Applying LT-1 decals to hood

[Mike E.]

I'm not concerned about the spacing. What I'm concerned about is the technique. I have a pair of NOS decals. I'm guessing that I take the backing off, press it down, and then lift off the top layer to leave just the letters, dash, and digit on the hood. Is it that simple? After painting and striping, the last thing I want to do is screw up something that visible. That the upper layer will detach from the letters is my major concern.
Thanks,
Mike

[Terry M.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

Mike, I have never had to do that, but my understanding is the same as yours. Like you, I would be concerned that the NOS labels (they are not really water slide decals) would have deteriorated over the years. I hope that is not the case or the ones I have will be worthless. Not that I care, but the wife & kid's future depends on it -- yea, sure! :d

[Michael M.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

Mike, the best way is to get a bucket and mix water and soap together to make suds. Peel off the backing. Then dip the decal into the soapy water. This will allow you to position the decal in the proper spot. Once positioned in the proper spot take a squeege and run it over the decal to remove excess water and bubbles. Hope this helps.

[Mike E.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

Thanks. Have you done an LT-1 sticker like that? Seems to me that the "decal" is three-layer with both the center layer (the actual graphics) and the top layer having adhesive on them. I'd be concerned how well the graphics would adhere to the hood if I use soapy water.
Mike

Mike, the best way is to get a bucket and mix water and soap together to make suds. Peel off the backing. Then dip the decal into the soapy water. This will allow you to position the decal in the proper spot. Once positioned in the proper spot take a squeege and run it over the decal to remove excess water and bubbles. Hope this helps.

[Michael M.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

Mike, I have done this numerous times with decals that have adhesive on the back-side. Not sure why the LT-1 decal would have adhesive on the top-side. Getting back to the soapy water part, yes with the squeege it will remove the excess water and any bubbles that form. If you use this procedure I would not remove the top layer that protects the graphics until you are done with the squeege. I am very confident with my steps because I have been putting decals on cars ever since the Trans Am had the big decal of the bird on the hood. What a job that was. If you feel better get another opinion.

[Larry M.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

Mike,

I did mine with no soap or water. I just put them in position and pressed down. Top layer came off w/no problem.

Larry

[Michael M.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

Larry, the soapy water is used to get the position of the decal correct. You only get one chance to get the position correct without the soapy water. The soapy water allows you to move the decal around until you are happy with the position of the LT-1 decal.

[Larry M.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

Larry, the soapy water is used to get the position of the decal correct. You only get one chance to get the position correct without the soapy water. The soapy water allows you to move the decal around until you are happy with the position of the LT-1 decal.

Agree. This is how the GM (and other) body shops did it during "the day."

Larry

[Mike E.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

Appreciate your further response. I'll give it a shot tomorrow. Thanks for the help.

Mike, I have done this numerous times with decals that have adhesive on the back-side. Not sure why the LT-1 decal would have adhesive on the top-side. Getting back to the soapy water part, yes with the squeege it will remove the excess water and any bubbles that form. If you use this procedure I would not remove the top layer that protects the graphics until you are done with the squeege. I am very confident with my steps because I have been putting decals on cars ever since the Trans Am had the big decal of the bird on the hood. What a job that was. If you feel better get another opinion.

[Larry M.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

Larry, the soapy water is used to get the position of the decal correct. You only get one chance to get the position correct without the soapy water. The soapy water allows you to move the decal around until you are happy with the position of the LT-1 decal.

Mike,

Yes, I agree; the soap solution allows movement of the decal. I've seen it used on dozens of Trans Am hood decals.

The LT-1 decal was small enough that I felt confident enough I could correctly position it dry; which in my case worked out well.


Larry (too many Mikes and too many Larrys in this thread!)

[Larry M.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

FYI, here's the results I obtained with no soap.

Please note that I'm not advocating one method of decal application over another. It just so happened that the 'dry' method is what I used; and it worked out OK for me.

Larry

Driver's side.jpgPassenger's side.jpg

[John H.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

Larry, the soapy water is used to get the position of the decal correct. You only get one chance to get the position correct without the soapy water. The soapy water allows you to move the decal around until you are happy with the position of the LT-1 decal.

That's how we did vinyl in the steel car plants (think huge station wagon wood-grain pieces, Cosworth-Vega and IROC Camaro stripes & graphics, etc.); we used ordinary bathtubs with a water/Joy soap solution, removed the backing, dipped the vinyl in the bathtub, then applied the vinyl to the body, positioned it, and squeegeed out the bubbles. Schlegel Chemical was one of the station wagon wood-grain suppliers, and their rep came to Lordstown to train our Vega wood-grain guys when our line rate passed 85 per hour (on the way to 105) and they had problems getting the job done; the guy was a genius, and could wood-grain a basketball without wrinkles. One day's training and tips/hints from him on how to prep, apply, squeegee, and use a hair dryer on edges and compound curved areas, and we were back in business.

[Terry M.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

Appreciate your further response. I'll give it a shot tomorrow. Thanks for the help.

Mike, You do have the right ones? There are ones with a white border and ones with a silver border. Early 1970 was silver (up to about # 9590) after that the border was white. See page 47 of the fourth edition TIM&JG.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

I have always wondered why GM didn't use a raised LT-1 like the 427 & 454. I seems like it would look better than the model car like sticker that I have on mine since the strips are painted & not stickers.

[Christopher K.]

Re: Applying LT-1 decals to hood

FYI, here's the results I obtained with no soap.

Please note that I'm not advocating one method of decal application over another. It just so happened that the 'dry' method is what I used; and it worked out OK for me.

Larry

[ATTACH=CONFIG]38862[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]38863[/ATTACH]

Larry,

From the pictures it looks like the inside of the Lt-1 decals is gold? Is this just a reflection? Someone had replaced my original decals with a set with gold in the middle (not clear). I was just wondering since I have not seen these anywhere else. BTW, nice job on the application.