DIY Custom Color Jeep Badging

[bangolia]

I have been asked by a couple people to explain how I did the 2 tone custom granite and orange Jeep badging so I figured I would post a little tutorial.

The first thing you will have to do is remove the emblems. There are a ton of YouTube videos out there on how to do this so I wont take much time explaining this part. Essentially I used 50# fishing line, slid it behind the letter and used this to separate the lettering form the adhesive. On the tailgate there are guide pins on the "J" and the "P" but that is all they are, they do not hold the unit in place at all. Use the line work it around until you reach the pin and then start form the other side doing the same. The letter will fall right out. Rub the majority of the adhesive off with your thumb or index finger and use isopropyl alcohol to remove the excess.

Now for the fun part, the supplies and tools you will need for this are pretty limited:
~Utility knife with extra blades
~Gorilla Glue
~ Removed (or preferably newly purchased(links at bottom)) emblems
~ Outdoor use double sided sticky tape

Step 1:
The Emblems are actually composed of 2 separate layers that are held together by several pins. If you turn the emblem over (after the adhesive is stripped away) you are able to see the locations of the pins.

You are able to wiggle a utility knife between the layers. Once in-between slide the knife around until you are up against the first pin, gently twist the utility knife and pop out or break the pin to separate. Work your way around the letter until you have done this to all the pins and the 2 layers come apart.

Step 2:
Paint. I painted mine with Mopar PL4 or Orange Crush paint. I will probably do this again in a few months with some new emblems and start with a nice coat of primer and then go into the colored paint. I think my finish is "good" but I would not qualify it as "great". I certainly learned a lot with the 3 separate sets I have done. My first attempt I had painted the whole emblem orange and attempted to remove the top section of paint. This is when I found out that the 2 broke apart. I essentially did this set all over and the results are better. Long story short, take your time, do it right and learn from my process and they will look great the first time.

Step 3:
Once you have applied 3-5 coats of paint to the bottom layer, let them dry for about 24 hours. After they have dried, put few drops of Gorilla glue on the center of the freshly colored lettering and line the granite top pice up before lowering it onto the glue. Recenter the top and hold it together with clamps as the 2 pieces permanently bond together.

Step 4:
Apply the double sided tape to the back of the emblems and they are ready to line up. I used a piece of painters tape on the truck where I wanted the lettering to go so I could insure they were properly lined up. I used my best judgment as far as distance between and thought I got pretty close.

Reference:
Small Side Jeep Emblems:
https://www.allmoparparts.com/sku-y...MIh_C9paKV5AIVCVYMCh34qw8lEAQYByABEgLyMPD_BwE
Large Tailgate Jeep Emblem:
https://www.ebay.com/i/153480772816...MIv_3j1qKV5AIVho7ICh1UJAumEAQYASABEgKQifD_BwE

Let me know if this was helpful and post some pictures of your custom lettering!

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[sbetts]

Very helpful! Thanks for the tutorial. I wish someone would make these letters a bit better proportioned to the tailgate, the OEM ones look a little small and oddly placed to me.

 

[steffen707]

I have been asked by a couple people to explain how I did the 2 tone custom granite and orange Jeep badging so I figured I would post a little tutorial.

The first thing you will have to do is remove the emblems. There are a ton of YouTube videos out there on how to do this so I wont take much time explaining this part. Essentially I used 50# fishing line, slid it behind the letter and used this to separate the lettering form the adhesive. On the tailgate there are guide pins on the "J" and the "P" but that is all they are, they do not hold the unit in place at all. Use the line work it around until you reach the pin and then start form the other side doing the same. The letter will fall right out. Rub the majority of the adhesive off with your thumb or index finger and use isopropyl alcohol to remove the excess.

Now for the fun part, the supplies and tools you will need for this are pretty limited:
~Utility knife with extra blades
~Gorilla Glue
~ Removed (or preferably newly purchased(links at bottom)) emblems
~ Outdoor use double sided sticky tape

Step 1:
The Emblems are actually composed of 2 separate layers that are held together by several pins. If you turn the emblem over (after the adhesive is stripped away) you are able to see the locations of the pins.

You are able to wiggle a utility knife between the layers. Once in-between slide the knife around until you are up against the first pin, gently twist the utility knife and pop out or break the pin to separate. Work your way around the letter until you have done this to all the pins and the 2 layers come apart.

Step 2:
Paint. I painted mine with Mopar PL4 or Orange Crush paint. I will probably do this again in a few months with some new emblems and start with a nice coat of primer and then go into the colored paint. I think my finish is "good" but I would not qualify it as "great". I certainly learned a lot with the 3 separate sets I have done. My first attempt I had painted the whole emblem orange and attempted to remove the top section of paint. This is when I found out that the 2 broke apart. I essentially did this set all over and the results are better. Long story short, take your time, do it right and learn from my process and they will look great the first time.

Step 3:
Once you have applied 3-5 coats of paint to the bottom layer, let them dry for about 24 hours. After they have dried, put few drops of Gorilla glue on the center of the freshly colored lettering and line the granite top pice up before lowering it onto the glue. Recenter the top and hold it together with clamps as the 2 pieces permanently bond together.

