Can you remove the bowties without drilling them?

[WBHMSU]

Ok wait. My blackout bowties fit inside the chrome cutout. So I guess I should clarify. Any way to remove JUST the gold inserts without drilling them out?

Thanks again.

In case anyone runs into this in the future, I think I found the answer and it is no. The gold inserts are glued to the cutouts with some black adhesive of death. What you have to do is drill a hole in the center of the gold insert (I did this while the front bowtie was still on the vehicle, I popped it off accidentally trying to get the gold insert out but in retrospect it probably would have been easier to drill and pry with the entire thing popped off and on a workbench).

You want the hole to be just enough to get a flat head screwdriver between the insert and the back of the cut out. (Incidentally I went too far before I figured this out and drilled all the way through the cutout). It's maybe 1/4" if that.

You then have to get a flat head screwdriver in there and work it around the hole on all 4 sides, prying. Eventually it will pop out. The thing that worked the best for me was to actually work the length of the screwdriver into the hole at an angle against the back of the cutout - the further you extend behind the insert along the left/right side of the bowtie, it will start to pop out.

Then razor blade to remove the adhesive and goof off. Wipe clean, remove adhesive tape on new inserts and pop those suckers in.

 

[chicagofan00]

In case anyone runs into this in the future, I think I found the answer and it is no. The gold inserts are glued to the cutouts with some black adhesive of death. What you have to do is drill a hole in the center of the gold insert (I did this while the front bowtie was still on the vehicle, I popped it off accidentally trying to get the gold insert out but in retrospect it probably would have been easier to drill and pry with the entire thing popped off and on a workbench).

You want the hole to be just enough to get a flat head screwdriver between the insert and the back of the cut out. (Incidentally I went too far before I figured this out and drilled all the way through the cutout). It's maybe 1/4" if that.

You then have to get a flat head screwdriver in there and work it around the hole on all 4 sides, prying. Eventually it will pop out. The thing that worked the best for me was to actually work the length of the screwdriver into the hole at an angle against the back of the cutout - the further you extend behind the insert along the left/right side of the bowtie, it will start to pop out.

Then razor blade to remove the adhesive and goof off. Wipe clean, remove adhesive tape on new inserts and pop those suckers in.

Did you end up trying this on the rear emblem as well?

 

[WBHMSU]

Yes. I did it right on the rear one. Drilled the hole to the right depth (did not drill through cut out) and used a hammer to wedge the screwdriver between the cutout and the gold insert parallel to the ground underneath the side of the bowtie. It popped out in 30 seconds.

I was going to say earlier - I don't think you could work fishing line between the cutout and bowtie insert - I think the gap is too small. But I didn't try, and it might be worth a shot.

 

[chicagofan00]

Yes. I did it right on the rear one. Drilled the hole to the right depth (did not drill through cut out) and used a hammer to wedge the screwdriver between the cutout and the gold insert parallel to the ground underneath the side of the bowtie. It popped out in 30 seconds.

I was going to say earlier - I don't think you could work fishing line between the cutout and bowtie insert - I think the gap is too small. But I didn't try, and it might be worth a shot.

Thanks for the info.

Post up some photos of the new emblems!

 

[ccapehartusarmyINF.(ret)]

I bought some replacement blackout bowties and had the front one custom painted. I would like to keep the gold/factory ones intact in case I ever decide to swap back out to factory. Is it possible to just pry them loose or do I have to drill them out?

you can pop the one out on the front with a flathead screwdriver thats it you dont need to remove the grill

 

[WBHMSU]

Here are some shots, also with a few other recently completed modifications.

Custom front blackout bowtie

With the HIDs courtesy of TRS and LED fogs courtesy of VLEDs

Can kind of see it in the previous pics but here is the air dam trimmed down and evened out.

Rear black out bowtie

Reverse lights and license plate lights courtesy of VLEDS

 

[chicagofan00]

Looks really good!