Google isn't helping me out this morning. I just got the trunk emblem back from the chrome shop for my 53' 2100 4-door with Powerglide and am getting the plastic insert fitted into it. It's been some years since I bought the insert and I can't remember if I got it from National Chevy or Chev's of the 40s (if that matters). As expected, I had to do some filing and sanding on the edges of the insert to account for the opening in the chrome shrinking from plating layers, but it's fitting very nice now. The insert has a lip all around the edge to set how far out it sits and was held in with four little tabs cast into the pot-metal and bent over the back of the insert, but they're brittle enough that they won't hold up to straightening and reforming. The insert was gone when I got the car with two tabs broken away. I thought about soldering in some sheet metal tabs before plating, but I seem to remember reading years ago in a magazine, catalog, or online that the common way to install the new inserts is to glue them in place, BUT since this insert is some kind of acrylic and has the whole back side painted, I hesitate as some glues will melt plastics or peel or discolor the paint. So what do you guys use to put these things together? I have some clear RTV silicon and J.B. Weld on hand. I know superglue will melt the acrylic. The glue doesn't have to be water tight (although it wouldn't hurt), but does need to hold the insert solidly in place and resist heat/UV issues as the car is mostly stored outside. I'll get some pics as I'm really pleased with how this emblem has turned out. As far as I know, you can buy ***embled repro's of the emblems and hood ornament for the 54', which is what I'm doing on mine, but nobody makes repro's for my 53' except for the accessory 'bird' hood ornament, and personally I like the stock 'bullet' ornament better. So saving the old ones is my only option.
I bought a big roll of this that is 1 inch wide to hold the windows in my boat. It holds seriously good. This is a 15 ft. roll of 1/2 inch wide 1.1 mm thick. Not cheap and you had better have your stuff where you want it but it will hold. Amazon.com: 3M Genuine 1/2" (12mm) x 15 Ft VHB Double Sided Foam Adhesive Tape 5952 Grey Automotive Mounting Very High Bond Strong Industrial Grade (1/2" (w) x 15 ft): Automotive
^^What @K13 said^^ get double sided tape that's made for trim. They are still stuck to cars built in the 70's & 80's.
Thanks for the reply's. Double sided tape would be hard because 1: the surfaces being joined together are at most 3/16" wide, closer to 1/8", with a step, and 2: there's irregular contact. Some spots it's a snug fit and others there's a gap, not very visible from the outside, but still there. Hot glue would work, but I see it falling apart in the summer months. Pictures are worth a thousand words!
Shoot 3 - 4 coats of clear over the silver - something that wont re-flow the paint. It'll last longer. I'd be tempted to try tool handle coating stuff for retaining it, if it comes in clear. When it's setting up, it can be formed into any shape. Might work, cheap to find out ....
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