Stand out with Billet: ABD GMC aluminum emblem insert installed

Zane · October 21, 2015

Zane & Josh Merva

GM-Trucks.com

Ready to make your truck stand out in the crowd? Swap your stock Chevy or GMC emblem in for something that really stands out, a color matched billet aluminum insert. We install and review a set from American Brother Designs.

Product Reviewed & Cost:

American Brother Designs GMC Color Matched Billet Emblem Inserts: $124.99 w/free shipping

What is it:

A solid billet aluminum insert painted to match most GM stock colors and also available in chrome, flat black, and multiple camo variations. Available for 2007+ Chevrolet bowtie and GMC letter replacements.

Tested On:

2011 GMC Sierra All-Terrain Extended Cab SLT

Here is how we installed a black color matched insert on our 2011 GMC Sierra:

Wash vehicle

We always like to start with a clean surface to work around. By removing any dirt and grime you reduce the chance of scratching your vehicle while working around and on it.

Cut out and apply guide letters

ABD includes a template for each kit that you can use to help remove your truck’s stock insert. We then cut out each letter and taped it over our Sierra’s front GMC emblem.

Drill out holes in the letters or bowtie

After the template is in place we used the tip of a drill bit to mark each hole we’d be drilling. Starting slowly, we drilled holes in our emblem at the marked spots. We took special care to not drill too deeply.

Carefully pry out the original insert

If you have a 2014 and newer truck the purpose of drilling the emblems are to remove support tabs. If you have a 2013 and earlier truck, you’re simply weakening the emblem and the adhesive that holds it on. If your emblem is attached using adhesive, slowly pry away the insert pieces taking special care to not scratch the chrome surround.

Clean the back

Once the stock insert is removed we made sure the underlying surface was perfectly clean. That includes scraping any residue or glue away and thoroughly cleaning the surface with rubbing alcohol. This step is a pain in the behind, but the cleaner the surface the better the bond.

Apply the new insert

If it’s cold out use a hair dryer to warm up the billet inserts and the area where you’ll be applying them. Then carefully remove the new adhesive backing and apply the insert. Warm the entire surface and apply pressure for around a minute to properly bond the insert to the vehicle. Afterwards, wait 24-hours before washing to allow the 3M adhesive tape to properly bond.

Our thoughts

American Brother Designs aluminum inserts are an easy way to make your truck look different. Match your emblem to your truck’s stock paint or mix it up with another color, your pickup will immediately stand out as something different.

We appreciated that the billet fit exactly. There were no ugly gaps and fit looks like it came from the factory. We also appreciated the black painted inserts matched our GMC's paint perfectly. A thick cut of billet fills the channel that the red jewel of the stock GMC lettering used to occupy for a flush finish. These inserts are also strong and will outlast the plastic grill they are surrounded by. While emblem covering decals may fade and wear, this aluminum insert will look like new for years to come.

We personally like the look over the cheaper jeweled stock emblem. Color matched letters give our Sierra an unmistakable appearance on the road. The instructions were clear and easy to follow and we completed the project in about an hour. We love the new look.

Pick up a set of ABD Billet Inserts in the GM-Trucks.com Store