Greetings, i am finally ready to "install" the XK8 badge on my Jag. It positions over the key access for the trunk. It appears to have what must be a very strong PSA (Pressure Sensitive Adhesive) under a thin protective backing. I think I will only get one shot at getting this on the car in the correct position and alignment.

Does anyone who has experience with attaching this badge have suggestions regarding surface preparation and alignment? Is it most important to "true" the badge to the key opening or to make it parallel with some body line?

Thanks for any help and invested time.

Regards,

Ken

 

It might help to tell us what year car you have. Badges changed over time.

 

l have never actually applied one but l would guess it might be helpful to insert the key through the badge and into the lock as a guide before adhesive makes contact.

 

Having done custom paintwork for many years,I've found a little system that has worked for me. First, wipe surface with alchohol or equivalant to clean and prep surface, removing all wax and grease.
After determining proper placement, I'll take small pieces of masking tape to hold said part in position, then use strips of masking tape to outline the badge along it's border, placing them in strategic places to exactly outline its proper placement.
You can then remove the badge/emblem and peel the backing from the adhesive. Gently guide the badge into place using your outlined pieces of tape to position it again as you had mocked up. Once in place. press hard to allow adhesive to properly set. Then sit back and admire a job well done!

 

I like a combination of baxtor and Hdpartsman00XKR's techniques.

The critical considerations when fixing are:

1. level - parallel to the ground
2. aligned with the keyway - key can be easily inserted



There isn't a horizontal straight line on the bodywork to reference the parallel alignment so you need to temporarily fix it for checking before removing the backing. Easy way to do this is with the key through the hole and into the lock, tape the badge on then stand back and check it looks right. Finally make sure the key can be freely removed and inserted before doing the prep and stick.

Graham

 

Greetings, Thank you all so much for excellent suggestions. As Rothwell pointed out, I failed to mention that my XK8 is a 1997. I will make good use of your suggestions and give this a go. Again, Thank you all so very much! Warm regards, Ken

 

Maybe some tape around the key would keep it more concentric.

 

I changed the badge on my 96 with a newer type after a complete respray, I did misalign it, but it still works and I'm the only person that knows!