Decal removal

[BigMikeIT]

Hi,

I'll replacing my trunk lid very soon. In the underside is a McGuard wheel lock decal, and likely one on the replacement lid.
How do I remove the decal, if possible, without damaging it?

Adhesive remover or it is a water decal?

Thanks,

[DerekTheGreat]

Use a heat gun and a plastic, thin paint scraper to work at lifting the edge once you've heated up the whole decal. You'll have to keep working the heat around the decal as you lift, being careful not to burn it. I suggest practicing with something that doesn't matter first. All adhesives are different but you'll have a leg up at least.

[87gtVIC]

Take a good picture of it and if the removal does not go well have one remade.

[gadget73]

Do you want to re-use it? That makes it more difficult. Use heat, go extremely slow, expect that it will stretch and distort to the point of being ruined anyway. WD40 or alcohol to remove the gummy crap most likely.

[BigMikeIT]

It's sorta like I would like to keep some things original, but at the same time need to replace the lid since it is perforated around the edges with iron oxide

[BigMikeIT]

I decided to take some good pics of the McGard label and call it a day.
The new lid, albeit a 88/89 lock style is on. Feels to have a rust-free lid.

[Chuck Norris]

No pics mean it didn't really happen. Don't leave your homies hangin' mang....

[BigMikeIT]

No pics mean it didn't really happen. Don't leave your homies hangin' mang....

So, I put on my soiled sweaty salvage yard clothes on just for you. Snapped these moments ago.
Before:

After:


The crud around the lip is not the dark pre-corrosion mark. Soot, sap, tree pollen.

Edit:
I will put back the original lock cove when I get the car painted, and body work done.
Since the 88/89 lid has the spring loaded cover, there is spring that goes thru the metal leaving a 2-3cm hole.
Left the new lock on there.

I also kept the original trim, and it is interesting to see how Ford corrected how water gets in from the trim rail.

[Grand Marquis GT]

It's hard to tell how the body lines match from the pictures.

How do they from the old trunk to the new?

[BigMikeIT]

Some daylight pics.
It is an alignment thing, but then again the original lid had about the same variance. A little this way, a little that way, a little out, a little in, to the left and all about. I still have old trim but decided to keep the new on for the time being because the backside of the trim has a nice thick ribber pad that stays flush to the body, and appears to do a better job at preventing water going along the trim rail screw threads. Also, the welding on this lid is much better and feels a bit heavier.

So the lid need to come out approx 1/8" without making the center near the back glass stick up. Same problem as old lid.

Edit::
The right right corner piece was wonky before too.

[87gtVIC]

you will get it all working. just takes some tinkering.

I had to adjust my hood some this morning as I was getting annoyed at seeing the front corners flutter in the wind. slightly moved down the hood latch catch and some body man massaging of the front corners and I am back in business.

The bump stops were touching the bottom of the hood but I guess the hood was up just enough to catch wind and annoy the piss out of me. Lowering the hood just a smidge below the header panel was the ticket. Of course I had to lower the bump stops as well.

Don't be afraid to pull on the entire trunk lid while it is open to get the hinges bent to where stuff lines up IF and ONLY IF you cannot get the proper adjustment at the trunks mounting bolts.