Rear Strut Brace Bar Cover "Z" Badge Solutions
12-08-2011, 08:24 AM
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Rear Strut Brace Bar Cover "Z" Badge Solutions
What are every ones solutions to the rear strut bar cover "z" badge solutions to when the metal coating starts coming off? is there somewhere that sells just the z emblem or do you have to buy the whole cover?
I thought I would take the opportunity and make something cool with it instead of buying a new one. I bought a used one that looked in ok shape, but when I got it it had the same problem, so I painted the cover it self the same color as the car when I was painting some pieces on the car and cut out the z part of it where the emblem goes. Then i cut out a piece of plexi glass in the shape of the emblem so it would fit in the hole i cut in the cover it self. Then I sandblasted the plexi glass to give it that mat look and to disperse the light I put behind it better. I bought some small led strips and put them under the cover where the plexi glass z is and wired in to the hatch light, so it glows red every time you open the hatch.
I thought I would take the opportunity and make something cool with it instead of buying a new one. I bought a used one that looked in ok shape, but when I got it it had the same problem, so I painted the cover it self the same color as the car when I was painting some pieces on the car and cut out the z part of it where the emblem goes. Then i cut out a piece of plexi glass in the shape of the emblem so it would fit in the hole i cut in the cover it self. Then I sandblasted the plexi glass to give it that mat look and to disperse the light I put behind it better. I bought some small led strips and put them under the cover where the plexi glass z is and wired in to the hatch light, so it glows red every time you open the hatch.
12-08-2011, 09:15 AM
#2
I don't like LED's, but that's just a personal preference. I think it would look a little better if you hid the LED's under the solid portion so the Z would glow evenly instead of seeing the bright spots.
Below is a pic of what I did with mine. I covered it with micro-suede and the fabric laid down into the 'Z' to give it a a subtle, embossed look. The suede w/ orange stitch matches my center armrest door, shift boot and cubby door. The other benefit of the black suede is less glare in the back window compared to the OEM silver panel.
Below is a pic of what I did with mine. I covered it with micro-suede and the fabric laid down into the 'Z' to give it a a subtle, embossed look. The suede w/ orange stitch matches my center armrest door, shift boot and cubby door. The other benefit of the black suede is less glare in the back window compared to the OEM silver panel.
Last edited by TPete19; 12-08-2011 at 09:18 AM.
12-08-2011, 10:13 AM
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I don't like LED's, but that's just a personal preference. I think it would look a little better if you hid the LED's under the solid portion so the Z would glow evenly instead of seeing the bright spots.
Below is a pic of what I did with mine. I covered it with micro-suede and the fabric laid down into the 'Z' to give it a a subtle, embossed look. The suede w/ orange stitch matches my center armrest door, shift boot and cubby door. The other benefit of the black suede is less glare in the back window compared to the OEM silver panel.
Below is a pic of what I did with mine. I covered it with micro-suede and the fabric laid down into the 'Z' to give it a a subtle, embossed look. The suede w/ orange stitch matches my center armrest door, shift boot and cubby door. The other benefit of the black suede is less glare in the back window compared to the OEM silver panel.
12-08-2011, 11:15 AM
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TPets bar is sick. i was about to do mine in suede too.. and i am not a fan of having a SINGLE z logo on the car. I did however fill in my square dents on the bar before doing the dinoc when i was bored. 
the stitch is dope too.
Id do the std real carbon cover, but no one will make it for me without the z cut into it.. whic is lame.
i just feel like adding more Z logos is like putting a windsheild sticker of the name of the car on the car..
like CAMARO or TRACKER.. eesh.
but props for the DIY spirit for sure.
the stitch is dope too. Id do the std real carbon cover, but no one will make it for me without the z cut into it.. whic is lame.
i just feel like adding more Z logos is like putting a windsheild sticker of the name of the car on the car..
like CAMARO or TRACKER.. eesh.
but props for the DIY spirit for sure.
12-08-2011, 11:34 AM
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TPets bar is sick. i was about to do mine in suede too.. and i am not a fan of having a SINGLE z logo on the car. I did however fill in my square dents on the bar before doing the dinoc when i was bored. the stitch is dope too.
