Mounting fender emblems should not cause this much anxiety!

[Goldilocks77]

So, I’ve had ol Goldilocks for eight years. 1977 C20 Custom Deluxe. She is basically “debadged”. Not my doing, but I’ve always thought she’d look sexy with a pair of fresh original repro fender emblems.
Enter my mental anguish. I bought a pair knowing in advance the conundrum. They are sexy tho… The badges come with a pair of 3/16” diameter unthreaded mounting pegs. My truck doesn’t have mounting holes for the badges.
Here is my issue: does anyone know of a template or otherwise possess the measurements for proper mounting locations? The back of the emblem has a radius to it, so it matters what height you mount the emblems so that it sits flush. I would also have to pick up some barrel nuts because I don’t want to pull the fender off to screw the nuts on. Plus, do I really want to drill holes in my damn fenders??
Enter Plan B. I could use many layers of scotch extreme mounting double stick tape. It actually works pretty good but I would be fairly upset if it failed and I got to watch my $60 emblems go bouncing down the highway to their death. I could also use that black mounting goo, but if I apply it wrong on the back of the emblem and it squishes out, it’s kind of a hard to reverse eff up.
I have an obviously bad habit of overthinking the hell out of these types of problems, but I know there is wisdom to be found in these forums and so I call upon my fellow problem solvers. At the moment, I am leaning heavily towards the scotch double-stick tape. What does everybody think?

 

[Goldilocks77]

I apologize for my long-windedness!

 

[DoubleDingo]

For peace of mind of them staying put, drill the holes. There should be a manual somewhere that has the measurements of the hole locations.

 

[Chevy 88]

I would clean the fender with alcohol.
Then I would apply generous amounts of Permatex Right Stuff Gasket Maker to the back of the emblem.
After that, I would press the emblem against the fender, and secure with making tape for 24 hours.

Just make sure to position it correctly, because you probably wont be able to remove them without damaging them.

 

[Catbox]

Measure and breathe.
Measure again and breathe.
Breathe and then drill.
It will look great when you are done.

 

[Grit dog]

I would clean the fender with alcohol.
Then I would apply generous amounts of Permatex Right Stuff Gasket Maker to the back of the emblem.
After that, I would press the emblem against the fender, and secure with making tape for 24 hours.

Just make sure to position it correctly, because you probably wont be able to remove them without damaging them.

Some days are better than others for handing out advice. This was not a good day for you.

 

[mxer147]

The backside of the fender may have the locating holes for the general emblem peg locations. If you can get a measurement from a reference point (body line/ fender edge), you can use some blue tape on the fender to draw a straight line, and mark the drill points based on the center to center distance for the pegs. Measure enough times that you are confident of your location before drilling. When you are ready to drill, be sure to use a small drill bit on slow speed rotation so it doesn’t walk, use next size up to increase hole diameter until your final size. Coat inside hole exposed metal with paint so it doesn’t rust. Probably put some adhesive on emblem back side so it doesn’t rub any paint during normal vibrations. That’s my plan for my newer fenders with older emblems.

 

[Moodyalaskan]

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3M tape works well, used it many times on vehicles. Clean area and back of emblem with alcohol, apply tape to emblem. Use blue tape to outline where it is going to be placed and stick it on. Might want to warm fender area first, not hot just warm. Hold pressure on it for a minute or so. You will have to trim the tabs though. Walmart or auto parts stores carry it.

 

[xm20k]

I bought a new set of Scottsdale emblems for mine but both front fenders are rotted and have 5 pounds of Bondo in the usual spots so I'm waiting till I pick up a new set from AMD.

There are 2 access holes for the nuts on the back side of the fenders, they will have to come off to gain access to them. Then you can use a punch from the back side using the access holes to center them or if adventurous just run your drill from the back side.

Or as others have suggested cut some double-sided tape to fit them and just slap them on without pulling the front end apart.

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[Mr Clean]

Let me go look and see if I still have the fenders from my 77. I can make you a cardboard template and just mail it to you.

 

[Strick]

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You can get a template from on of us & drill the holes. To keep from pulling the fenders you can use a "barrel nut" insert to hold the emblem. I used these over 20 years ago when painting my 72 Camaro & the emblems are still there & firmly placed.

HS

 

[Shorty81]

I would not drill holes. Cut studs off and use 3M double sided tape. Mine have held on strong for 11 years now.

 

[Bextreme04]

I would clean the fender with alcohol.
Then I would apply generous amounts of Permatex Right Stuff Gasket Maker to the back of the emblem.
After that, I would press the emblem against the fender, and secure with making tape for 24 hours.

Just make sure to position it correctly, because you probably wont be able to remove them without damaging them.

A PO did this on my truck at some point in the past. The clump of RTV is still there with the part number permanently imprinted in it. The badge fell off long ago. The gunk is hard as a rock and impossible to remove at this point.

Please never recommend doing this to anyone ever again.

 

[TotalyHucked]

I would clean the fender with alcohol.
Then I would apply generous amounts of Permatex Right Stuff Gasket Maker to the back of the emblem.
After that, I would press the emblem against the fender, and secure with making tape for 24 hours.

Just make sure to position it correctly, because you probably wont be able to remove them without damaging them.

Jesus christ man, why do you even speak

 

[bucket]

I would clean the fender with alcohol.
Then I would apply generous amounts of Permatex Right Stuff Gasket Maker to the back of the emblem.
After that, I would press the emblem against the fender, and secure with making tape for 24 hours.

Just make sure to position it correctly, because you probably wont be able to remove them without damaging them.

Permatex Right Stuff GASKET Maker. GASKET! Do you see the issue?

Please stop handing out poor advice in nearly every thread you come across. Next time you are reading a thread and you have a thought, before you post your thought, please stop and think longer. Ask yourself "Is this really how someone should be repairing their truck?"