Question for You Restorers of Lights

[Irish911]

Has anyone reapplied the silver trim around the front and rear plastic signal/tail lights? If so what paint did you use and what colour. I assume this can be applied with a thin brush. Second, what paint can be used to refurbish the reflective surface inside the signal/tail light housing. Mine are not shiny anymore and I would like to freshen them up if that is possible. Thanks for any assistance.

[edmayo]

As to the first question, it was chrome, not silver paint, and I've even tried to do what your asking,,,,,doesn't work. As to the second the "chrome" aerosol paint will do a reasonable job. Won't be like new, but certainly better than nothing.

[MTemp]

Depends if you want something that works, or something that is exactly per original. As said above the latter is seemingly achievable only by getting the inside rechromed by a mechanism I'm not familiar with. It must be possible though as they did it back in the day.

Getting something that works is simple. Clean, prime, sand and paint with the 'Chrome' or 'Plate' finish paints that are readily available. I just did my LWB rears with VHT Plate finish paint and was pleased at how good they came out (see below). Later LWB light units were just painted white inside so you could even just do that.

I found cleaning and painting the outside with Galvanising paint replicated the grey Mazak type finish pretty well.

Mick

[Irish911]

Thanks Mick and all for your responses.

Ed, WRT the chrome trim. I have not had my car for long and just now removed the front indicator lenses. They appear to not have any colour around the lenses. I thought it was black but that was only the rubber seal showing through around the lens. Was there a time when they were not coloured? The lenses are in great shape and I would hate to have to replace them just because the silver/chrome trim has worn.

[Tp81]

I am looking to do this on my front lenses of my 1970 911T. The insides are in a really poor shape, is the correct finish white rather than chrome? The unit has a division plate with a rubber style cover on it, does anyone have a picture of how the internals should appear from factory?

Thanks

Tom

[Tp81]

I am looking to do this on my front lenses of my 1970 911T. The insides are in a really poor shape, is the correct finish white rather than chrome? The unit has a division plate with a rubber style cover on it, does anyone have a picture of how the internals should appear from factory?

Thanks

Tom

[edmayo]

Irish, there was always either chrome or black depending on the year, black starting in 73. What year car do you have?

I believe that all the housings started as white, but were then chromed over that. What year car do you have, and is it a U.S. or Euro model? The U.S. did not have a division in the front housing. That was only for Euro market to provide the 'ghost' light.

[Tp81]

What is the ghost light? I have stripped mine down and there is a small bulb located behind a white reflector lens, perhaps the bulb is blown because I cant get this on. Is this light supposed to be on as a side light? Apologies for the basic questions, just starting out on this with an 1970 car.

[Fishcop]

What is the ghost light? I have stripped mine down and there is a small bulb located behind a white reflector lens

ROW cars didn't have "city lights" which is the small globe that glows in the headlight lens. Instead the indicators have a clear section at the front for "running lights"

[Jay Laifman]

Just a warning: I once used a decent chrome type paint on a 50% sized MG TC I made for my son, on the grille. Then I got this great idea that I should paint it with a clear coat to preserve the shine. Yeah, not such a good idea. The beautiful chrome looking finish just melted away to a swirled matte gray.