How to safty take the badge off your trunk lid?

rnln · 07-05-2009, 12:27 PM

I alwasy want a clean looking trunk lid, any car. My 911 is not a turbo but has a turbo badge on the trunk lid. I always want to take it off but affraid I will scrach or pull the paint with it. Remember, my paint is old. Today, after washing the car, I tried again and know for sure I will damage something if I just pry it up. Does anyone has any special trick on this?
Thanks.

Talewinds · Talewinds's Garage

Slip dental floss behind it and saw through the adhesive. If it's got the 3M double sided adhesive tape on it some Goo Gone or lighter fluid will clean up the residue.
But, if the badge has real adhesive on it like what was used at the factory then you might have some ugly scars on the paint, that, although fairly smooth, will look discolored...

rnln · 07-05-2009, 12:35 PM

I use dental floss, fishing lines, etc but won't work. It's harden already. I tried hard enough to the point I had to wrap towel around my fingers. The lines snapped several times before I stopped.
If I use lighter fluid or paint thiner, would it help removing it without damaging my paint?

Talewinds · Talewinds's Garage

Uh oh, sounds like you've got the adhesive, not the tape

Mine had the adhesive as well and I had to saw with several pieces of dental floss to remove it.
I went through all the trouble because I wanted to wax up the decklid nicely and then replace the Carrera badge with a new, less weathered one.
Even on my black car the stains left in the paint by the adhesive looked bad.
What color is your car?

Quicksilver · 07-05-2009, 01:05 PM

Does anyone know if heating it with a hair drier would help? (not enough to toast the paint...)

RSWiser · 07-05-2009, 01:09 PM

I've used a heat gun or hair dryer on other cars but not on my Porsche. Works great on other cars.

rnln · 07-05-2009, 01:34 PM

Talewinds,
you don't want to know. It's red

. I think this is the worst color for this.

Wayne, Rob,
I am thinking of the same thing. I did hair dryer on my other car but it's a modern car and the paint was still newer. This 911 is a lot older and the paint is fading. I affraid something might go wrong, not sure that it is, just something

But maybe I will do that a little later, and give it a wax.

Talewinds · Talewinds's Garage

Yikes, that's what I was afraid of...
Heck, maybe you'll get the badge off and there'll have been no ill effects on your paint.
As far as the heat gun/hair dryer goes, the aged adhesive on my Carrera badge was just rock hard, I would certainly TRY the hair dryer but based on the consistency of that old glue I don't know how much softening it'll do.
Just try not to break that old emblem, makes good garage decoration

nineball · 07-05-2009, 03:24 PM

use a heatgun over a hairdryer. you can pick one up for under $25 at harbor freight and they work pretty good. if the adhesive is hardened even using the heatgun may not help.

JP911 · JP911's Garage

Let the car sit out in the sun on a hot day. Should loosen things up.

whiteSC59 · 07-05-2009, 05:34 PM

trade the decklid with someone who doesnt mind the badge...what color is yours? ive got an SC factory hood in white...bolt on.

rnln · 07-05-2009, 08:59 PM

well, bad news. The glue/tape underneth the badge is like metal now, very hard and heat won't do it. Again, I affraid I will brake some paint. Well, who cares what it says, as long as it's not broken. I decided to leave it in place

whiteSC59,
thanks for your offer. Mine is red with turbo tail and has wide 965 opening.