Has anyone ever tried to use denture cleaner like polident the fizzy stuff that you put into water to remove the surface scum off taillight lens? If so did it work.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
Has anyone ever tried to use denture cleaner like polident the fizzy stuff that you put into water to remove the surface scum off taillight lens? If so did it work.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
I have never tried, but then again I am either lazy or too much of a perfectionist . . . or maybe both if that's possible.
I generally clean the lenses, then I carefully wet sand them with 400 grit wet sand paper. Then I respray either the black or the grey depending on year model of the lens. After that I mask off the color and reclear the actual lens area with 2K urethane clear. Generally 2-3 coats and the lights look brand new when I am done. Better than replacing and cheaper too in most cases.
Masked for grey areas
Grey areas masked off
Sure enough can't find a picture of those finished, but here's another set done with the SVO stripes.
Trey
"I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"
"I've spent most of my money on Mustangs, racing, and women... the rest I just wasted."
Mustangs Past: Too many to remember!
Current Mustangs:
1969 Mach 1
1979 Pace Car now 5.0/5 speed
1982 GT Stalled RestoModification
1984 SVO Still Waiting Restoration
1986 GT Under going Wide Body Conversion Currently
Current Capris:
1981 Capri Roller
1981 Capri Black Magic Roller Basket Case
1982 Capri RS 5.0/4spd T-top Full Restoration Stalled in TX
1984 Capri RS T-top Roller
1983-84 Gloy Racing Trans Am/IMSA Body Parts
86 Capri lens would be charcoal gray? Hard to tell from due to fading
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
Trey
"I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"
"I've spent most of my money on Mustangs, racing, and women... the rest I just wasted."
Mustangs Past: Too many to remember!
Current Mustangs:
1969 Mach 1
1979 Pace Car now 5.0/5 speed
1982 GT Stalled RestoModification
1984 SVO Still Waiting Restoration
1986 GT Under going Wide Body Conversion Currently
Current Capris:
1981 Capri Roller
1981 Capri Black Magic Roller Basket Case
1982 Capri RS 5.0/4spd T-top Full Restoration Stalled in TX
1984 Capri RS T-top Roller
1983-84 Gloy Racing Trans Am/IMSA Body Parts
Trey, I wet sanded an area. Looks dull after drying, looks great when wet. Will the clear give it the wet look?
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
For the lights I have reused, I was lucky they weren’t terrible.
I used 3M rubbing compound and power polished with that and the fine polish and they turned out great for me!
For the charcoal paint, I did not like the LMR grey they said was for SVOs plus it didn’t go far. I changed and went with the SEM brand. Was available in the body shop supply store where I would usually get the SEM trim black I use.
DarranOriginally Posted by BLUECRAPI
1982-1C (Black) GT T-Top:http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...he-Road-Thread
1986-9L (Oxford White) SVO: http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...d-did-1986-SVO
1979 (85:Tangerine) Coupe (my son's): http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...gerine-Machine
1979 (3F:Light Medium Blue) Coupe (one day to be my other son's!) http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...um-Blue-Bomber!
Thanks Trey
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
Yes, when you clear the lens they will look slick, shiny, and glossy. Look at the two pictures I posted above. You can see the dull finish after wet sanding. The last picture with the SVO stripes shows the gloss finish thanks to the clear coat.
As Darren mentioned the SEM 39153 is a good charcoal gray in spray can form for the 85/86 cars. Good Luck!
Trey
"I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"
"I've spent most of my money on Mustangs, racing, and women... the rest I just wasted."
Mustangs Past: Too many to remember!
Current Mustangs:
1969 Mach 1
1979 Pace Car now 5.0/5 speed
1982 GT Stalled RestoModification
1984 SVO Still Waiting Restoration
1986 GT Under going Wide Body Conversion Currently
Current Capris:
1981 Capri Roller
1981 Capri Black Magic Roller Basket Case
1982 Capri RS 5.0/4spd T-top Full Restoration Stalled in TX
1984 Capri RS T-top Roller
1983-84 Gloy Racing Trans Am/IMSA Body Parts
I used Trey's method over a year ago for wet sanding with 400 grit paper and then clear coating the lenses. The black is SEM Trim Black paint.
