Header panel repair

Ok my 96 was in a wreck and I have all the parts I need to fix it and paint it. When I looked at the header panel I had, and noticed what looked to be chips along the edge by the hood. There was also a 3" long crack on the passenger side. It is not falling apart into pieces just cosmetic looks. What should I use to repair it before I paint it? Bondo, fiberglass resin, or whatever? Do I just wet sand it and shoot it with primer before I paint it?Second thing is this header panel is out of a 92 XJ from a junkyard. Is the Jeep logo molded onto the header panel or is it a stick on emblem? If it is stick on how do I remove the old one without screwing up my header panel?
I know where to get the logo if I do need to remove it.

did the same thing with mine...just replaced the whole front clip...as far as the jeep emblem, it is probably on there with heavy duty double sided automotive tape

and for removing it...heat the emblems up maybe with a hairdryer and take some fishing line and just pull it under each letter

My small crack is no where near that bad it's about as long as a credit card right above the headlight. Thanks for the tip on the emblem. I have a heat gun.

Jeepm@n said:

My small crack is no where near that bad it's about as long as a credit card right above the headlight. Thanks for the tip on the emblem. I have a heat gun.

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yea mine was pretty bad. I had a head on collision with a kawasakii mule...thank goodness for a steel bumper...welcome!

Try some sandable epoxy other wise bondo or fiberglas should do the trick. I beleave most jeep letter on the pannel are stick on. I rubbed off the e and p on mine when I went down a hill into a tree. Some 3M double side sticky tape should work just fine or my fave some RTV or gorilla glue.

Around here you can get them at the junkyard all day long for about 20 bucks... maybe its the same in your area?? Then you can still do whatever you want with the jeep while your sanding / primering and then just bolt it in...

My 2c

What color is the jeep?

My header panel had a small crack that I repaired with gorilla glue. For the damage you've got I'd get a replacement. You can find them new for reasonable amounts, or you can get them from the jy pretty easily too. They are not hard to remove.

use a thin steel putty knife to remove the letters, heat helps, use goof off or laquer thinner to clean the remains. and yes headers are cheap and available, don't even bother repairing if you are dealing with more than minor cracks.

I think Renix letters had the stud/nut on the back, but the HO's are just stuck in place IIRC.

live and learn, yes renix models are held on by nuts! I took the letters off my 95 when I repaired the header,but I'd never messed with my 87.I just checked & they are for sure. another bit of xj trivia is now in my memory banks.

Ok I just bought a different one. Thanks Kim. The old cracked one shall be a garage wall decoration.