Ideas for re - badging / decal on rear hatch to replace '4RUNNER'

Long story short - I was installing black overlays and one leg of the stupid 'E' just would not stay flush. I thought there was a piece of flash on the bottom side so I decided to pull it off, remove the tape, smooth it out, and reinstall with new tape.

Except the stupid overlay was actually pretty damn well adhered to the rest of the lettering, and as a result when I worked it off it pulled off the factory chrome 'E' as well. I then decided the next best course of action would be to remove all the lettering and run it bare... exceot as it turns out there are alignment dimples plus I don't think it looks quite right nekkid.

So maybe get a custom decal or something to cover it?

Or get fresh factory badging and then play the "is it straight" game for 2 hours while I reinstall it... and then have to overlay that, too.

Before I just do that last one, anyone have any thoughts on a better / cheaper / more interesting / more unique approach to re-lettering the missing badging?

Or does it not look like ass blank? I may be too close to the project.

EDIT, solved; refer to post 28 below

 

Fill the dimples with some cheap filler putty and get a piece of scrap vinyl wrap in your choice of color (from a tint/wrap shop), cut it to shape & apply it. Done. Cheap and simple.
I did my hood with black satin to match the scoop.

 

Get something fun 3D printed. Like 5Runner or 4yota.

 

Clean the surface really well, then put this sticker down:

 

Rebadge it “PRIUS”

 

I wouldn’t mind rebadging my tailgate garnish with black OEM looking letter emblems that says “T O Y O T A”.

 

Return to factory might be the easiest way to avoid hokey-looking substitutes. But then there's the overlay again. Any way you can complete that on the bench and then install the whole thing back onto the truck?

 

Or just paint the factory lettering black before install, then no need to worry about overlay

 

Reminds me of when I swung by my local Dodge dealership 20 some years ago when they were reintroducing the Hemi branding on their V8 trucks. I picked up a "Yeah, It's Got a Hemi" bumper sticker and slapped it on my 108hp Echo.

 

Yeah I'm sure I could.

 

After you pulled off the E, did you find out the issue with the overlay? Do they sell an oem black lettering set?

 

As far as I can determine they do not sell a factory black set. I really am not in love with the black letters anyway but I wanted the T black and it looks retarded with black over chrome.

The issue was I bought a shit ass alibabaetsy set! I think the E was just a bad mold.

 

Apparently the Nightshade came with black:

 

4th brake light from ebay and I glued a black overlay emblem in place.

 

I’m down with debadging. Filled the dimples and rattle canned with black textured paint. Only logos remaining are Toyo ovals front and rear.
But, Im also ok with pinstriping and dirt…

 

I thought this way they will remember what they will be buying when they rear end me.

 

Replace it with 4Walker

 

I was wondering if I could get a Limited Ditchmaster edition emblem. Prone to make right turns in ditches, fields and fences.

 

I saw one yesterday that was color keyed to body color with black letters. It looked pretty good. I think mine was $113 from ebay and it doesn't look bad. Fits well. I used JB Weld to stick overlay to it. I probably could have installed old chrome and overlay on top, but JB Weld is getting pretty amazing. I thought I was getting a solid emblem.

 

I just checked my cousins '23 4Runner and from the factory, it came with black overlays! I was more surprised than I think I should be!!!!

 

Surprised because Toyota uses overlays? I would be too.

 

Exactly. I couldn't believe Toyota is using overlays! All manufacturers do it, for example, a 1962 bubble top Impala is just left over tops from the 1961 body style but I was surprised they overlayed nowadays haha
I built built a 1962 Impala for my father in law so I learned about that particular body style haha

 

Get the nightshade emblem, it came in black.

https://parts.toyotadalton.com/oem-parts/toyota-nameplate-7543135070

 

Yeah actually after reading one of the above posts I realized that. I ordered it earlier today from my local dealer, delivery tomorrow; so I'll close the loop on this thread after I install it tomorrow.

 

I'd be more concerned about what happened to your license plate. That looks all kinds of messed up.

 

Could be your vision failing

 

To finish this off: I got the Nightshade black emblem - $80 locally. Internet pricing ranges from $70-100. Easy install because the dimples line the lettering up correctly (or close enough, at least), and there is transfer paper on the front and back and the back is split in the middle to allow you to secure one side without losing alignment on the other. Took about 5 minutes to install.

 

Looks much better than blank.

 

I might buy those for ours... I like that they're all black and not overlays from the factory like The ones on my cousin's new 4Runner

 

I've been thinking of buying a set and trying to color match them to the letters on the heritage grill which seem to be a smoked aluminum or something