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1961 & 1962 LeSabre/Electra Lens & Housing , Instrument Panel Control Indicator RESTORING


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Posted (edited)

I am looking for information on restoring the lenses & housings for dash control indicators for 1961 & 1962 Buick Large Series cars, these lenses usually looked scratched up and are only plastic, silver/chrome is what they look like, but all the letters are raised and light emits through them when dash lights are on, parts book group # 9.740 any suggestions are welcome.

 

Thank You in Advance,

 

Bob

 

EDIT: If anyone has NOS Lens & housing for sale I maybe interested to purchase them, PM me.

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Edited by NailheadBob (see edit history)
Posted

Mine look pretty shabby too. Every time I look at them, I think to myself that surely someone could re-plate them. I just don't know who. 

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Posted
On 6/17/2022 at 8:41 AM, drhach said:

Mine look pretty shabby too. Every time I look at them, I think to myself that surely someone could re-plate them. I just don't know who. 

You could actually replate them yourself.  The process is fairly simple and there are YouTube videos on how to do it.

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Posted

I'm certain the "plated part" which surrounds the letters is an applique over a plastic lens.  I wish the pictures of the fronts and backs  of the control units were full sized so as to see what is involved here.  Can the units be dissected to clen the insides of the housings and possibly repaint them, clean the back of the plastic lenses and deal with any applique over the front?

 

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Posted

I will look at the plastic lenses a little deeper after the Nationals, I don't think they can come apart, but will see, John just as you stated was my concern coating in some fashion like chrome paint, but the dash light illumination for the letters has to be seen at night and I can not cover that up. I will post some better and more pictures next week.

 

I will also take the advise of usnavystgc and look for that process to restore them.

 

Thank you for all the comments and suggestions from everyone.

 

Bob

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Posted

usnavystgc great video and thanks for posting it, and I am with JohnD1956 Wow on the first video, I will post some pictures front and back as JohnD1956 suggested, @drhach will also be all over this for his car, I still am thinking about how to do this process and not cover up the letters so the light will be able to emit at night time.

 

Bob

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Posted (edited)
22 hours ago, NailheadBob said:

I still am thinking about how to do this process and not cover up the letters so the light will be able to emit at night time.

I think one way you could do it is to meticulously tape over the letters before you spray it.  Another possible way would be to use paint thinner to remove any paint that gets on the areas you don't want it.  There's probably a myriad of other ways to do it though, you just have to pick one and go with it.  

 

I wish I was working on a task this simple.  :)

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Edited by usnavystgc (see edit history)
  • Like 1
Posted
2 hours ago, usnavystgc said:

I think one way you could do it is to meticulously tape over the letters before you spray it.  Another possible way would be to use paint thinner to remove any paint that gets on the areas you don't want it.  There's probably a myriad of other ways to do it though, you just have to pick one and go with it.  

 

I wish I was working on a task this simple.  :)

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Please pardon this short hijack of this thread but,  NICELY DONE Phil!  

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Posted (edited)

While I see what @usnavystgc is saying, that area of the lens & housing where the indicators show light through, is very very small and detailed the chrome area in between the letters will really show its imperfection, so I may give it a try to test the waters if you know what I mean, by the way your patch panel and weld looks very good and I wish I had your talent, and thank you for your suggestions. By the way I did like your comment about "I wish I was working on a task that simple" because you are correct and I agree with you, 

 

@JohnD1956 Here are a couple of photos for you to view and think about for me, and they do come apart if the tabs don't break/crack off, please share your thoughts with us.

and don't worry about being hyjacker UNLESS it is a airplane lol

 

Thank to all for all the suggestions

 

Bob

 

 

 

 

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Edited by NailheadBob
Add photos (see edit history)
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Posted

Thanks Bob. I would be very tempted to try a product for model hobbiests on those. Its called bare metal. 

 

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It comes in a 6 in wide by 11 1/2 " long panel. It has adhesive on the back and is super thin. It cuts easily with a sharp exacto knife and, if you've ever built a model car, it easily conforms to the underlying structure.  For example the chrome trim area around a windshield, you lay this on, and use a q-tip to press it down, and it forms right into the seams between the body and trim. It does take a little practice to work with but I believe you could put it right over those letters and then trim it around them to lay flat. It really is metal. But to practice you could work on it with aluminum foil first. The only difference is the bare metal has the adhesive backing.  Seems like a good winter project.

 

Of course I would open them up and clean and repaint the inside of the housing using a gloss white paint inside. 

 

Just a few thoughts.. 

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Posted
10 minutes ago, JohnD1956 said:

I believe you could put it right over those letters and then trim it around them to lay flat.

Could the part with the foil on it be pressed into something like modeling clay to stretch and form the foil to cover everything?  Then, file or sand the raised letters to remove the foil from the lettering.

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Posted

@usnavystgc and @JohnD1956 and @EmTee between all suggestions I am ready to roll with this project, as John stated good winter project,  I will update with process and photos after it is done, possibly after next winter.

 

Thanks to all suggestions again,

 

Bob

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Posted
54 minutes ago, EmTee said:

Could the part with the foil on it be pressed into something like modeling clay to stretch and form the foil to cover everything?  Then, file or sand the raised letters to remove the foil from the lettering.

I would not do it that way.  I would not want to scuff the face of the letters with anything abrasive.

Posted

For my 62 Electra, I bent out the metal tabs to remove the plastic pieces. These went to a chrome plater that could plate plastic (most do this). The parts are only plated on the face and are actually clear when the old plating is removed. I then carefully scratched off the plating from the raised letters with a flat blade taking care not to actually scratch the plastic. It isn't that hard and worked great.

I also replaced the round lower dash lenses. I used reproduction lenses from the 1927-28 Chevrolet park lamps. They were slightly bigger but had the correct thickness and curve. I had to hand grind them a little around the edges t make them fit snug. 

I didn't get home from work today until after dark and for some reason my interior lights are not working but the attached photos should show how they ended up.

 

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Posted

Rick, yours look really great, I appreciate your reply, information, and knowledge. I love the night time view with light emitting through the lens!!

 

Bob

Posted (edited)

Here is some information on the Lens:

 

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Bob

 

EDIT: Nut, Instrument panel molding   AU-VE-CO # 2895 thread cutting nuts 1/8" stud, 5/16" hex size 

Edited by NailheadBob (see edit history)
  • 4 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

I received my Amazon order today for Bare Metal Foil "New Improved Chrome" @JohnD1956will test try with tape first, then use the Bare Metal Foil, (maybe winter project) and report back how it works and photos when done.

 

Bob

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Edited by NailheadBob
Add photo (see edit history)
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Posted

@NailheadBob excellent.  Try with thin cheap aluminum foil first. That will be closest to this product, just missing the adhesive backing of the bare metal. 

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