Jump to content
TEAM SHELBY FORUM

Removing/replacing the cobra badges?


Boidster

Recommended Posts

So as I continue to wait for my car to be delivered...<sigh>...I'm dreaming up things I want to do to it. Some of the mechanical stuff will wait until I've put 1,000 miles or more on it, but there are a couple of cosmetic changes I think I'll want to get on right away. I want to have a steath-ish car, such that if you know what you're looking for, you'll know what you're looking at when you see my car. If you don't know what you're looking at, then maybe you'll have to learn between stoplights. :peelout:

 

With that in mind, mod #1 is to remove the S-H-E-L-B-Y from the deck lid. Just too obvious for my tastes, no offense to Mr. Shelby.

 

Mod #2 - maybe - would be to paint the quarter-panel cobras white to match the car (white w/stripe delete). My question is, are the badges mounted with holes through the metal, or are they glued on like the letters? I remember reading a post somewhere that mentioned alignment pins. If the badges have them, can I still pop them off, paint 'em, and then re-attach?

 

I'm not certain I'll like the look when I'm done, so I'm also looking at painting an extra set and keeping the originals. Aftermarket options (like these: http://www.americanmuscle.com/cofeemfall93.html) do not appear to have pins. If the originals do have pins, can I nevertheless stick on a set of painted aftermarket badges (over the alignment holes)?

 

I'm on the fence about the fake gas cap. I have a '67 coupe and as such I have a soft spot for the rear gas cap, but then with the big cobra and "GT500" on it, it identifies the car pretty clearly from the rear. I might try the CS "racetrack" logo overlay on that, which is perfect for the "you have to know what to look for" vibe (I bet people think "Hmm, odd California Special logo"), but I have to find out if it is removable with a suitable application of Goo Gone, in case I don't like the result. I suppose I could use tape to hold it in place for a week, just to see what I think. :headscratch:

 

I also don't know what to do yet about the grille cobra. Might just leave that one be, since if I'm coming up behind you won't have much time to figure out what you're looking at before you see the CS racetrack logo on the fake gas cap. :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I also don't know what to do yet about the grille cobra.

I suppose the most logical would be to buy a new one and paint it all black...since you can't remove it without exposing a plastic mounting area for it. For your gas cap...I think I would rather just have something similar to the center caps on the wheels..black with a simple "SVT" in the middle.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Badges are mounted with metal tabs (holes in the fender) AND double sided tape. I removed and painted all of my badges including the rear faux gas cap (do a search on here if you need to check it out.) It's pretty simple, with a bit of fishing line and some goof off. A little heat from a blow dryer will help it out too. And don't worry about keeping the originals.........you can always get another extra set easily.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I knew I had seen a set of black badges before! Thanks for replying. If I had a silver/gunmetal car, I'd probably do almost exactly what you did. I'm thinking maybe about going with light grey on the badges, in fact, for at least a little more contrast. Or maybe stick with white, but with red snake eyes. Just a dot of color.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you're going to leave the snakes on (2 sides painted), why not consider painting the rear S H E L B Y letters white as well. No sense in being too coy...

 

That's a thought. I'm taking them off anyway, so I might as well paint them and then tack 'em on to see how they look. If they were decals instead of raised letters I'd probably be warmer to the idea. But it's worth a try!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, so I found this thread about your blacked out badges and letters and gas cap: http://www.teamshelby.com/forums/index.php/topic/49123-blacked-out-emblemspics/page__fromsearch__1

 

Did you post anything about details of your method? You mentioned UniqueAutomotiveDesigns, but I can't find any GT500 products on their website (which appears to be falling down a bit; I wonder if they are still in business? Maybe they just fired their web guy...). So did UAD provide all of the re-painted badges and your job was removal/replacement? Or did you hand-paint the letters and the cobras? The gas cap looks like a custom job what with the keyhole delete, tho if you have that kind of skill, :worship:

 

I was assuming I could pop off the badges and take them to a paint shop for prep (sand?) and a couple of quick coats. Or even rattle-can them, though I'd have some concerns about adhesion. If I can get the badges pre-painted from UAD or elsewhere, I might go that route if the price is right.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is this the site you went to?? ......... http://www.uniqueautomotivedesigns.com/ I think you have to do a bit of searching on their site to find some Cobras (although mine may be the only ones there since I think my badges were the first GT500s they did.) Someone recommended them on another site a few years ago, so I just shot them an email of what I wanted and they took care of it. You can buy everything from them, send them badges or find a local place. It's easier to start with new badges because re-applying the 2 sided tape is a pain in the ass and never as good as a brand new one. I know a lot of custom painters/powdercoaters do it. Don't remember what I paid but it wast hurtful at all, and I would've probably screwed something up!! No keyhole delete since the newer Shelbys don't have a keyhole in the gas cap.

I think I posted what I did on one of the threads, but it was pretty simple. Put a little Goof-off behind the badges, used some strong fishing line (it will break anyway) and just thread/saw all around the posts of the cobras, pulling each side of the thread towards you so you never touch the car/paint. A little heat from a blow drier helped out on stubborn parts, and after removing the badges I just washed and waxed, then stuck on the new ones. Shelby letters were super easy as there are no posts, and the gas cap was a MF'er as there are 3 posts on the back of it - just took some extra time, but still well worth it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yep, that was the site. I'll send them an e-mail.

 

No keyhole delete since the newer Shelbys don't have a keyhole in the gas cap.

 

Well, see, that's why my user title is "Shelby n00b". :baby: I was reading a thread the other day from a guy who had completely reworked the tail end of his car and I just assumed that all the pics would apply to mine! And obviously I didn't pay enough attention to the dealer pics of my own car. Duh.

 

I'm glad it's gone; if it's going to have a fake gas cap it should at least look convincing. The keyhole was silly.

 

Thanks for all the help!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Or maybe stick with white, but with red snake eyes. Just a dot of color.

 

 

I added red accent stripes along each side of my white OTT stripes on my Kona Blue GT500.

 

I painted all four of my snakes with red-eyes.

 

Only the very alert people notice them.

 

And that's what I like. Subtleness.

 

 

 

Phill

post-26522-0-38018100-1326216332_thumb.jpg

post-26522-0-38018100-1326216332_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was looking in red and found the emblem ....

 

That looks pretty slick. Where did you find those?

 

I painted all four of my snakes with red-eyes.

 

Only the very alert people notice them.

 

And that's what I like. Subtleness.

 

Yes, indeed. On my otherwise all-white car, I think that little dot of red will look neat.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gah, I just saw another white/stripe-delete GT500 on the way to work this morning. Not sure what model year it might be - it had raised, forward-pointing hood scoops which I think (N00b!) are an aftermarket add-on? I need to post over in the regional forum, see if the owner's a member here. Town ain't big enough for the both of us! :rant2:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...
...