This is why I've never debadged my trunk. I need some advice guys.

**nawarkk** · 07-07-2011

So.. When I got my car it had a new paint job on it. Woot right? Nope..

They didn't remove the badges on the car.. I didn't really care because I was never going to remove the "GTP" badges.. but I did want to remove the "Grand Prix" on the trunk. I just removed them, and there is a step in the paint, and it's visible..

What should I do?

Can I lightly sand until the line goes away?

**PurpleGuy** · 07-07-2011

Wet sand MIGHT work...might just **** it up. I'd give it a go though. The worst that can happen is your gonna have to get the trunk repainted.

**sdavis11b** · 07-07-2011

Hmm, you could wet-sand and buff to get the lines out but it almost looks like you can tell a difference between the factory and aftermarket paint jobs. Might just be the picture though. The wet-sand/buff would not be able to help the difference in paint, just get rid of the lines in the clear. So you would always be able to see that there was once a grand prix emblem there. Sucks man

**blueguy** · 07-07-2011

F that.

I got some chrome "Grand Prix" badges I'll send you to put back on from an SE that I think should have came on the GTP's since it was flashier.

Seriously walrus...whats your addy so I can get all of those send out to you anyways.

**Scottydoggs** · 07-07-2011

yeah, you need to put that badge back on, its never going to match or look right. different colors for sure.

**tod1d** · 07-07-2011

Originally Posted by scottydoggs

yeah, you need to put that badge back on, its never going to match or look right. different colors for sure.

X2

**redlinepontiac** · 07-07-2011

holy hack work

id put the emblem back on till you can afford to get it sanded down and re painted

**16MustangVet** · 07-08-2011

I'd try clay bar that and some heavy compound 1st. I took the ones off the trunk of my black car too and I need to wetsand mine becasue im not putting badges back on. If your careful 2000 grit wetsand and some wax would take care of it too. Make sure you add a few drops of car wash soap to the water for the sand paper too.

**vailskier3** · 07-08-2011

yikes, good luck man. if i were you, i'd just rock the badges...no big deal

**Explicit_Spade** · 07-08-2011

First you should use some goo gone, because it looks like there's still some adhesive on there.

After that give the area and or whole trunk a nice wax, that should take care of a good amount of it.

From my experience with debadging a few cars, it looks like the rest of the car has sun fade, not necessarily a bad paint job. It should get to a point where it's not noticeable at all.

**tayl5645** · 07-08-2011

THis would make me slightly more hesitant about debadging which I have thought about

**z3r0** · 07-08-2011

do this

**JoRoW99** · 07-08-2011

You could try something else, like this

Reflective Concepts - Get NOTICED!

Or try the cheap methods of trying to fix it first. After that....I'd probably just put them back on. maybe a different color.

**Colossus** · 07-08-2011

^^ That for sure.. see if you can get one that matches your PONTIAC inlay... you may start a trend

**blueguy** · 07-08-2011

Like I said Walrus...I'm going home this weekend and I'll send them out when I'm there. Forealzies. Now that I know you actually NEED them hahaha.

Originally Posted by 98GrandPrixIraqVet

I'd try clay bar that and some heavy compound 1st. I took the ones off the trunk of my black car too.

Vet...there is a big difference from a paint that is just weathered from having the badge covering it...to having someone paint it a totally different color. Your not getting that to match with some heavy cutting compund and wetsanding. For all you know it could be green under all of that. Then it'd be worse.

Originally Posted by z3r0

do this

Don't.

Datbeugly.

Originally Posted by Colossus

^^ That for sure.. see if you can get one that matches your PONTIAC inlay... you may start a trend

How's that any different than overlayin' the badges? lol.....

**TLSheff** · 07-08-2011

Whether you put the chromies back on or not, I would still wet sand, compound, rewax and see how it looks then.

If all else you could put a vinyl sticker from relective concepts if you can get it to smooth out and cover the paint differences. I went to my buddies vinyl shop and he just made me a "Supercharged" sticker for free and installed too.

Spoiler :: IMAG0036.jpg picture by tlsheff - Photobucket

Spoiler :: IMAG0042-1.jpg picture by tlsheff - Photobucket

You never know, compounding and waxing with a high speed buffer can "renew" old paint. I had to compound my Ex's car after she had the front bumper repainted (she wrecked it). Whole car was faded black, front bumper fresh jet black... there was a difference. Good compounding, rewaxing, you couldn't tell the difference. Even turned 3 of my white buffer pads a dark dark grey color from the old paint lol

**nawarkk** · 07-08-2011

Originally Posted by tayl5645

THis would make me slightly more hesitant about debadging which I have thought about

Don't be scared. If your car has an original paint job.. you're more then fine.. this is because the guys before me didn't take the badges off before painting it, resulting in this step.

But thanks for the advice guys. Much appreciated.

I'm gonna try goo gone, and then take some 2000 grit to it with some water and see where that gets me..

I don't wanna put an overlay over it or put a "GTP" badge over it because I have something custom I wanna do with the trunk that no ones done before... so I need it as unnoticeable as possible.

Thanks again guys, I'll report back with what happens.

**redlinepontiac** · 07-08-2011

find a buddy that does body work and get the keyhole shaved

**JoRoW99** · 07-08-2011

Originally Posted by nawarkk

I don't wanna put an overlay over it or put a "GTP" badge over it because I have something custom I wanna do with the trunk that no ones done before... so I need it as unnoticeable as possible.

So were not gonna be twins anymore?