Winnebago / Itasca letters

[hauboldg]

I have a 2013 Itasca Sunstar, after asking many detailers I removed the vinyl bra from the front hood and fender cowling with a lot of work - and it looks great. Now the fake chrome plastic letters stand out. I ordered new I T A S C A (for $179) and they come preloaded with adhesive - has anyone done this? I'm told I pry the old letters off, and then use a rubber wheel to knock off the old adhesive, but I wouldn't think it would be any more challenging than the adhesive behind that bra was. Then - is there any trick to getting the new ones straight? I figure you get one shot.

[ThomB]

I would suggest before removing the old letters that you use some good autobody tape to mark a box around all the letters so you can align the new ones as the old ones are coming off. I'd probably only remove a letter at a time when swapping them out if you're looking to get them exactly positioned like the existing letters.

[hauboldg]

Originally Posted by ThomB

I would suggest before removing the old letters that you use some good autobody tape to mark a box around all the letters so you can align the new ones as the old ones are coming off. I'd probably only remove a letter at a time when swapping them out if you're looking to get them exactly positioned like the existing letters.

Yes, I do see that problem coming. A little more info - so apparently, the clear vinyl/plastic bra is applied, and then the letters are glued to that. I'm going to guess (from what I feel) that the letters are a little hollow and filled with epoxy, as they're a little rounded.

If that's the case, removing that vinyl will bring the adhesive residue off with it - and I know how to get that off after doing the entire hood.

With the clear vinyl under the letters, I could peel it around the letters but had to take a sharp knife to cut it at the corners - so I have some marks at each letter. That said, the tape is a good idea too.