Brand New Owner!!!...with some questions for the veterans

[Sweetsonic]

Hey all, this is my first post and my first Toyota. I'm very syked. I want to give you the general stats and also ask a couple questions if you don't mind helping out.

- 1997 Toyota 4Runner Limited (forest green w/ stripes)
- Includes roof rack, moonroof, and tow package...I think everything else is standard Limited features
- 119700 miles
- new brakes and tires
- paying $4500 cash for it

I just did a carmax report on the VIN...exceptionally clean. No claims, no accidents, no major work...two owners. Current owner has had it for 6 years and put the most miles on it. Based on comparison pricing, I'm getting one heck of a steal. I just bought a house and was reluctant to spend more cash, but I couldn't turn it down. I'm donating my wife's 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix for this.

A couple questions:

1. I'm interested in replacing the gold badges and emblems for chrome/silver, anyone know the best way to go about that. I need to know how to do it (literally) and also where to find them. I didn't find much doing basic ebay and google searches. Dealerships maybe? I heard a hairdryer and floss works to get emblems off, any comments?

2. What is the best way to remove pin-stripes without fading paint? Will it be obvious that the stripes have been removed? If it is, how do I fix that

 

[Martinjmpr]

Hey all, this is my first post and my first Toyota. I'm very syked. I want to give you the general stats and also ask a couple questions if you don't mind helping out.

- 1997 Toyota 4Runner Limited (forest green w/ stripes)
- Includes roof rack, moonroof, and tow package...I think everything else is standard Limited features
- 119700 miles
- new brakes and tires
- paying $4500 cash for it

I just did a carmax report on the VIN...exceptionally clean. No claims, no accidents, no major work...two owners. Current owner has had it for 6 years and put the most miles on it. Based on comparison pricing, I'm getting one heck of a steal. I just bought a house and was reluctant to spend more cash, but I couldn't turn it down. I'm donating my wife's 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix for this.

A couple questions:

1. I'm interested in replacing the gold badges and emblems for chrome/silver, anyone know the best way to go about that. I need to know how to do it (literally) and also where to find them. I didn't find much doing basic ebay and google searches. Dealerships maybe? I heard a hairdryer and floss works to get emblems off, any comments?

2. What is the best way to remove pin-stripes without fading paint? Will it be obvious that the stripes have been removed? If it is, how do I fix that

3. uh...can't think of another question right now. I'm excited. My first car purchase!

Is it 2 or 4wd? Locker?

If it's a 4wd, esp. with a locker, you got a great deal. Not sure about how it stacks up to the 2wd, there aren't many of them around here.

 

[Sweetsonic]

It is 4WD with rear locking differential. I'm not an off-roader by any means, but the 4WD will come in handy for snow and towing

 

[(hr15]

I have been checking ebay frequently for the emblems i have 3 of them just waiting to find the fourth. I talked to one of the paint guys at my work and he said the best way to remove them is floss. The best way to stick them back on is double sided foam tape.

 

[(hr15]

I just got my new emblems from Toyota that way they already had the tape adhesive on them. Took off one original emblem so far and it was fairly easy with dental floss. It will be a lot easier for you though because some idiot used epoxy? (what looks like dried wood glue) to put the emblems back on at some point before I bought the car. The original foam adhesive came off pretty easily, the epoxy is still stuck on and at the moment I'm out of ideas. Do you have any plans for your gold ones? I might be interested.

You should try some lacquer thinner.

 

[bgmac]

2. What is the best way to remove pin-stripes without fading paint? Will it be obvious that the stripes have been removed? If it is, how do I fix that

It depends on whether or not the pin stripes have clear coat over them or not. If they do, your screwed. If they don't you can just use a heat gun.

 

[jrs2]

Even if the pin strips are not clear coated, the surrounding paint my be faded, so the paint under the pin stripes my be darker than the surrounding paint.

+1 on the dental floss and a little heat for the emblems. I've also used thin strips of plastic (cut out 1/4 inch wide strips from a plastic milk bottle). These can be used to get to areas between pins that you can't get to with the floss.

 

[DefJeff]

Huge pain in the azzz to heat and use floss. I tried that on my old black 99
4WD with the "NBA Rookie Gold Package" emblems and it was a huge headache! Be careful if you take the Yota emblem in the middle off! There's a hole underneath. When you double sticky tape it back on you have to cut every nook and cranny to get it on there secure. If I were to do it again I would just leave the gold, or tape everything off, scuff up the emblems, and rattle can em. Good luck, once you start you're all in!

 

[(hr15]

Thank you for the suggestion! So you think this would be safe for the clearcoat?

Sweetsonic....if decide to go through the dealer just let me know if you have trouble finding the part numbers.

Yeah i am pretty sure the paint guy at my work uses it to get that kinda stuff of. But i will ask him monday and let you know.

 

[Sweetsonic]

Thanks for the responses guys. Man I am lovin my new T4R. This is my first car I bought myself so that makes it even better.

bootown:

If they're not ridiculously expensive, I'd rather go through the dealer and make sure I get the right parts. I looked on ebay and did end up finding a good decal store that has some of the emblems, but if the dealer isn't too much more expensive, I'd do it that way. I don't think they're going to be that hard to remove. It's been very hot here lately and I almost wiggled one off just using my hands today. If I can get the chrome parts and switch them out, I'd be more than happy to part with the gold ones. Haven't really paid attention to what shape they're in, some might be a little ugly. Please give me the part numbers if you have them on-hand.

Even if the pin strips are not clear coated, the surrounding paint my be faded, so the paint under the pin stripes my be darker than the surrounding paint.

Yeah, I don't think they are clear coated. A lot of the pin stripe is already starting to flake off. I am concerned about the color underneath though. Anyway to fix that without a new paint job? I want to hope that it will all look great after I remove it but yeah....

By the way, anyone have a full paint job done, and what did it cost?

 

[bgmac]

. .



Yeah, I don't think they are clear coated. A lot of the pin stripe is already starting to flake off. I am concerned about the color underneath though. Anyway to fix that without a new paint job? I want to hope that it will all look great after I remove it but yeah....

By the way, anyone have a full paint job done, and what did it cost?

Pull off a small section and see. Try some rubbing compound and polish.

 

[Houston]

1997 didn't have forest green. its called evergreen pearl. my 4runner is that color and its my favorite. Nice find and welcome to the T4R community

 

[SilverBullet01]

the only thing i could think of for the fade would be to get a decent clay bar kit and clay your whole t4r. it will bring back a big lustrous shine to the whole rig while your at it

 

[judoant]

use goo gone to remove the pin stripes and glue. take some car brite polish to blend the color. as far as the emblems i would tape and paint like the earlier suggestion.