gofasttl93

So, I got my new 04 TL on Friday with only 68K and decided to waste no time modding it. I debadged the rear and plastidipped the rear and grill chrome "A". Here are some photos, tell me what you guys think!


I started with dental floss and a hairdryer. I got the Dealer logo off first, then took a picture.



I then got the TL letters off. Frankly, I forgot to get Bug and Tar remover, so I had to run to Target to buy some to get the adhesive off.



Finally, I got the "ACURA" off. By this point, I had a blister on my thumb from rubbing the adhesive off, it was a PITA!


My baby was looking sexy with the badges off, but I wasn't done yet!


My friend came over and we began taping to protect from overspray. I went to Home Depot and bought two cans of Plasti-Dip. When the employees asked me what I was using it for, I said "painting my emblems on my car." They gave me a weird look they don't understand!!


My first coat was done on the rear. Time to start taping up the front!


Out of newspapers


Backed out of the garage because I was losing daylight! My friend's car is the black A4.


Once the plasti dip had dried after 4 coats, waiting 20 mins between each coat and an hour after the final coat.


Final coat applied on the front. Time to get some Pepsi and wait!


The next day, after the dip had dried, I got a handful of toothpicks and picked out within the "A". Think it came out well!


The front came out well. Unlike the rear, this is more unique IMO. (Yes, I know I need bumper plugs, it'll happen )

So all in all, the mod costed about $12 and I think it came out well. Overall, the plastidip seems to be holding up well. It's tough to get it where it etches out the chrome cleanly. I had to get a knife and cut the excess around the letters. It was scary getting a knife anywhere near my paint but I was careful and no catastrophes occurred! The emblems feel rubbery to the touch but leave a matte black color. Might do my wheels next.

Lemme know what you guys think!

-Drew

turbo_oxide

i just debadged mine this weekend... Took the Acura and TL off and left the Type-S on.

Then came the hard one, the BSMs... I've got blisters from rubbing all that adhesive off. Looks like you have them too... have fun taking them off. My advice for those, lose the floss, use a credit/pastic card instead.

gofasttl93

Honestly, I used the floss for the actual letters. I used a microfiber cloth for the adhesive. I wish I had thought of using a credit card! XD

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

Looks like you did nice work. Im usually not a fan of debadging the TL, but I will say the black Acura logo looks real nice on your color!! As for the front the absolute best thing I have seen is leave the Acura logo chrome, and plasti-dip the chrome cross bar that runs behind it. I have seen pics of that and it looks realllll good.

turbo_oxide

I used floss for the letters, fingers + rubbing for the adhesive, goo gone + microfiber for the remaining adhesive...

When I got to the BSMs, the floss just didn't cut it. Strand after strand broke as I tried to floss through the adhesive, so thats when I got the empty gift card out and started hacking away at it. WAAAAAAY easier.

Looking sharp, btw!

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

Why use anything at all on the BSM's? I have done it on two TL's and they pulled right off pretty easily.

gofasttl93

Now that I'm picturing it, I can see how that looks great. I was kinda unsure of how to tackle the grill. I was thinking blacking out the whole thing but there definitely needs to be SOME silver. Thanks for the compliment!

I had goo-gone but was afraid it'd eat my clear coat so I bought turtle wax bug/tar remover and it cut through the adhesive. Thanks!

-Drew

RU_JELLY

iTrader: (1)

looks good, now start doing real mods lol j/k clean tl sir

gofasttl93

Heh. Will do! Next on my list is A Spec rear lip and XLR8 quads I already have the a spec skirts on

Thanks!
Drew

pnoi521

This is what I did

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

^^one of my favourite grill combos

I like vinyl wrapping all grill pieces glossy black the best haha

debadged looks so clean!

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

PLASTICDIP FTW

chinkwapin

iTrader: (1)

debadged rears look soooooo much better. nice

sunggin

I've been debating if I should debadge my TL.S, but now I think I'm going to.

gofasttl93

Hey man, thanks so much for the kind words! It's really not difficult, it took me about 10 mins per badge. Looks like yours is silver, silver with black emblems is hawt

@turbo_oxide What are BSMs?

