Should I remove emblems

[Aviator]

I am having a debate with myself as to whether I should remove all the exterior emblems prior to polishing. The interior skin is off so I can get at the backing nuts, but I am concerned that I might introduce leaks unnecessarily.

What is the collective wisdom of the forum polishing minds?

Thanks

[mtbguy]

I have done a lot of rivet removal and installation working on aircraft and my trailer. If you use the right drill bit and are careful you will be fine. When you put new ones in you can coat them with sealant and then install, just make sure you clean the rivet gun well later or you may ruin it. If you have a hole that is a bit over size you can buy "oversize rivets" - look at Aircraft Spruce website if needed. They are a fraction larger than original for this purpose. don't use the "Cherry max" rivets if you ever want to ever possibly remove the item again. Almost impossible to drill the center out of those.

[Becky B.]

If you have the interior skins off & can get at the backing nuts, you can easily get them off. It makes things much easier to polish with them off. When you put them back on, just use some Tempro on the inside & smear it around the pin to prevent any leaks in the future. I did it with my Bambi II & it was a cake walk!

[mtbguy]

Sorry, I thought yours were riveted on....

[Belegedhel]

I removed all of the "Airstream" letters from the back of my '73 during a panel replacement. I was rather unhappy to find that the pot metal posts twisted right off on some of the letters, as the bond between the push-nuts to the post was stronger than the posts' attachment to the letter. I had the panel removed and lying letters down on the workbench. I soaked the sealant coated nuts in mineral spirits for a good 12 hours before trying to remove the nuts. So anyway--moral of the story, be very careful--I would say that if you have any problem with the first couple of nuts, to cut the nuts off with a Dremel or something, so that you don't ruin the posts.

[Aviator]

Thank you all for the responses. Taking your advise into account, I very carefully removed the nuts from the various emblems on the trailer, and I am proud to say I didn't break any of them! Now on to more fun.

[AldeanFan]

I would recommend removing as much as you can, lights, emblems etc.

You will be able to do a better polishing job and have the opportunity to seal penetrations under the emblems when reinstalling.

[Aerowood]

My GT did not have the "AIRSTREAM" cast letters. I obtained two sets but have not drilled the trailer for them yet. Do you think you could make a template of the front and rear holes for me? Paper would be fine. When I obtained my letters the pal nuts were not there so I had to buy a box of 100, so if you need any let me know.

[Aviator]

No problem