How difficult is it to remove the stickers from the engine cover?

[jawn101]

My vacuum hose routing sticker has seen better days. Looks like it might have gotten very hot at one point in the car's past. The other two are still nice and straight and white.

How difficult is it to remove these? What kind of mess am I in for? I'd rather leave it as-is than have a big mess on my hands or need to deal with paint, etc... but if it's easy, it could be a quick way to add some more underhood appeal. Sorry the photo is upside down, I swear it isn't on my computer...

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=19752&d=1370807732

[DMCMW Dave]

Heat gun. Adhesive remover.

[Jacko]

What are you going to put in their place? I'm going to remove the
stickers and replace them with the set of SS labels I bought from
Tamir's web site ... extremely high quality.

[jawn101]

The stainless ones are cool, but I prefer the traditional look of the originals. If I was going to do this job I'd just use a NOS sticker from a franchise. But I sorta worry the new one will be too nice. Might have to age it in the oven or something first :)



What are you going to put in their place? I'm going to remove the
stickers and replace them with the set of SS labels I bought from
Tamir's web site ... extremely high quality.

[kings1527]

Piece of cake, Jon. Like Dave S mentioned, heat gun and adhesive remover. I pulled my off when I completely stripped the cover down with acetone and repainted it with adhesion promoter and Trim Black. I picked up NOS stickers from Houston and all's well.

I also used stainless steel paint on the grills, which looks awesome along with everything else.

Before and afters
197571975819759

[jawn101]

Piece of cake, Jon. Like Dave S mentioned, heat gun and adhesive remover. I pulled my off when I completely stripped the cover down with acetone and repainted it with adhesion promoter and Trim Black. I picked up NOS stickers from Houston and all's well.

I also used stainless steel paint on the grills, which looks awesome along with everything else.

Before and afters
197571975819759

Oh, wow... that does look good. Nice job!

So just heat up the sticker with the gun and peel it up, then adhesive remover to clean up the old spot - then stick the new one down? Doesn't sound bad at all. Thanks guys!

Edit: I never knew - were these grills originally bare/shiny metal, or were they intended to be black? Or is the black just accumulated filth?

[kings1527]

Oh, wow... that does look good. Nice job!

So just heat up the sticker with the gun and peel it up, then adhesive remover to clean up the old spot - then stick the new one down? Doesn't sound bad at all. Thanks guys!

Thanks!

That's it if you just want to replace the stickers. I always wonder if once you remove the stickers, are you going to have differences in colors with the black underneath the sticker and the cover itself? You know what I mean? Two shades of black which would mean you'd want to get that new sticker absolutely perfectly centered in place of the old one. Otherwise, it might show.

If you're looking for a little project that you could wrap up in a single day if you hustle, you might want to think about refinishing the entire cover along with the louvers all in one shot. I used Trim Black on everything and for something out of a can, it's amazing how it looks when you're done. It'll get you about 85% the quality of a spray gun. Then you can put the stickers wherever.

Edit:
I'm not really sure on the originality of the grills. I remember mine had a slight blackened/purple haze to it; like a faded look of a black that used to be there when first produced. I'm all about originality on the car but the stainless steel paint on the grills contrasts awesomely with the black cover! It looks like that's how it should've been (to me, at least).

[jawn101]

Thanks!

That's it if you just want to replace the stickers. I always wonder if once you remove the stickers, are you going to have differences in colors with the black underneath the sticker and the cover itself? You know what I mean? Two shades of black which would mean you'd want to get that new sticker absolutely perfectly centered in place of the old one. Otherwise, it might show.

If you're looking for a little project that you could wrap up in a single day if you hustle, you might want to think about refinishing the entire cover along with the louvers all in one shot. I used Trim Black on everything and for something out of a can, it's amazing how it looks when you're done. It'll get you about 85% the quality of a spray gun. Then you can put the stickers wherever.

Edit:
I'm not really sure on the originality of the grills. I remember mine had a slight blackened/purple haze to it; like a faded look of a black that used to be there when first produced. I'm all about originality on the car but the stainless steel paint on the grills contrasts awesomely with the black cover! It looks like that's how it should've been (to me, at least).

