Any suggestions on best way to buff out these taillight lenses?

I’m a little concerned about the black pinstriping being damaged if I get too aggressive but these aren’t near as shiny as the ones in the 92 roadmaster that mom cracked before I got it.

Anyone have any experience buffing these things out safely?

 

If you still have the broken one, I would experiment on that? Maybe some rubbing compound?

I have a kit for polishing plastic headlights that works very well, but would worry about the stripes too...

Looks like they are on the surface to me...

 

Aren't those stripes on the inside?

 

That's what it looks like to me, too.

 

excellent excellent idea on practicing on the old one I just went and got a two-stage Meguiars restoration kit and these ““ cleaning pads are just like straight up scotch Brite and pretty aggressive at that.
The stripes you cannot catch with your nail going across them but I cannot imagine the labor involved in getting these stripes straight during the assembly process so maybe they’re painted?

I don’t know but it’s cool because the car is black so that’s an excellent accent!
Anyhow I was just sitting here trying to decide if I wanted to put the full on Scotch-Brite pads on it and then I remembered to check the post and I am glad I did I’ll let you all know how it does in case someone else decides to do this.

Thanks again for all my buddies suggestions, you guys are the best!

 

HEY! I think I can live with this!

Basically seems like wet sanding & clearing a paint job technique to me but lookin hood I think!
My car has limited black pin stripes I just noticed in a very small area & it is definitely on the inside of the lense.
Guess they still sorta have a damn with small details back then?
I’ve had this replacement set for at least 20 years but we never drove the car enough to worry about moisture getting in there and blowing out a bulb etc. I could detail out the driver side that’s in beautiful shape on the car now and probably recoup what I paid for these tail lights back in the day lol

That makes way too much sense for me though so I’m sure I’ll horde it away figuring someone will run into this thing, it’s way too big of a target!

That makes way too much sense for me though so I’m sure I’ll horde it away figuring someone will run into this thing, it’s way too big of a target!

 

Nice fritz! I may gave to try that out on some light lenses I have. My Chrysler 300's headlights are beat.

 

The Kit I have is branded 3M and includes a series of finer sandpiper girts and a sponge pad with some compound. Probably a lot more time consuming...

 

I actually was looking for that exact kit as it did a great job on my wife’s SUV.
This one won’t have as fine of a surface as the 3M (unless I find the old pads I know I kept) but I think this Meguiars kit may have a slight advantage with what I am calling the clear coat.
With all the kits I have previously tried they are cut and buff and they initially looked awesome but with the lenses already compromised with tons of microscopic “crazing” it’s normally (in my case) just a matter of time in the sun where it easily permeates the plastic through the crazed surface and you are back to a foggy lens cover.

I am hoping that this aerosol spray edition will fill some of those microscopic wear areas and give a better long term result.

Anyhow, time will tell and I’ll share the results with y’all and hopefully it will have good success.

Thank y’all again for the kind words and suggestions!

 

Tomorrow it is restoring these and R&Ring them and then replacing the dried out factory speakers,installing an FM reception booster and securing the new power antenna (already wired and working like a charm. Power on antenna up,power off antenna down).
Now tonight I am going to go order some sane sway bars for this barge, and hopefully find the right coil over shocks to replace the stock units and get this barge handling more reasonably.
THEN after it is all dialed in I will unceremoniously remove the POS Dynaride (pronounced Die In a Ride!) compressor and all its other non working parts and kick them to the curb!
Then it’s time for more paint work followed by a Ceramic coating!
Oh! And getting working key fobs.
Then I will (I hope I don’t curse myself saying this) FINALLY have A car that looks reasonably handsome, runs well, all the options have been repaired on, upgraded AC, new tires, a crazy comfortable interior and at that point I can work on the “GSX”!
Officially entering the show and go duet of cars lolOfficially entering the show and go duet of cars lol

 

I did that exact same thing for the Autoride or whatever gimmick they called it, in my Suburban. It was pretty easy to do. Just replaced the air/electronic shock absorbers with normal heavy duty ones and bought some bypass resistors off of eBay to replace the sensors. I was not ambitious enough to remove the compressor though. I don't think it worked anyway. Rode a lot better after that (in all fairness to the Autoride, the shocks were all wasted anyway).

 

Thanks for warning me about the by-pass resistors,had not thought that far yet.
Getting hung up on if I need to use heavier load springs without the air ride and only relying on coil over shocks.
NOT a fun car to find many aftermarket parts for.
Ordered the Hotchkins (spelling?) front & rear sway bars (probably only have those because of the Impala SS’s).
Would definitely like ANY more power under the hood but guess I’ll satisfy that urge throwing money at my GS

 

After using the "headlight restoration" kit on two cars I just use fine rubbing compound on a wheel with an electric drill. Works great and takes minutes, not 30+, to remove the haze. I like the clear coat you used. Next time I will use that. I understand that the reason they haze up is because the factory coating wears off.

 

I believe you are exactly right on the factory coating.


I just used that same kit on my wife’s car that had a burnt out passenger side light bulb and I was over the moon excited about how nice it came out sanding it REAL GOOD and THREE light clear coats!
I mean it looks literally just as good as brand new and is a whole lot cheaper than a $450 plus headlamp assembly! Woo hooooo!
Now gotta do other side
Thanks for the tip on the wheels!
I have an old set of Appliance Brand (Radar Wheel style) wheels to try that on!
This is actually fun again!

 

Fritzy- what's the story on that bell- sitting on the table???

 

Dun & DONE!!!!

Yes I know it’s stupid and simple and all but being disabled even getting out of the recliner and going down the steps to come out here isn’t easy anymore but I’m sure I don’t have any monopoly on that!!!
I’ll take anything no matter how simple that’s a positive these days!

 

“Fritzy- what's the story on that bell- sitting on the table???”

That’s all I could salvage off the test boat that went down in the Great Lakes with the other 4 bolt main experimental engine I dove on in the 1980’s

Seriously I don’t know though there’s all sorts O old crap laying around here on this 1890 property.

I just like the way that it looks so I put it up on the table so when I take a break I can sit there and stare at it to be honest

 

IF you come across another bell.... . My sister has a few of them that she collects..

 

I’d say that’s probably the only one but I never say never around this place.
I’m still looking for the hidden moonshine still In the barn! Found all the miscellaneous parts and supplies for a still,water source,barrels,cases of mason jars,clay jugs and copper worms,thumper etc etc
Must be underground,I’ll probably fall into it one day, but I might not want to get out once there!