Removing CJ Laredo Decals

**havoc64** · 06-24-2009, 12:42 PM

Hello all,

I know this is most likely covered, but a search only showed new decal stuff..

What's your experience with removing original decals? I have an 81 CJ7 that I want to do some body work and paint myself and I want to remove the old Laredo Decals and striping.

I have heard Heat gunning it and peeling it, Eraser wheels and the manual says something about scoring the decal and then applying a solvent.

Here's a pic of Jenny with my Pup Pelli

Thanks for the ideas
Mike

JoonHoss · 06-24-2009, 12:51 PM

if you need to paint over them (their location), then it doesn't matter- remove them with a DA if you need to. if they are original, it's VERY unlikely that you'll get them off easily with anything.

most of the decals we try to remove that are even a few years old are a total be-yoch.

Hoss

Rocketbass88 · 06-24-2009, 01:19 PM

Yeah, those decals have been on there for over 25 years... I don't see them coming off very easily. If you're going to repaint it, you can use Goo-Gone. However, be aware that Goo-Gone will probably rub some of your paint off with the decal.

swat7d7 · 06-24-2009, 02:13 PM

Not an easy job. First you have to either use a heat gun or park in the sun to soften the vinyl decals. Once they're warmed up, you can usually peel them off leaving just the adhesive. Then I use 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner (#08984) to remove the adhesive. I use paper towel saturated with the cleaner and apply it to the adhesive. I work in sections of about two feet. Once I finished one section, the next section which has been soaking in the cleaner/paper towel is ready to work on.

starfire340 · 06-24-2009, 02:50 PM

If you are NOT concerned about the paint getting ate away, I have used aerosol gasket remover that you can pick up at your local parts store. Will peel the lettering away very quickly and probably the paint as well, but works much faster than trying to sand them off!

DT5150 · 06-24-2009, 03:34 PM

it'd be kind of a shame to destroy those factory decals...

**keith460** · 06-24-2009, 05:10 PM

A heat gun is best. Heat an area about 12" in length and slowly start peeling the decal back @ 180° angle, heat another 12" and so on. I've removed decals from cars made in the 60's and 70's and a heat gun to soften the decal works best and always pull the decal folded away from the body panel at 180° to prevent paint from being pulled off.

littleturner76 · 06-24-2009, 09:25 PM

Why paint? Looks good to me. I will be watching your progress though, I have the same project ahead of me. Good luck!

**Cutlass327** · 06-25-2009, 12:05 AM

Awe.. That's a cute pic... Springer Spaniel?

**havoc64** · 06-26-2009, 08:47 AM

Yea The Springer, Pelli, is about 13 years old...he's at the point where he know's he's not supposed to be on the couch, but he doesn't care and gets up there anyway...lol

Yea I hate to pull the decals, but the hood is faded down to the primer in a couple of places and needs to be repainted.

I have found a place on the web that sells Laredo decal kits...so I want to put those back on after repainting...

Thanks for the replies!

Mike

CajunHiker · 06-26-2009, 09:23 AM

I'm in the same boat, uh Jeep that is. I've got an '89 Laredo with the same set of circumstances. Some of my stripes are already coming off in places. I'm in the process of restoring/buildup right now and was power washing recently. I did notice that some of the decal/stickers were coming off in some areas. I'm not sure that it would be worth trying to remove all of them that way though.

**myzoo** · 06-26-2009, 10:26 AM

they have cheep decal removers at harbor freight like $7 bucks. it looks like a razer blade on a handle and you plug it in and heats up.

NOTE: i have never used one but looks like it would work good. The way your jeep looks i would leave it alone, but it is yours.

littleturner76 · 06-27-2009, 01:20 AM

harbor freight ahhhhhhhhhhhh!

**Matt1981CJ7** · 12-03-2011, 08:19 AM

Dredging up an old thread to ask a question....

I'm beginning to prep for re-painting my '81, which has the original AMC white paint and Renegade decals. The decals are sun-baked and cracking pretty badly.

In your opinions, would my money be better spent on a heat gun, decal eraser, or chemical product of some kind to remove the decals? I'm re-painting with the same white color that's on the Jeep, so I''d like to keep as much of the original paint under the decals, as I can.

Thanks,

Matt

Oily · 12-03-2011, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by havoc64

Yea I hate to pull the decals, but the hood is faded down to the primer in a couple of places and needs to be repainted.

I have found a place on the web that sells Laredo decal kits...so I want to put those back on after repainting...

I have the same problem. With the hood and the front of the fenders. I am gonna prep around the decals then "brush paint them" with grease before I respray the hood. Even perhaps using a model car paint brush if needed.
I am suspect to many replacement decal's quality. I also don't look forward to reapplying them.