@Chinkwapin thanks, dude! Not the most original mod but it cleans up well! Sell me your Greddy hahah

@pnoi521 that looks mean! INSPIRATION!

@swoosh I know right!?

@guitarplayer16 thanks man!

-Drew

Dpat

i did the same to my grill as pnaio lol. Looks good

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Good job, man-nice work.

gofasttl93

Thanks man!

Thanks! Did you use vinyl or plastidip?

veggiemonster

iTrader: (1)

bsm's are body side moldings

to put the examples you were given together....

GoldenShoes

saying as how our cars look EXACTLY the same at the moment, I'm gonna have to say you did a pretty nice job!

although I do have the ATLP base tips sticking out, but I see you're goin the ATLP way as well. yea, we AM owners know what's up...

edit: couldn't find plasti-dip locally, so my "A's" are painted matte black.

ebelp

I've never worked with Plastidip, but I've been curious about it. If you can rub it away with the tip of a toothpick, it doesn't seem like it'll hold up well to weather, carwashes, etc. How long does this stuff stay good before you have to apply more coats?

veggiemonster

iTrader: (1)

i thought the same. but my grille had some little imperfections when i was done, and that made me hesitant to see the outcome.

now its almost 5 months later, at least 1 wash a week, snow/salt/rocks...ZERO chips or flakes. even where my grille is cracked, the plastidip is still holding the crack tight, no gaps. and i tapped a wall after painting, creating said cracks. shit is magical.
12-29-11 picture
9-17-11 picture right after re-install of grille
literally no defects.

ebelp

^ Good info, thanks!

AnthraciteAspec

iTrader: (6)

Nice, I did my emblems in gloss black like 3 years ago. Was one of my first mods as well. It looks good on our color.

Yetispeed

Nice, I was thinking about doing this very shortly. Nice to know it can be done for so cheap

cjTL

iTrader: (2)

Looks nice. FWIW, WD-40 works great for removing the adhesive. Make sure you go over the area (or the whole car) with a coat of wax now.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

^^^ WD-40 really ?

goo-gone is what i used

WD-40 over rusted areas

chinkwapin

iTrader: (1)

+1 for goo gone. make sure to wash your car after using it. and i'd prob toss the towels that u use it with as well. that shits pretty nasty but smells good

gofasttl93

Our color is amazing thanks!

Yeah, I actually polished after I made sure the adhesive was off. Thanks!

Yeah, it's remarkably good value. If you consider what it costs to buy a black pearl emblem or powder coat it, it's a great mod. Pennies are tough to find these days

Haha, they definitely don't sound the same, I assume. I came from a 350Z and couldn't believe how weak the stock exhaust is on 3GTL. Can't wait for XLR8/ATLP. ATLP is more expensive but I like the tips/sound better. AM FTW! Thanks!

vester1986

good start, looks good.

veggiemonster

iTrader: (1)

i just use old 87 octane when i need to get sap, glue, really nasty bug guts....but you don't need much, and scrubbing too hard will cloud up your clear

oh, and a little more info to add to my previous post, i used one entire can on my grille

LaJay007

iTrader: (1)

This is great info. I'm getting my windows re-tinted this wknd. I'm debadging after that and plastidipping my rear A and the crossbars on my '07 WDP grill. Such a great looking cheap mod!

FreezeTL

I see you taped around the rear emblem, but how did you not get paint on the inside of the actual "A". Like on the actual trunck paint

cjTL

iTrader: (2)

Works like a charm. I use that stuff for everything.

gofasttl93

That's the great thing about plasti dip. I got it inside my A, but it peels right off with a toothpick.

Drew

michaelw21

iTrader: (1)

Great job, recently tackled this myself!

daciss

I just plati dipped my rims and Im wanting to leave my badges on and plasti dip them.. Just worried about the plasti dip hurting my paint. Does it have a time frame you need to peel off and all?

zachlone

I attempted to plasti dip my rear emblem and failed miserably it ran like crazy but I was in a hurry... lesson learned and it was only 30 degrees out. I got the "ACURA" badge off the rear now just got to do the "TL" next

zachlone

I peeled mine off after it turned out like shit. It wont hurt your paint just tape it off decent and dont get overspray everywhere. the thicker you get it the easier it is to peel off.