Faded Plastic Lenses

[vwnate1]

O.K. , since no one else wants to go , here's what I do with old taillight lenses on beaters , resale rigs and so on .

This won't make 'em look new but , as least they'll look decent and be safe ~ flat lenses are not visable in bright day light .

Some 3rd world body shop " cleaned " overspray off these lenses with paint thinner , they look ruined but they're not as you will see .

here's a before picture , I just washed the dirt & grime off...

 

[vwnate1]

After 10 minutes..........

Here's two pix ~ one @ sunup and one more in broad dylight , these both have just the parking lights on and nice and bright now as you can see .

Should I also post a pic with the lights off for referance ? .

 

[Pontiac1976]

Yes that would be nice to see the differents

 

[vwnate1]

More Pix

O.K,. , give me a few days as it's in storage now in that dark , dank subteranian garage where the Secret Service guys park thier Escalades , not enough light for a good pic , I'll prolly have it back out in a week or less , don't forget to remind me .

 

[nerfherder78]

What did you use to clean them up? I know 3M sells a product for faded plastic headlight lenses, an abrasive that polishes away the lens. Although I replaced both my taillights lenses and reflectors a few years ago for the same price as that kit. One of my old ones was broken and growing moss anyway.

 

[vwnate1]

I Used :

Meguiar's Cleaner Wax , it is made for faded paint jobs and works very well as it is mildly abrasive , like Turtle Wax Liquid , TR3 etc. , etc. .

I usually use The abrasive plastic cleaner followed by plastic polish but I was out and just grabbed whatever was at hand .

 

[Pontiac1976]

The kits work well last longer then just buff wax. The trick is very very fine wet sanding very easy buff cleaning a clear coat that works with the lens your working with will look like new. (Flat lens) Then after hard proper drying time wax & buff. But if you can get the lights cheap still U still have more options.

 

[vwnate1]

More Lens Pic

Here is a pic of the lens in cloudy sunlight...

It looks very good in person but I'm clueless on how to properly operate the digital camera...

WHOOPS ! I uploaded the wrong pic I *think* it's all better now though....

 

[Pontiac1976]

looks pretty good. So does the rear bumper wow looking at tail light right seeing under it hard to beleave the rear bumper is in that good of shape after all this time.

 

[vwnate1]

Old Trucks

Yeah ;

I believe this truck was fairly lightly used by the original owners (North American Van Lines) as the bed's not all dented up either .

Until you come to So. Cal. , it's impossible to understand how many nice trucks are being crushed for scrap , every day .

This old thing is often worse than 1/2 the rigs inside the yard...