Join The Conversation
http://www.youtube.com/basinmotorsports
'86 Hatchback V6 / Auto Restomod (For Sale)
when I did my 86 capri tailights, I wet sanded them with 400, then power buffed them and then hit them with the proper 86 grey paint. came out looking brand new
2017 Ford Explorer Sport (DD) 1986 Capri 5.0 Silver/Red
1969 Falcon XW GTHO coupe (SOLD) went to Australia
Past 4 eyes-
4th. 1981 Capri "White" Black Magic I6
3rd. 1984 Capri RS V8 Black/grey
2nd. 1984 Capri RS V8 White/red
1st. 1984 SVO Grey/grey (traded it for a worn out 1970 BOSS 302)
Both '84 Capri's vin# were 10 away from each other
U.S. NAVY 1980-2009
Sometime in the not too distant future I will be restoring my tails. My concern with clear coat over time. Will it turn hazy or yellow or simply not stay optically clear? With the these parts getting more rare by the minute just my thoughts. I’m probably over thinking it but as for now hoping that a good buff will do it
I have been clear coating Fox tail light lenses and others for over 20 years now and never had any issues with hazing or yellowing. I custom stripped a set of tail lights on my brand new 1997 F150 Flareside WAY BACK in early 1997. Painted part of them with matching body color base coat and clear. The tail lights still look brand new to this day. That truck has been sitting now for over 10 years outside my old shop in TX in the TX sun, etc. so I don't think its a problem. As with anything the quality of the paint supplies will dictate the longevity. Not saying you have to use the absolute most expensive, but don't expect the bargain clears to last as long. Oh and I have several sets of Fox tail lights that have been done that also look brand new to this day after 10-15 years of being cleared. Good Luck!
Trey
"I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"
"I've spent most of my money on Mustangs, racing, and women... the rest I just wasted."
Mustangs Past: Too many to remember!
Current Mustangs:
1969 Mach 1
1979 Pace Car now 5.0/5 speed
1982 GT Stalled RestoModification
1984 SVO Still Waiting Restoration
1986 GT Under going Wide Body Conversion Currently
Current Capris:
1981 Capri Roller
1981 Capri Black Magic Roller Basket Case
1982 Capri RS 5.0/4spd T-top Full Restoration Stalled in TX
1984 Capri RS T-top Roller
1983-84 Gloy Racing Trans Am/IMSA Body Parts
This is the reflective part of my taillight . The pics make look slightly lighter than it is. If I were to paint it in silver to brighten it up would it increase heat from standard bulbs that might cause damage to the lens.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
I seriously doubt you will see any difference in overall heat.
You can use the Silver paint and there are even the Chrome like paints that are a bit more reflective than normal silver paint that can help increase the brightness of the rear tail lights. Good Luck!
Trey
"I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"
"I've spent most of my money on Mustangs, racing, and women... the rest I just wasted."
Mustangs Past: Too many to remember!
Current Mustangs:
1969 Mach 1
1979 Pace Car now 5.0/5 speed
1982 GT Stalled RestoModification
1984 SVO Still Waiting Restoration
1986 GT Under going Wide Body Conversion Currently
Current Capris:
1981 Capri Roller
1981 Capri Black Magic Roller Basket Case
1982 Capri RS 5.0/4spd T-top Full Restoration Stalled in TX
1984 Capri RS T-top Roller
1983-84 Gloy Racing Trans Am/IMSA Body Parts
Wow, I did not know they were molded in the colors. So....as mine have lost so much color, and are obviously bad....what grit to start with? And any decent polishers to buy? I have cloth polishing wheels I can chuck in a drill.
https://www.amazon.com/SEM-39153-Cha...ps%2C92&sr=8-1
SEM 39153 is where it's at for charcoal trim. I'll absolutely agree with that recommendation.
Folks above wet sanded with 400. I'd start there, and then bump up to something higher, and finish it by polishing. You could probably do it by hand but I'd imagine any random action polisher would do the trick as well.
Last edited by ITdude87; 07-20-2023 at 10:18 PM.
1986 Mustang GT - 2A, 5 Sp
2018 Subaru WRX (Daily)
Connect With Us