Restoring Exterior Reflective Lenses

7173Mustangs.com

Help Support 7173Mustangs.com:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

4mm

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 26, 2012
Messages
447
Reaction score
3
Location
S. TX
My Car
1971 Mustang 351C 4V Fastback
It is tough finding (not to mention expensive) OEM lenses. What process are you guys using to restore them? Do you and clean them and buff by hand or use a buffing machine? What kind of wax if any? Thanks in advance.

 
I just went through this with all of my lenses. I took them all in the kitchen and scrub them with mild dish soap and warm water with a scrub brush. Once they were dry, I then applied a plastic polish. I used Mcguires plastic polish but mothers makes some too. I did it by hand with a microfiber cloth but I really wanted to use a smaller foam pad like you would use on your headlights for modern cars but I didn't have access to one. I have to say, they turned out pretty decent but then again mine didn't have any deep scratches in them either.

 
I have also used the Meguiars PlastX for clear Plastic. To get into the little prisms in the tail light I use a soft tooth brush and then go to the micro fiber towels. If you use any kind of buffer it has to run very slow or you will melt the plastic. Variable speed cordless drill with soft buffing pad.

I also use this on the clear lens of the instrument panel and gauges. Anything plastic it works pretty good on.

You need to pull the lens down to just the plastic to polish. I think there is a thread on here showing how to get the aluminum frame off. If not search the net.

While you have everything apart you should spray the inside of the white part of the light housing to make it brighter.

David

 
I use 3M Finessit II polishing compound and a microfiber towel. It works great on the exterior paint as well.

Chuck

 
BTW, I thought Daniel Carpenter got the original Ford tooling for the lens so they have the Ford logo on them. Maybe even the housing tooling. Does anyone know for sure? Maybe Don has some on the shelf he can look at. I think they are all just plain aluminum with no black on the trim.

David

 
Isn't the housing for the side markers originally more light beige than white?

 
Isn't the housing for the side markers originally more light beige than white?
Mine are all white or yellowing with age. When they sprayed the spatter paint inside the trunk they got it on about everything including wiring, side marker light, gas filler, drop down door and some on the rear light housings. Every car is different no robots to repeat anything back then.

David

 
I disassembled, cleaned up the lenses and repainted the housing a few months ago. Here is what I did....

Disassembly is a pain. You have to remove the rubber seal which is glued to the lens and bezel. Then drill out the round plastic lens tabs from the bezel. Then carefully separate the lens from the bezel by prying them apart with a putty knife as they are glued together with a very stubborn elastic rubberized glue. Cleaning up the rubberized glue from the from the bezel is not too bad with solvent, but don't use it on the lens as it will damage it.

I just cleaned my aluminum bezels with mothers wheel polish, but if you feel the need to given them a good polishing you will need to remove the anodized coating from the aluminum first. A ten minute coating of oven cleaner works well, but be prepared as they will look very chalky afterwards and there is no going back. The chalky residue can be removed with very fine steal wool and then polished with Mothers. Then clear coated to prevent oxidation. I would avoid all the work involved if your bezels will clean up well with just using Mothers polish.

I used fine steel wool to remove the spatter paint from the housing and then sprayed the inside and out with white a semi gloss as a base to even out the color, refresh the inside and prep for the final paint, which I used Duplicolor Oxford White (BFM0229), two light coats. I liked the slightly off white color it has as it reminded me of the housing original color. Make sure you base white is compatible with it by doing a test on something else first.

If your rubber seals are in good shape you can use a black trim spray pant on them, although I would just replace them to avoid leaks.

Finally I used 3m weather strip glue for reassembly of the bezel, lens and rubber seal. I would think a silicone adhesive would work well too. Good luck!

 
Back
Top