Logo & Lettering Replacement

Hi fellow 4Runners, my trunk opener & mounding has been broken for several weeks now. I’ve got the official Toyota OEM parts to replace it but want to get the letting on the new mounding & handle house. Obviously, I could just slap it on there but I want to make sure it is Perfect™️. The delearship is the only place I know of that that will use parts that you did not buy from them but want an insane amount of money to just do that. I am planning on attaching the new piece myself but need help with the lettering. Does another have any suggestions on how to get the letters on this new one in a OEM type of way? Photos are of the letters & tape setup & the highlighted blue parts are the ones I will be replacing it with. Thanks!

 

I've never done this before, but that will never dissuade me from giving an opinion

What if you tried making a rectangle of painters tape around the existing lettering and marked where each letter went with a grid-like system.

Then transfer that painters tape to the new area and place your letters according to the grid.

 

I had this problem and ended up only installing the Toyota logo again. It has two holes that guide it for a perfect fit. Didn't want to bother trying to line up the letters top and bottom and get it wrong

 

I posted this in another thread a couple weeks ago, it bears repeating since you are replacing your rear garnish and lettering:

PSA - for anyone thinking about replacing their tailgate garnish (hatch handle), do yourself a favor and check out the sticky in the 5th Gen section "Plastic trim rubbing off paint" - there's a discussion in there regarding a way to use Scotch 2228 tape to form a better gasket for the garnish than what comes with it from the factory. TBH, I have not done this since I see no rubbing on my rear garnish, but it seems like a great idea if you already have the garnish off. There are also some videos and tips for removing the garnish in that thread.

https://www.4runners.com/threads/plastic-trim-rubbing-off-paint.34142/page-6#post-595340

https://www.4runners.com/threads/plastic-trim-rubbing-off-paint.34142/page-7#post-596523

And this is the post detailing the gasket "fix" using Scotch 2228 tape:

https://www.4runners.com/threads/plastic-trim-rubbing-off-paint.34142/page-8#post-635196

You might also find some tips on replacing the letters in that thread. I don't know what year your 4R is, as you never updated your thread from over a year ago asking which model to go with; I can only assume you picked up either the late model Pro or the 2024 ORP, unless you ended up going another direction. Funny that your handle only lasted a bit over a year...

There's bound to be used 4Rs at nearby dealers somewhere you could use to get the measurements for the lettering. @nimby's suggestion is a great idea.

 

Here. I made a template. Take the PDF file to your local Staples or some such. Have it printed on large paper. If the printer doesn’t print exactly to scale, have the technician increase or decrease the print size percentage until the logo prints out at 15-¹⁵⁄₁₆ inches. Cut out the template and affix to the hatch handle with double sided tape. Use it as a guide to affix the chrome letters. The bottom if the letters UNNER should be ⅝ of an inch above the bottom edge of the handle.

While laying out this template I noticed that the letters aren’t perfectly aligned from the factory.

(Don’t print the image below. Print the pdf file.)
Edited to add: Don’t use this PDF. Use the revised version in post number 21 of this thread.

 

@Captain Spalding thanks so much for this!! I sincerely appreciate it! However, after printing the PDF out on standard printer paper, it is a lot smaller than I need it to be =( but thanks so much! Do you have any other idea or show to get it to print actual size?!

 

@nimby thanks so much for that suggestion but I am having a hard time visualizing what you are suggesting

 

How about this:

Take the PDF file to your local Staples or some such. Have it printed on large paper. If the printer doesn’t print exactly to scale, have the technician increase or decrease the print size percentage until the logo prints out at 15-¹⁵⁄₁₆ inches. Cut out the template and affix to the hatch handle with double sided tape. Use it as a guide to affix the chrome letters. The bottom if the letters UNNER should be ⅝ of an inch above the bottom edge of the handle.​

 

@Captain Spalding you are a life saver! I’ll measure it from the sides as well to make sure that it is centered but that is a great idea. I will report back after this weekend

 

After you get it printed, lay the paper out on a flat surface and then lay out the chrome letters on the template. If the template seems too small for the letters, ask the technician to print it again but increase the size by a percent or two.

 

P.S.

Your Regis University license plate frame is illegal in the state of Colorado....ask me how I know

 

If possible post a full pic of the full emblem before install, want to see how the backing material is cut out in regards to possible alignment cuts on the backing.

Thanks!

 

Plate obstruction?

 

Petty but yes. Obstructs registration tabs. According to the strong arm of the law

 

@Captain Spalding trying to get the scaling right to ensure that the template is right size. Just did 16” but it’s a bit too small on the scaling

 

increase the size by a percent or two

 

@Captain Spalding the template is nearly perfect! It will work nicely however it is slightly off but super close. Going to use painter’s tape to try and keep the letters together & to line it up properly. I’ve got the 3M double sided tape but am considering the press & place.
The biggest issue is that the bolts & screws aren’t coming out due to the damaged garnish; they just keep spinning even with pliers hold it… at this point, I’m committed to doing the project myself but I do have to drive the car on Tuesday & right now there’s no garnish on it at all…

 

@Captain Spalding THANKS SO MUCH!

 

Glad it worked out.

 

Looks a little off to me.















I'm just messing with you.












But seriously, the lettering is a little closer to the Toyota emblem when compared to the old one, right?

 

@nimby you are right. It is a little off. But it is a faithful reproduction of the letters on my car as installed at the factory. Notice that in the photo the Large R is a little crooked, and the UNNER letters are not evenly spaced. Below is a revised template that corrects these issues. For the benefit of others who might pass this way.