Jacking Decal Removal

[ko-lek-tor]

Is there a way or has anyone had success with removing a well glued original tire jacking instruction decal from the underside of a deck lid? Please share what and how it was successfully accomplished.

[69Z28-RS]

I've never seen/heard of one being removed (for preservation purposes).. which seems to be what you are asking.  I couldn't imagine removing one without damage, as Chevy put those on to stay (obviously)..

[X33RS]

Funny, my original just fell off one day.  Opened the trunk and it was laying on the mat.  Dry desert conditions I guess.  I glued it back on.  Posi decal fell off long ago too.  just remnants of glue left on the decklid.

[lakeholme]

Kent Acrysol.  My brother in law used it to clean up the trunk lid on his 57. It took off thick glue and adhesive residue.  He rubbed it on, let it soak for a few seconds, and then off.  It will remove wax, etc. as well. I would not let it set on clear coat. Maybe, test in a hidden corner. Don't let it get on the mat, not for interior materials.

[ko-lek-tor]

After re-reading my own post, I think I did not explain correctly. I am trying to SAVE the decal since it is in pretty good shape. I am trying to preserve the decal and remove it carefully. Thank you Phillip. I am thinking you interpreted that I wanted to clean off the remnants of a decal. I do wonder if that product, if the decal is soaked, would loosen up the glue without the paper tearing or the ink running?

[Z28Project]

I guess you could move to the dry desert and wait for them to fall off! j/k 

[ko-lek-tor]

I guess you could move to the dry desert and wait for them to fall off! j/k 

Yeah, got me thinking about doing that, lol.

[lakeholme]

After re-reading my own post, I think I did not explain correctly. I am trying to SAVE the decal since it is in pretty good shape. I am trying to preserve the decal and remove it carefully. Thank you Phillip. I am thinking you interpreted that I wanted to clean off the remnants of a decal. I do wonder if that product, if the decal is soaked, would loosen up the glue without the paper tearing or the ink running?

No, it would probably destroy it. Sorry.

Mind telling us what your overall plan is for your trunk?

[ko-lek-tor]

Phillip, thank you for your interest and great question. I am on the threshold of finally getting my car painted. I found a local, competent, honest, and reasonably priced guy who is retired with 40 years of body/paint experience. He has going to get paint on this thing if it kills me!! lol. The only missing piece of my car's body puzzle was a rust free, nice GM deck lid. I found one this past Saturday! Everything on my car is GM, so the thought of a reproduction lid was not out of the question, just not what I preferred. The lid I got is in it's original paint and has a nice jacking decal still attached. I thought it would be nice to save that decal, if for no reason, to give to Don Lightfoot for his repro efforts. I have a D. L. set of decals, but as a preservationist and originality obsessed nut, I just wanted to see if it was possible to save, rather than just destroy and deface it when stripping and painting. Thanks for your inquiry and I hope this explanation answers your curiosity.

[lakeholme]

Sounds like a plan! Congrats on your progress. I'm with you when it comes to restoration preferences.
Unfortunately, anything that breaks down glue will also break down the decal. We did tons of research finding the best field decal for Charlotte Autofair favoring one that would come off with water. The vendors pointed out that what holds the paper fibers together is basically a glue.

[69Z28-RS]

I used to remove 'new car window listings' by spraying down (soaking) wtih WINDEX, which would loosen that glue used on them, then gently peeling down to (hopefully) not tear the paper...  After drying it would be 'wrinkley' but whole...  I doubt the glue used on the Jacking/Posi labels would be as obedient to the windex as the glue on the window stickers... but if you can't think of anything else, try it...  or maybe even try a solvent ??  mineral spirits?? or do you think a solvent would do away with the inks??

[Kelley W King]

I used Windex also but on later models and new cars. It did work on them. Goo Gone (Lowes) removes glue and durn near anything but I have never used it on something to save. As my kids have showed me, a good photo and a good color printer can do a lot of things. Might not be original but it might take this site and the fakers to tell.

[Boston14]

I contacted Don Lightfoot about making a reproduction of my jacking instructions.  He said he couldn't do it.  Then I contacted and worked with Robert Cardillo (Team Camaro) and he came up with a spot on decal for me.  If you can get your instructions off, great!!  If not try Robert, he's great to work with, is quite reasonably priced and does a very good job.  The reason I had to have one made was because all the repros on the market are wrong.

[ko-lek-tor]

Well, i can tell you Windex did not work. I have no more decal. Oh well, I thought it would have been nice to save

[69Z28-RS]

Well, i can tell you Windex did not work. I have no more decal. Oh well, I thought it would have been nice to save

So fill in the blanks Bentley.. What did you do (in detail) and what happened??

I don't suppose I should attempt to remove my original???