What have you guy's done to place the GMC emblems back onto the panel? I'm thinking panel adhesive, or some very (very), short screws to keep them in place.

Thanks in advance for the information.

Pat

[DeadheadNM]

Be thankful it’s not a Chevrolet in terms of letters to remove. Can’t add a lot other than guys have restored Chevy bands - try a search I know there should be a thread or two on the topic.

[vics stuff]

I have thought about this for many years . Here is what I am planning to do. Drill into the center of the rivet using a smaller diameter drill bit about 1/8" depth to determine the center of the rivet. Next drill out the rivet itself to remove the letter. Using a drill press. Place a rag under the letter and set the drill depth about 1/2 the thickness of the letter . Drill down into the letter . Go to your local fastener store and buy all aluminum short rivets. Set the emblem back on the tailgate band and pop rivet the letters back on. The aluminum rivets are soft enough to not split the letters .
Pat , screws would work also , but I would use stainless steel screws as to not rust and stain the tailgate. Be careful that the screws are not to tight , may split the letter.
I just had a brain fart. Maybe drill out the holes as I had described in the above suggestion. buy short aluminum rivets , remove the rivet stems and use these rivets like nails making sure that the rivets are a snug fit. Before installing the letters , put a small dab of JB weld into the drilled holes and gently tap the rivet into the back side of the letter.
Would like to see what you come up with.
Vic

[Ol Blue K20]

I'm subscribing, I've been pondering this for a while now. I want to see the ideas

[Ptjsk]

Here's what I ended up doing.

The letters are attached with three rivets. Each rivet is located in the "divot" section of each letter. All of the divot sections are blacked out.

So, I took each letter, ran a drill through each of the rivet locations. I plan to use three small 8x32x1/2" button headed bolts. I'll run the bolts through to the backside and secure them with 8x32 nuts. Each nut will have lock tight placed on the threads, and then the bolts will be ground down to the edge of the nut. There is enough room behind the panel for the nuts.

One will have to look real hard to see the button headed bolts when complete, and even then I really don't think most individuals will know it's not factory designed.

I'll post a few pics when I've completed the task.

Pat

[Ol Blue K20]

Good luck, I'll be watching for the pics.

[Ptjsk]

Got it completed and it turned out pretty darn good.

I may get black screw heads for the panel securing it to the tail gate. Just not sure if I like the stainless screw heads or not.

But the letters turned out fine.

Pat

[Chevyland]

Looks great
From the factory they were put on with black screws

[Ptjsk]

Originally Posted by Chevyland

Looks great
From the factory they were put on with black screws

Thanks!

Yea, I know the factory had black and that's what I removed. I thought I might like the stainless a bit better.

Truly undecided at this point, and so much more important things I should be thinking about. LOL!

Pat

[Ol Blue K20]

Looks good, where did you get the woodgrain vinyl?

[DeadheadNM]

Looks great!

As an aside, the NOS band I just added to my K20 came with stainless screws (tag dated 1977). I used the stainless screws to replace those for the head light trim.

[Ptjsk]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Looks good, where did you get the woodgrain vinyl?

Super Muscle Parts in Rancho Cordova. This used to be the old Chevyland business.

I've picked up a few things from them now, and they seem pretty darn good to work with. Especially when I can drive about an hour from my place to pick up the parts.

Pat

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by Ptjsk

Super Muscle Parts in Rancho Cordova. This used to be the old Chevyland business.

I've picked up a few things from them now, and they seem pretty darn good to work with. Especially when I can drive about an hour from my place to pick up the parts.

Pat

Thanks for the info, it's nice looking.

[sick472]

Fantastic "work-around" using the button heads. The LOOK may bother the purists, but I am a fan of DIY and saving some money especially when the results are such as yours! And, hardware can be cool looking. I tried the stainless screws in mine, but ended up spry painting them balck to match the band. Tip...screw the screw a turn or two into a piece of cardboard, spary paint to macth the band, then reinstall after it dries, If you scratch the screw paint a little installing them...use a small paint brush and some of the spray paint (sprayed heavy on a peice of cardboard) and touch up the stainless showing through.

Either way you go...it looks great.

[SRU1436]

That looks really great. I’m gonna have to visit that place and redo my wood trim.

[Ptjsk]

Thanks for the positive comments guys!

Can't wait to get the "guts" to the doors installed and hung back onto the Jimmy.

Going to attempt to change the wing window weather stripping next.

Pat

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Ptjsk

Thanks for the positive comments guys!

Can't wait to get the "guts" to the doors installed and hung back onto the Jimmy.

Going to attempt to change the wing window weather stripping next.

Pat

Read through this thread before you start the wing windows if you are going to replace the main wing vent rubber gaskets.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=660294

There is a comparison between gaskets from two different vendors. (starting with Post #29) It could save you a lot of frustration.....

LockDoc

[Ptjsk]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

Read through this thread before you start the wing windows if you are going to replace the main wing vent rubber gaskets.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=660294

There is a comparison between gaskets from two different vendors. (starting with Post #29) It could save you a lot of frustration.....

LockDoc

Thanks LockDoc! I was just preparing to do a search on rebuilding these.

I hope I didn't order from the wrong vendor as I already have Precision products from GMC Pauls.

Pat

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Ptjsk

Thanks LockDoc! I was just preparing to do a search on rebuilding these.

I hope I didn't order from the wrong vendor as I already have Precision products from GMC Pauls.

Pat

Reading through the thread you will see that Paul Jr. thinks the Precision are the same as the United. I don't know myself.

Post up how yours goes when you get to that point.

LockDoc

[Ptjsk]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

Reading through the thread you will see that Paul Jr. thinks the Precision are the same as the United. I don't know myself.

Post up how yours goes when you get to that point.

LockDoc

Will do.

[davischevy]

Well I'm late to the party as usual, but I refurbished mine a couple of years ago. Yours looks great.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Very cool. I bought some black oxide Kep-nuts for another use, might be a nice option for you.

[Ptjsk]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

Reading through the thread you will see that Paul Jr. thinks the Precision are the same as the United. I don't know myself.

Post up how yours goes when you get to that point.

LockDoc

Hey Bud,

I completed both the rebuilds of the wing windows today.

The Precision rubber I obtained from GMC Pauls worked nearly flawlessly.

I used baby oil when assembling the first one and it worked out pretty good.

I did the second one in about a third of the time. It really was much easier than I thought it would be. But I did watch a video prior to rebuilding mine, and it helped a bunch.

Here's a few pics of the completed windows.

Pat

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Ptjsk

Hey Bud,

I completed both the rebuilds of the wing windows today.

The Precision rubber I obtained from GMC Pauls worked nearly flawlessly.

I used baby oil when assembling the first one and it worked out pretty good.

I did the second one in about a third of the time. It really was much easier than I thought it would be. But I did watch a video prior to rebuilding mine, and it helped a bunch.

Here's a few pics of the completed windows.

Pat

Good deal. They look really good.

Thanks for the follow up.

LockDoc