For those of you who removed/replaced your door lettering...

[KMeloney]

...How did you go about aligning the new lettering?

I'm considering pulling my "Denali" lettering from my doors (for a "clean" look). But, in the event that I want to replace the lettering at some later time, I'm wondering how one would go about getting the lettering in the same from-the-factory location.

I see where people have put painter's tape around their existing lettering before removing it, and assume that that's their guide for the new lettering. But if I ever do put lettering back on the doors, I will be working with a clean canvas.

To be clear, one side's lettering on my truck isn't on the same "level" as the other side's to begin with. I think it needs to be run parallel with the door's lower crease that the lettering sits just above -- and one side's lettering doesn't. With that crease as my guide, I'd think that it'd be a matter of getting the height off that crease correct, as well as getting the distance in from the door's leading edge correct, too. Otherwise, do the new letters come with any kind of guide or template?

 

[ProfeZZor X]

The dealership uses a stencil to align the lettering.

I had mine done twice. The AT4 lettering comes with the standard chrome finish, but I bought mine that had a black lettering package. When the vehicle was shipped to me, the black lettering seemed a bit off a few degrees on one side. It was still under warranty, so I had my local dealership replace one side. Frankly, I prefer the black lettering and surprised it doesn't come standard for the AT4, considering it comes standard with factory black window trim for their AT4 package.

I ended up removing the "GMC" badging on the rear trunk lid with fishing line and "goo b-gone".

 

[tuckerrnr1]

When I've done remove and replace in the past, I ran masking tape along the bottom and sides of the existing lettering/emblem and measured from a known point (door edge). When ready to replace, measure and place tape back to original location and reapply new lettering.

 

[ReaperHWK]

I’ve always used the painters tape method. Never did it when not removing old emblems though….

On a blank canvas you’d need some measurements or a some kind of template.

 

[olyelr]

Just measure the distance between the leading door edge and leading portion of the badge, door bottom and bottom portion of the badge, and right the numbers down.

If you do install badges again, use those numbers and put painters tape at the front and bottom sides of the badges. Then install the badges to the tape.

 

[Scarey]

I’ve done it a couple of times from scratch. Stay with the body lines close by and trust your eye.