Debadging Suburban Trouble - What would you do?

[Fosscore]

I got tired of looking at the badges and decided to pull them off today because I knew it would look better, while I am waiting on the final numbers from the boss regarding purchasing this 2013 Suburban LTZ.

The passenger side LTZ and SUBURBAN letters, black double-sided tape and remaining goo came off and cleaned up with some 3M Adhesive Cleaner. There is a faint outline still left from the letters that a full clay/polish/wax treatment should take care of. The driver's door SUBURBAN came off the same.

Now the Trouble with a bit of backstory to explain why. Back in June, the Suburban went to the body shop to have two massive scratches that went to the metal taken care of on the lift gate and drivers side rear quarter panel.

When I started to debadge the driver's side LTZ and the lift gate SUBURBAN letters, I noticed that the body shop had removed the letters, but left the double-sided tape on and painted right over the top of it, then reattached the letters. Really?

So there is an obvious bubbled outline from the double-sided tape under the paint and a bit of cracked paint that peeled off from the debadged letters.

So what to do.....

1. Do I just put the LTZ and SUBURBAN letters back on those 2 spots and leave the rest debadged?
2. Do I get some touch up paint, pull the letters off and deal with the paint over the top of the double-sided tape?
3. Do I dig out the double-sided tape, touch up the paint and see what it looks like?

Either way, it won't be a perfect debadge or a perfect paint issue at this point and it could look like crap if I don't put the letters back on. Looking for some input with what you guys think is the best course of action. Thanks.

 

[BADRIDES]

Put letters back on

 

[Tonyrodz]

Put letters back on

X2, just on the damaged part, leave the rest off. Similar reason why I didn't debadge. Body shop taped around my door badging and moulding before painting.

 

[AppocAlexx]

If that is metallic or pearl you would need to find a good body guy get the feathering right to get that fixe the right way. Other than that you would be taking chances at it not coming out right.

You could always cut out as much as possible and do some very very fine wet sand and buffing but its all up to how comfortable you are with sanding and buffing. If you can get all that off and keep the scratches/gouges to a minimum you can always put the letters back on if it doesn't look as good as you hoped.

I would get as much of that stuff off as possible, little at a time. Very light wet sand and buff with a few different stages of compound. After that depending on results would dictate if the letters go back on or not.

Sorry for that tho sometimes it happens. As much as I love debadged trucks this would be a hard thought for me as well. Good luck.

 

[AppocAlexx]

Hell I would even take it back to the shop that did the work and see if they would be able to fix that issue bc regardless who did the work, that was a shit job for them to just leave the tape on and spray over. I think that would be my first bet is to talk with them about.

 

[shortbusondubs]

i'd definitely take it back to the shop that did the work. that's unacceptable.

 

[Goodinblack]

Ughhhhh

Debadge looks the best IMO but man that sucks

 

[NeverSatisfied]

I'd get my pimp hand fully charged, roll up to the body shop that did the work and unload full capacity on everyone who did work on the on vehicle. Then after everyone awakens from their multi hour slumber from said pimp hand unleashing I would then ask them what they are going to do about fixing the issue. If you are afraid said events could cause catastrophic damage I would just put the badges back on in those areas until proper paint work could be done.

But seriously that is terrible and who ever did that should be fired. Hope you get it worked out man

 

[Goodinblack]

It's not uncommon I suppose. I am certain a lot of crappy work gets done all the time on cheap family cars. The customer never notices because they aren't on a forum reading about how to de-badge to look cool. LOL

They probably did that as a favor to you, so the letter would be put back in the right place and spaced right etc.

 

[NeverSatisfied]

I could understand that, but still take some measurements and what not lmao