I need a creative, artsy idea

[Gigem]

I want to do something to spiff up the grill emblem on my old 1980 Chevy truck. Here is a picture of what I have, and what it's supposed to look like...

Mine



What it is supposed to look like

All of the corrugated, yellow rubbery stuff is gone from mine. Unfortunately, I have learned that this emblem is a one year only item, and not reproduced.

They come up from time to time on eBay, but are expensive for NOS or ratty and old.

This is not a show truck, but it is nice. I don't want to replace the grill. My thought is to come up with something I can "fill in" the void on my emblem with, that would look cool. Pour in a liquid that hardens... But I have no idea what that would be.

I have also determined that the relative dimensions of the Chevy logo are not consistent year to year. I tried to find another bowtie to fit in there - no dice.

So anyone have a creative idea? Some sort of acrylic or plastic that I could pour in?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Perrorojo]

Don't know the name, but they make a pour in plastic resin for countertops. you can print out what ever pattern you want on photo paper and then put the clear resin over top.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/47781030/envirotex-lite-pour-on-hard-resin-high?ref=related-0

 

[dirttracker18]

What are you into? Could find something that fits your personality, like camo if thats you.

Classic Chevy blue bow tie.

Chrome paint or decal

Have it airbrushed with something meaningful or just cool.

You need our resident airbrush guys to chime in here with ideas
Breeze?

JC23? if you got your pants on

 

[Thumper68]

I would put something that I am into in there and use bar top to seal it in, in a few years you can redo it with something new.

Penny's, dime's, nickle's or quarters would be cool.

Logo of your favorite sports team.

pictures of your family.

Just a few off the top of my head

 

[nonhog]

I'd get some 20 or 22g sheet metal and work a smaller bowtie inside.
You could then paint it or polish it or scuff it and clear?

 

[mantis_nyc]

How about using industrial rubber flooring mats in yellow and just cut to size and glue in.

 

[RStewart]

Mosaic tile?

 

[Fizbin]

I want to do something to spiff up the grill emblem on my old 1980 Chevy truck.

Some sort of acrylic or plastic that I could pour in?

What you seek can be found here: Smooth-On.

Endless possibilities.

 

[gorilla]

I would cut a piece of steel to fit closely inside the bow tie and paint it to match your truck and then epoxy it in.

 

[PCMusicGuy]

I would get precise measurements, have a blank cut out of aluminum or steel, have it painted the color of the truck and put it in there.

 

[djjsr]

Rustoleum Hammered silver or gray.

 

[Gigem]

What you seek can be found here: Smooth-On.

Endless possibilities.

Excellent! This is what I was thinking of!

Thanks for all of the killer ideas guys...

 

[Iggi]

EL (electroluminescent) panel cut to fit the emblem. Then cover with dyed or clear epoxy. It will glow very well at night. The panels are cheap and easy to use.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Get a counter shop to cut a piece of marble to fit. Then it really will be "Like a Rock". Maybe granite might be a better choice for the theme.

 

[SockeyeSummer]

Don't know the name, but they make a pour in plastic resin for countertops. you can print out what ever pattern you want on photo paper and then put the clear resin over top.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/47781030/envirotex-lite-pour-on-hard-resin-high?ref=related-0

Believe that stuff is called "Pour On".

 

[JC23]

JC23? if you got your pants on

Fill the holes with Bondo and get a Rat Fink painted on it. That's what one of our painters did with his. Looks kool!

And you never mind bout my pants!

 

[nolimits76]

I'll echo the others -- this thing is crying for a some sort a nice print out (solid color to match truck color?) and then the resin on top.

If you haven't seen/used it before, check it out:
http://eti-usa.com/envirotex-lite/

You can buy the resin on Amazon. Was very popular back in the day. Bar tables made with beer caps covered with resin, lol.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bottle-Cap-Table-with-Poured-Resin-Surface/

 

[k1rodeoboater]

I think it'd be cool to find a way to light it...but IDK if you'd get hassled from the police over that.

You could do the resin thing and cast a shape into it, that would look pretty awesome, I've seen some motorcycle tail lights done this way and it always comes out really cool.

 

[RedBKM]

How about lighting with a EL panel? They are easily cut and have an even glow. Look here.
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10799

You could also try polished diamond plate, polished copper etc. A Lego panel would be cool too.

 

[Smokenarrow]

Bondo, sand, and paint to match truck color. Cheap and easy and it will look better than what your working with now.

 

[70C-10]

Amber LED's behind frosted glass or acrylic so it glows

 

[mj_lover]

inlay with narrow strips of wood to create the ribbed effect, close to original colour, bamboo looks close to my eye, use epoxy as glue, and pour over epoxy to seal, sand and polish smooth.
let us know what you end up doing

 

[Scott 351 Wins]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevy-1500-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c35e0fbcc&vxp=mtr

 

[Scott 351 Wins]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevy-1500-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c35e1027b&vxp=mtr

 

[RVDan]

Led lights and a controller for multiple patterns and colors.

 

[Burgerkong]

Tinted epoxy.

 

[rice rocket]

Casting silicone is super easy, cleans up in a second, and isn't permanent like epoxy would be.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/smooth-on-oomoo-30-silicone/

 

[ADSR]

Cut the primer off a few spent casings and epoxy them in with clear.

 

[Doug Arthurs]

cut a piece of aluminum polished checker plate to fit in there.

 

[Kevin54]

Gigem....check your PM's

 

[Mavawreck]

Put light behind it, cut a piece of plexi glass or lexan to fit the shape, wrap lexan/plexi in american flag vinyl off Ebay.

 

[nehog]

Go find a good lettering shop. They have plastics used for letters that are very interesting, and might be just what you want.

 

[Gigem]

Man, you guys blew me away with the cool, creative ideas! Thanks!!

Kevin54, PM received and replied to...

 

[Gigem]

A follow up on this topic...

Kevin54 offered to cut and paint a piece of Lexan to fit into the empty emblem for me. I won't share his price, but it was very inexpensive. I will go ahead and say it was cheap!

Kevin54 followed up with excellent communication, clearly describing what he could do and giving me some options. After I told him what I wanted, he turned it around immediately. I got a bonus, as he cut an extra piece of of a tinted piece of Lexan and sent it along for nothing. I might swap it out in the future, or find some other creative use for it.

Bottom line, I couldn't be more pleased. Kevin54, thank you so much! I actually sat around a bit today trying to think of anything else I could get him to make for me!

I will post a picture of the results ASAP. Unfortunately, my truck is in the shop so I can't show you the emblem installed just yet. Hopefully soon.

Thanks!

 

[Gigem]

Picture

 

[JC23]

Nice! Kevin is good people!

 

[JakeKohl]

Picture

Wow....very cool. I've been wondering what to do with my bowtie and I kept getting advice to black it out...but that didn't seem right. Red...now that's interesting!

And hurray for Kevin!

 

[NKlamerus]

Has anyone seen the Bowtie that lights up red but is normal color? AutoZone sells one that is not hitch mounted, I'm thinking about doing one on my tailgate that wires into the brake or running lights.

 

[ambenz]

I got a 3rd brake light emblem for my Ford Ranger, works great but I suggest you clearcoat it very well.

http://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com/Lighting/Reese-Lighted-Logo-Emblem

 

[coyotejake]

Here's a little something I made at my last job with the water jet. Just practicing my programming.