So...I suppose I'm fortunate to have this dilemma, and it's kinda tongue in cheek that I even post, but I curious to see what my fellow Thirdgenners think.
I recently got my new 383 up and running, and without really giving much thought to it, I intended to remove the 5.7 TUNED PORT INJECTION emblem from the bumper and cut off the 5.7, leaving it as an UN-specified displacement. Most of you will know that the 5.7 cars of course got the "5.7" obviously, and the 5.0 cars didn't get any number. Just a "TUNED PORT INJECTION".
So I took it out to one of our new cruise in spots, and several of the crew who hadn't seen the car in almost a year all crowded around. As I gave them the walk around to point out the little details, I explained I was going to cut off the 5.7, and that idea was met with quite the negative response! Most of them knew the 5.0's got no number, and felt there was no way that they would want to imply it was on a 5.0. Some also felt that technically a 383 is a 5.7 stroker, and that they'd leave it as is. Other felt that removing the 5.7 was the ONLY way to go. Still others felt removing the emblem entirely was the way to go.
Now the somewhat silly nature of this wasn't lost on any of us, and I think they were more than happy to have stuck this in my head. ...but the question remains...
I'm no help. hah I did add a TPI emblem to my truck. One day on my way home from work, a red IROC pulled alongside me and honked, pointing at the emblem and gave me a thumbs up. I returned the gesture as it was a nice car, but I didn't have a chance to get a pic.
Not yet, but I'm going to make them! ....do those rocker decals have the 5.7 too, or are they ALL just TUNED PORT INJECTION??? ...right now, mine just have the TPI, no displacement size. ...regardless, the new ones I'm making will say 6.3!
The rear bumper cover never had a 5.0 Tuned Port Injection emblem, only Tuned Port Injection or 5.7 Tuned Port Injection. The 5.0 TPI was a decal on the side ground effects under the emblem.
I wouldn't use decals. They seem cheap no matter how good they are made.
I would make them from billet aluminum and polish them and clear them. They would be emblems similar to the original or they could be completely custom. A different font.
I made some FORD emblems for trucks to replace the original plastic one in the grill and on tail gates. They look chrome when they're polished.
Cost wasn't too high, but they are custom and they take time.
I went with just plain "TUNED PORT INJECTION". ....I like the clean no emblem look, but the bumper cover has that nice indentation, and it looked too plain. Plus....I'm a fan of stock appearing. ....so I cut off the 5.7.
A lot of people like stock, however, I'm not one of them.
Once the plenum/runners and wheels are polished, the stock appearance is gone. Then changing gauges, headlights, hoods/louvers, and so on, really changes things.
Having something different is sometimes good.
I modeled a couple of possibilities and even if it isn't for the purists or say nayers, I would probably make a set similar to one of these for my IROC, if I still owned it.
The rear bumper cover never had a 5.0 Tuned Port Injection emblem, only Tuned Port Injection or 5.7 Tuned Port Injection. The 5.0 TPI was a decal on the side ground effects under the emblem.
I remember those. Maybe that is what I'm thinking......
Skinny Z you are definitely not fooling no one with the 2.8 emblem that's for sure.. and only same handful get nominated over and over for COTM anyhow.
Quote: A lot of people like stock, however, I'm not one of them.
My goal/mission was to build my Iroc how I think GM should've built it. Now....why I felt that meant I HAD to keep the TPI (albeit quite modded), but swapped in a TKO is not something I can explain. Why do some people like coke and others like Pepsi. I don't know, it just is. ...and while YOU all know it's modded, I get countless people praising me "leaving it stock". ....and what they mean is stock appearing. ...and that's pretty much been my goal.