Id do the std real carbon cover, but no one will make it for me without the z cut into it.. whic is lame.
i just feel like adding more Z logos is like putting a windsheild sticker of the name of the car on the car..
like CAMARO or TRACKER.. eesh.
but props for the DIY spirit for sure.
the stitch is dope too. Id do the std real carbon cover, but no one will make it for me without the z cut into it.. whic is lame.
i just feel like adding more Z logos is like putting a windsheild sticker of the name of the car on the car..
like CAMARO or TRACKER.. eesh.
but props for the DIY spirit for sure.
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12-08-2011, 01:57 PM
#10
What are every ones solutions to the rear strut bar cover "z" badge solutions to when the metal coating starts coming off? is there somewhere that sells just the z emblem or do you have to buy the whole cover?
I thought I would take the opportunity and make something cool with it instead of buying a new one. I bought a used one that looked in ok shape, but when I got it it had the same problem, so I painted the cover it self the same color as the car when I was painting some pieces on the car and cut out the z part of it where the emblem goes. Then i cut out a piece of plexi glass in the shape of the emblem so it would fit in the hole i cut in the cover it self. Then I sandblasted the plexi glass to give it that mat look and to disperse the light I put behind it better. I bought some small led strips and put them under the cover where the plexi glass z is and wired in to the hatch light, so it glows red every time you open the hatch.
I thought I would take the opportunity and make something cool with it instead of buying a new one. I bought a used one that looked in ok shape, but when I got it it had the same problem, so I painted the cover it self the same color as the car when I was painting some pieces on the car and cut out the z part of it where the emblem goes. Then i cut out a piece of plexi glass in the shape of the emblem so it would fit in the hole i cut in the cover it self. Then I sandblasted the plexi glass to give it that mat look and to disperse the light I put behind it better. I bought some small led strips and put them under the cover where the plexi glass z is and wired in to the hatch light, so it glows red every time you open the hatch.
Don't like the leds...glows red when you open the hatch??
I guess your preferance.I hate the "silver" used on the strut bar and in other areas of the interior(steering wheel etc.)I've pretty much eliminated with CF.
Have a CF strut bar cover.I've left the Z in stock chrome form...have thought
of doing it in hyper-black to tone it down some.
12-08-2011, 02:17 PM
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thought about CF, hard to find good looking CF interior for a reasonable cost for interior in my exp. I agree that the original color on the cover does not look good, painted it silver(same exact paint as the car) to match the color of the car, I have how ever considered doing the middle console in CF because the previous owner of the car scratched it some places like the compartment door above the radio, since it is coated with the rubbery stuff, dont know a good way to strip that coating to just paint it back flat black.
12-08-2011, 02:47 PM
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My emblem held strong with 8 years, but finally fell victim to this same issue. When I stripped the emblem it broke into 5 pieces due to the brittle plastic. After some super glue, primer, sanding, and paint this is what I came out with. In the process I also painted the cover, and my shifter bezel because both had several blemishes. I used the factory silver from the 370s and went with Sikkens ABP and Autoclear III for the BC/CC.
12-08-2011, 03:17 PM
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My emblem held strong with 8 years, but finally fell victim to this same issue. When I stripped the emblem it broke into 5 pieces due to the brittle plastic. After some super glue, primer, sanding, and paint this is what I came out with. In the process I also painted the cover, and my shifter bezel because both had several blemishes. I used the factory silver from the 370s and went with Sikkens ABP and Autoclear III for the BC/CC.
12-08-2011, 03:45 PM
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thought about CF, hard to find good looking CF interior for a reasonable cost for interior in my exp. I agree that the original color on the cover does not look good, painted it silver(same exact paint as the car) to match the color of the car, I have how ever considered doing the middle console in CF because the previous owner of the car scratched it some places like the compartment door above the radio, since it is coated with the rubbery stuff, dont know a good way to strip that coating to just paint it back flat black.
12-08-2011, 04:41 PM
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12-08-2011, 05:16 PM
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My emblem held strong with 8 years, but finally fell victim to this same issue. When I stripped the emblem it broke into 5 pieces due to the brittle plastic. After some super glue, primer, sanding, and paint this is what I came out with. In the process I also painted the cover, and my shifter bezel because both had several blemishes. I used the factory silver from the 370s and went with Sikkens ABP and Autoclear III for the BC/CC.
