DAMN lenses NEED HELP!!!!!!

[deeboe78]

Wsup
I am green as it comes with it comes to classic cars. I own a 1970 chevelle. 350 pretty good shape i will post pics later Im on duty. Not afraid to say its a clone SS, Most of them are anyways My first project is removing my bench seats and putting in Buckets. I bought a pair of S10 blazer seats from a junk yard for 20 bucks and waiting on money to reuphostry them. Another thing is to change that damn Sweep style dash to a SS one. I could tolerate the lense but its too damn cloudy lol. any ideas??? And I looked for months and nobody reprouduces them. I already purchased the factory console mount. If you guys have any sugestions please free to let me know [email protected]

I know said alot in this not just pointing out something mainly. Comment on anything all the advice is welcomed. Have to get started some where.



Thanks look foward to hearing from yall!!!!!
get er DONNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

SSG Steven A. Durham
1970 chevelle 350

[oestek]

It's best to remove the lens, wash it with some dishsoap, rinse it off, then polish with some compound. You can use car rubbing compound followed by some glaze / polish / cleaner wax, or spring for some plastic polish. They clean up pretty easily. Really deep scratches will come out by wetsanding with 1000 and up grit sandpaper, then polish and buff.

[deeboe78]

Thanks man!! Is hard to take the lenses out? and how long did it take you? What are types of solvents did you use?

thanks for you time
SSG D

[oestek]

It doesn't take too long to take the lenses out... if you plan on keeping this car, get yourself an assembly manual so you can see the right way to put it all back together. You may find that it is missing screws and stuff already.

I usually wash the lens with Palmolive dish soap... I like the smell! Then, evaluate the scratches, and see if you need the 1000 grit paper. You can rub these to 1500 or 2000 just like paint. I use 3M Imperial hand glaze to hand polish them, but you can CAREFULLY use a low-speed buffer and some machine glaze, but these things can burn FAST, so be careful. (I just learned you can get 3M stuff on Amazon... http://www.amazon.com/3M-Imperial-Ha.../dp/B0002NUNIO)

Then, wax 'em with some of your favorite carnauba car wax and put it all back together. It's also the time to check bulbs, clean the gauge faces (canned compressed air and a fine paintbrush works nice), paint the needles, etc.

[jackfrost]

i think Meguiars? has this stuff called Plast-X that is plastic polishing compound. I used it on my gauges plastic, and it turned out pretty good. I started by wet sanding w/ 1000 grit, and then did the polish.

[deeboe78]

Thanks alot
So this prouduct is only sold online? I do have a electrical sander. Its a circlular 5'' by RYBOI. Is it a little too much or do I get the magic fingers ah going?

Thanks for you comments

Steven

[TonyL]

meguires plastic polish is available at your local wal*mart. People usually use it to polish foggy and frosted headlights back to clear again. (works fantastic, I must say.)

I used it on my corvair's lenses. They look brand new.

[TonyL]

[EFI69Cam]

Good thread good info.

This should be a sticky.

[deeboe78]

got before and after pictures? I believe u and all. I would just like to see the outcome of which you work with because mine are pretty foggy.


Thanks

Dee

[TonyL]

I think I do have a few before and afters. Lemme see. They're at home.

[TonyL]

I cannot find my "before" image, but here's the after. They were yellowed and frosty looking before.

[deeboe78]

SOLD!!!! going to Walmart right now thanks Tony.
if you do find your before pics send them. I will post mines also when Im done

If you do know any other dash tricks please let me in on it.

thanks

Steven

[MrQuick]

Hey Sarge,

I'd sand and polish by hand unless you own a mothers power ball.

If you don't sand evenly you'll wind up with a perscription instrument panel and most likely not in your perscription.

[deeboe78]

Thanks!! will do

[deeboe78]

Ok i know i posted a long time ago. but can I use a RYBOI 5" sander with this or no?

[beep4beep]

NO if you do it with the sander you will end up with swirl marks.Sand by hand only ..... It will not take that long.

[nekkidhillbilly]

rather than bulbs y you have it apart id spring for leds

[deeboe78]

good point. Where can I can I find some at?

[astroracer]

Another option for all of you is to sand the lense with 600 or 800 grit "wet" paper. Sand until the lense is evenly frosted then simply shoot a couple of wet coats of clear on it. The lense will immediately be crystal clear and you dont' have to go through all of the polishing steps.
Mark