Rusty Bowtie
General Category => GM Tech Questions and Answers => Topic started by: sixball on May 21, 2021, 12:14:23 AM
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Does anyone here know how to remove the early Chevy Bowtie emblems from the radiator shells without destroying them? I read on the Vintage Chevrolet site that it is a "friction" fit. Do they simply push in? I saw one picture that looked like the round piece on the back is soldered on.
I would like to use the nice emblem in my '27 shell in my '26 shell without screwing up anything. I'm afraid to experiment.
https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/457397/1927-grille-emblem-install-help.html#Post457397 (https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/457397/1927-grille-emblem-install-help.html#Post457397)
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Have no idea...but I suspect those emblems are made of metal something like pewter that is soft and after the enamel is applied they are just press fit. That soft metal gets brittle as it ages...maybe one of those old time plating shops can help?
Like this link I posted a few day ago: http://www.cmrchromeplating.com/
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Sixball there basically a snap spring clip fits to the grille! If you’re having problems getting it removed then you need to WD40 it!
Here’s my 34 Chevrolet grille and again just a snap spring clip! Plus I also added two small screws for attachments because I don’t need to have the emblem pop off!
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Thanks, I see that at least some of the repos have a threaded stud and nut but I want to use the pretty nice old one I have. I have not done any measurements yet but the hole in the '26 shell looks very close to the size of the protrusion on the emblem. I started soaking it a few days ago. I'll use a soft brush to remove loose dirt and rust on the '27 shell and see if I can get a little movement. The protrusion is not soft like lead. It does not want to bend and I don't want to break it. Thanks for the help!
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I used the repo on my 32 the threaded stud is glued on and not very well :( I end up using panel adhesive to put the stud back on then applied two sided tape and didn't tighten to tight to attach it
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Thanks, that is the kind of info I need, both how it was done originally and what has been done that works today. No matter which shell I end up using this thing has to come out and be reinstalled unless I leave the '27 shell alone for a wall hanger and put a repo emblem in the '26 shell. Then there is the 3rd option, the Oliver Tractor nose with a trimmed '30s Dodge stainless grill. Looks a bit like a Miller. I'd rather save that for a speedster project. Attaching the word "speed" to one of my projects doesn't sound right. :(
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The stud broke off on the repo grille emblem I bought. I reattached the emblem with 3M double sided tape without the stud. It's been on there for a few years now with no issues.
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Thanks Tom.
I got the emblem out of the '27 shell today. I brushed the back side with a brass brush and soaked it with Liquid Wrench for a couple of days. I looked at the '26 shell to see how the hole was formed then at the '27 shell and could see the rim of the radiator shell metal all around the emblem. It was, as RoarsRoads & others said, pressed in and held by the tension and friction of the metal disc on the back of the emblem. I Could not push it out so I tried putting a piece of hard rubber in the back and hitting it with a small hammer....nothing. Then I tapped a plastic tent peg with the hammer and it came out with just a couple taps. I had placed the front of the shell on the cushion of a shop stool to catch the emblem and protect it and the shell from a hard surface. I bent the metal slightly but I think I can straighten it before I put it in the other shell after paint.
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Glad you got the right info to get them off. Good save.
My '29 emblem fell off that round "spring clip" retainer, it remained in the grille shell. A search on the net and i found one like mine for sale and the back side looked as mine was. You can see the grey stuff of what ever held it to retainer. Glue type or solder.....haven't a clue😁
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I think they are soldered together. I don't think sweat soldering it back together would hurt the enamel on the front side. They used to have a lot of enamel cookware. The only hard part would be getting it located perfectly. You could probably build a jig. I think the back piece is steel. I'll hit it with a magnet tomorrow.
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Sixball so glad that you got this Grille shell emblem resolved! Down the road if you run into any other problems with the World Wide Internet it’s somewhat easy to look up questions that you might have!
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I looked all over for that but didn't come up with much. I tried to open a account with the Vintage Chevrolet Club and didn't get far there either.
Anyway got this one now on to frame riveting. :) Thanks for your help.
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Just a quick note. The piece soldered on the back of the bowtie in steel.