So, I have a fresh repop dash pad (black) and am getting ready to paint it (green) and am wondering about the Challenger script emblem. ... Any suggestions on what to do with it to keep it from getting painted green? I was gonna just paint it with the dash and then go back over the top of the letters with some silver paint. But the letters are 3 dimensional. The top surface of the letters is silver, and the sides are black. So should the sides of the letters be the same color as the dash or should they be black? Not sure how I would get them black again
Another question is ... the script should be chrome yes? Not just silver paint. Any suggestions on how to re-create that? From what I've read on here in another thread, you don't want to try to remove this emblem from a new dash pad or you'll tear it up. Dont wanna do that. Otherwise I could just buy a repop emblem and stick it on with the chrome already on there.
Anyone done any silver leaf on there maybe? I wonder if that would work
I don't think you'll be happy with painting the script emblem. Pretty sure they plastic-chrome that, best to leave it that way. Maybe try taking a Q-tip and some petroleum jelly and carefully apply it the the chromed area of the emblem. Then dye the pad, and wipe off the emblem after you're done.
Edit: maybe a pariffin stick or chapstick would be easier to work with, but you get the idea.
I think the emblem comes out if you're careful-
https://www.forebodiesonly.com/forum/threads/how-do-i-remove-the-challenger-script-from-a-1970-dash.14036/
Maybe check with Just Dashes and ask them if the emblem can be removed without damaging the pad. If you do damage the emblem I'm sure they can get you another one.
:bigthumb:
Yeah I think the best way would be to remove it. If I can get it off then maybe I'll buy a repop one cause the one that came on the dash is definitely not plastic chromed. It's just silver paint. Not bad, but would be nice to have the right one.
I also had to paint my new UR dash from black to green. I removed the emblem and then installed a new dash emblem that I purchased from Year One. The YO emblems is metal with real chrome and the script is just like the original. Its much nicer than the one that came with the reproduction dash.
Quote from: 750-h2 on January 29, 2020, 05:55:00 AM
I also had to paint my new UR dash from black to green. I removed the emblem and then installed a new dash emblem that I purchased from Year One. The YO emblems is metal with real chrome and the script is just like the original. Its much nicer than the one that came with the reproduction dash.
I have seen this Year One dash emblem mentioned several times in other threads when I did a search on this forum. And I've visited the Year One website 3 times and I can't find the emblem. All I see is the later version that is a rectangular plate. Or the script barracuda emblem, They have the script 3D Challenger one there? I must be missing something. Cant' find it. Maybe they stopped carrying it?
So the emblem just pulled out of the dash? Just lift up on it?
I agree, just remove the emblem, paint the dash and put it back on or install a new one.
From ebay -
Yeah looks like Year One selling them-
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-Challenger-Challenger-dash-pad-emblem-VC70C/264246587682?hash=item3d8652f122:g:sWIAAOSw~AVYtxe5
all reference I've seen is they were plastic... here's a repro
https://www.classicindustries.com/product/1970/dodge/challenger/parts/me8167.html
The one I bought from Year One about a year ago is definitely metal. It has the same mounting pin location as the original which lined up perfectly with the holes in my reproduction UR dash. Here is a link.https://www.yearone.com/Product/challenger-cuda/vc70c
Wow, not sure how to address that question. Where did you get the pad? All original "Challenger" and "Barracuda" emblems were attached to the vinyl with threat cutter nuts before it was vacuum over the foam. How was the reproduction applied? Just glued on?
All 70 "Challenger" and "Barracuda" scripted dash emblems had a black perimeter and the face vacuum metalized no matter what color the pad was.
Ok, so... the pad is from Just Dashes. And, apparently they do not apply the emblem the way Dodge did with the pins and the backplate thingies. They just glue it on with like 3 dabs of glue. Pulled it off with little dentist picks. It came off in like 10 seconds. ... And I was worried. HA!
Thanks everyone for the help.
And it looks like the repops come in metal or plastic. I would think the metal would be the way to go - maybe it's actual chrome instead of plastic chrome?
The originals were metal, yeah?
Yup, the reproductions come off pretty easy.
Here are pictures of the backside of an original 1970 Barracuda dash emblem. You can see clearly how they are held on by tiny, maybe 1/16 size, PUSH NUTS. It's nearly impossible to remove the emblem on an original dash pad without breaking the pins. :alan2cents:
Quote from: Mr Lee on January 29, 2020, 08:47:51 AM
Ok, so... the pad is from Just Dashes. And, apparently they do not apply the emblem the way Dodge did with the pins and the backplate thingies. They just glue it on with like 3 dabs of glue. Pulled it off with little dentist picks. It came off in like 10 seconds. ... And I was worried. HA!
Thanks everyone for the help.
And it looks like the repops come in metal or plastic. I would think the metal would be the way to go - maybe it's actual chrome instead of plastic chrome?
The originals were metal, yeah?
All originals were vacuum metalized ABS black plastic.
Yes the OE badge was plastic with vacuum applied chrome. The YO badge that I received looks just like the OE but is chromed metal which is much more durable. Its a nice piece, you will not be disappointed. :bigthumb:
Original Challenger badge had 5 small rectangular retainers on the tabs...a beatch to remove without breaking
Interesting Terry that yours had rectangular push nuts....I'll have to look and see if I have any Challenger ones....mine pictured above was a Barracuda :looney:
On my original 70 Challenger OE pad, the dash emblem was just black plastic, no chrome no silver paint. This is on a car that was a very early built LA car. Pic shows the way my emblem came from factory, not my pad.
Thanks, Al
Likely the chrome color is just worn off :alan2cents:
Quote from: anlauto on January 29, 2020, 07:42:30 PM
Likely the chrome color is just worn off :alan2cents:
Never chrome, :looney: it's vacuum metalized which is a totally different process and a poor mans way to put a chrome like finish on a plastic part. It doesn't take to many years of wiping it or the sun shining on it to knock it right off. Vacuum metalizing is nothing more that a very thin layer of powdered vapored aluminum applied to the part. MOPAR never used this process on any exterior plastic parts, one of the few parts MOPAR did actual hard chroming on plastic was the headlight rings on a 71 Cuda.
"Vacuum metalizing is the process of evaporating metals, most commonly aluminum, inside a vacuum chamber and bonding them to the desired substrate"
Vacuum metalizing has been around for many years, the only issue with it, it doesn't wear very well like when being cleaned. Typically, all MOPAR interior plastic parts, back in the day, were vacuum metalized.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUvT5F7e9ZM
I found this one, it's pretty cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLehYoPzdW8
Hi Mike, cool videos... I was told the vacuum metalizing was sprayed with a clear lacquer top coat back in the day..Imagine how fast a harsh cleaner would wipe out that nice finish...Today shops like G-Car use a high quality urethane as the top coat that adds more durability to the process..
Hmmm, can it be clear powdercoated to protect it?
Quote from: 6Pack70 on January 30, 2020, 04:11:33 PM
Hmmm, can it be clear powdercoated to protect it?
Maybe the metal ones can? I dunno, but ya can't powdercoat plastic cuz it would melt in the oven.
Quote from: screamindriver on January 30, 2020, 04:00:11 PM
Hi Mike, cool videos... I was told the vacuum metalizing was sprayed with a clear lacquer top coat back in the day..Imagine how fast a harsh cleaner would wipe out that nice finish...Today shops like G-Car use a high quality urethane as the top coat that adds more durability to the process..
You are absolutely correct Collin, like the ebody dash emblem, all the abody and bbody dash bezels were also vacuum metalized and sprayed with a lacquer finish to try to protect the thin layer of aluminum.