Step 4:
Apply the double sided tape to the back of the emblems and they are ready to line up. I used a piece of painters tape on the truck where I wanted the lettering to go so I could insure they were properly lined up. I used my best judgment as far as distance between and thought I got pretty close.

Reference:
Small Side Jeep Emblems:
https://www.allmoparparts.com/sku-y...MIh_C9paKV5AIVCVYMCh34qw8lEAQYByABEgLyMPD_BwE
Large Tailgate Jeep Emblem:
https://www.ebay.com/i/153480772816...MIv_3j1qKV5AIVho7ICh1UJAumEAQYASABEgKQifD_BwE

Let me know if this was helpful and post some pictures of your custom lettering!

i'm not going to do this, but very cool you shared.

 

[JT614]

Awesome write-up. No details left out. Looks sharp too!

 

[Knolow]

Slow Clap for the creativeness and thank you. I will follow this DIY and do the same.

 

[sirphenergan]

I have been asked by a couple people to explain how I did the 2 tone custom granite and orange Jeep badging so I figured I would post a little tutorial.

The first thing you will have to do is remove the emblems. There are a ton of YouTube videos out there on how to do this so I wont take much time explaining this part. Essentially I used 50# fishing line, slid it behind the letter and used this to separate the lettering form the adhesive. On the tailgate there are guide pins on the "J" and the "P" but that is all they are, they do not hold the unit in place at all. Use the line work it around until you reach the pin and then start form the other side doing the same. The letter will fall right out. Rub the majority of the adhesive off with your thumb or index finger and use isopropyl alcohol to remove the excess.

Now for the fun part, the supplies and tools you will need for this are pretty limited:
~Utility knife with extra blades
~Gorilla Glue
~ Removed (or preferably newly purchased(links at bottom)) emblems
~ Outdoor use double sided sticky tape

Step 1:
The Emblems are actually composed of 2 separate layers that are held together by several pins. If you turn the emblem over (after the adhesive is stripped away) you are able to see the locations of the pins.

You are able to wiggle a utility knife between the layers. Once in-between slide the knife around until you are up against the first pin, gently twist the utility knife and pop out or break the pin to separate. Work your way around the letter until you have done this to all the pins and the 2 layers come apart.

Step 2:
Paint. I painted mine with Mopar PL4 or Orange Crush paint. I will probably do this again in a few months with some new emblems and start with a nice coat of primer and then go into the colored paint. I think my finish is "good" but I would not qualify it as "great". I certainly learned a lot with the 3 separate sets I have done. My first attempt I had painted the whole emblem orange and attempted to remove the top section of paint. This is when I found out that the 2 broke apart. I essentially did this set all over and the results are better. Long story short, take your time, do it right and learn from my process and they will look great the first time.

Step 3:
Once you have applied 3-5 coats of paint to the bottom layer, let them dry for about 24 hours. After they have dried, put few drops of Gorilla glue on the center of the freshly colored lettering and line the granite top pice up before lowering it onto the glue. Recenter the top and hold it together with clamps as the 2 pieces permanently bond together.

Step 4:
Apply the double sided tape to the back of the emblems and they are ready to line up. I used a piece of painters tape on the truck where I wanted the lettering to go so I could insure they were properly lined up. I used my best judgment as far as distance between and thought I got pretty close.

Reference:
Small Side Jeep Emblems:
https://www.allmoparparts.com/sku-y...MIh_C9paKV5AIVCVYMCh34qw8lEAQYByABEgLyMPD_BwE
Large Tailgate Jeep Emblem:
https://www.ebay.com/i/153480772816...MIv_3j1qKV5AIVho7ICh1UJAumEAQYASABEgKQifD_BwE

Let me know if this was helpful and post some pictures of your custom lettering!

Been planning to do this since the minute I saw the badging! I had a feeling changing the colors up would look great and you've proven that. Thanks for the write-up!
Now I just need a gladiator...

Just to be sure, because I'm thinking of ordering them separately, it's two small ones and the one on the back, correct?

 

[ArmorAPLarry]

Very cool!

 

[bangolia]

Been planning to do this since the minute I saw the badging! I had a feeling changing the colors up would look great and you've proven that. Thanks for the write-up!
Now I just need a gladiator...

Just to be sure, because I'm thinking of ordering them separately, it's two small ones and the one on the back, correct?

Correct. Good luck!

 

[JT614]

I really like that subtle outline around the letters. I successfully attempted to do the same without removing the letters by using Plasti-dip spray.
Here's what I did:
1. Tape off the area around the letters. Note you WANT to spray on the tailgate so you can peel it off the letters (step 3 below).
2. Spray around six good even coats of Plasti-dip and let dry. Hedge on spaying too many coats than too few.
3. Peel away the background. It will easily peel at the edges of the letters
4. Peel away the top layer. Again, this will easily peel away where the two plastic parts meet.

It's very subtle, but matches the rest of the blue around my JT very well. Thanks for the idea @bangolia !

 

[phranican]

@JT614 , how well has the blue plasti-dip held up?

 

[JT614]

@JT614 , how well has the blue plasti-dip held up?

Looks just like the day I applied it, and that was nearly 2.5 years ago!

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