Cool! I don't think there would be fading around the stickers, but it's possible. At least if there is it will be a perfect guide for the replacement. The last thing I want right now is more projects, lol. Besides, I'm personally trying to avoid any black paint on the car. I may lose that battle eventually, but I'm trying...

Yeah, my grilles have the same faded purple look. Good description!

[DMCMW Dave]

Edit: I never knew - were these grills originally bare/shiny metal, or were they intended to be black? Or is the black just accumulated filth?

The grilles are some kind of aluminum with black anodizing.

Here's a cool installation trick - when you go to put the grilles back in, lay a bead of black RTV all the way around the openings on the bottom side, so that when you put the grilles in place they are stuck to the RTV. Then install your retainer clips. Let it sit overnight. You will not believe how much stronger and quieter that entire engine cover feels. It makes it a lot stiffer, and gets rid of all the rattles.

[jawn101]

The grilles are some kind of aluminum with black anodizing.

Here's a cool installation trick - when you go to put the grilles back in, lay a bead of black RTV all the way around the openings on the bottom side, so that when you put the grilles in place they are stuck to the RTV. Then install your retainer clips. Let it sit overnight. You will not believe how much stronger and quieter that entire engine cover feels. It makes it a lot stiffer, and gets rid of all the rattles.

Now that might be worth taking the cover back off for right there. My next parts order will have to include a replacement vacuum routing sticker so I can do this next time I get some motivation. For now the car's going to be driven and not dissected for a while :)

[DMC81]

Piece of cake, Jon. Like Dave S mentioned, heat gun and adhesive remover. I pulled my off when I completely stripped the cover down with acetone and repainted it with adhesion promoter and Trim Black. I picked up NOS stickers from Houston and all's well.

I also used stainless steel paint on the grills, which looks awesome along with everything else.

Before and afters
197571975819759

Very nice work, looks great! What type of paint did you use?

[DMCMW Dave]

For now the car's going to be driven and not dissected for a while :)

What fun is that? :evil3:

[kings1527]

For now the car's going to be driven and not dissected for a while :)

Isn't that the truth? I can relate to that! (as I remove both of my drop glasses today since my DeLorean OCD kicked in and I can't stand looking at my scratched glass any longer, due to missing felts from the PO).


Very nice work, looks great! What type of paint did you use?

Thanks! Super easy to do and relatively cheap...just takes a little bit of time. I used this paint for the grills from Seymour Industries and the stuff's amazing:

http://www.seymourpaint.com/stainless_steel_paint.html

Definitely use a primer with it. I haven't found it in stores and I mail order it, although that gets a little pricey since shipping it is considered a 'hazardous material'. Order one more can than you think you'll need to save on about $18 or so on shipping. I believe it's good up to around 250 degrees, too, so I painted my intake manifold, valve covers, and timing cover with it. On those parts (and on the grills, too) I used a regular spray-on clear coat from any auto parts store for added protection. After about nine months (maybe five months of regular driving) and about 1500 miles later and rapidly counting, everything is still holding up extremely well.

[Stainless]

Thanks! Super easy to do and relatively cheap...just takes a little bit of time. I used this paint for the grills from Seymour Industries and the stuff's amazing:

http://www.seymourpaint.com/stainless_steel_paint.html

Definitely use a primer with it. I haven't found it in stores and I mail order it, although that gets a little pricey since shipping it is considered a 'hazardous material'. Order one more can than you think you'll need to save on about $18 or so on shipping. I believe it's good up to around 250 degrees, too, so I painted my intake manifold, valve covers, and timing cover with it. On those parts (and on the grills, too) I used a regular spray-on clear coat from any auto parts store for added protection. After about nine months (maybe five months of regular driving) and about 1500 miles later and rapidly counting, everything is still holding up extremely well.

I am in the process of restoring my engine cover. I have removed the stickers and disassembled everything (retaining strips, grills, etc.) and I have just ordered SEM trim black as well as the stainless steel paint for the grills. I found that you can get the same Seymour stainless steel paint for about $4 per can cheaper through Summit Racing and shipping was only about $5 for two cans. Not too shabby.