early tailight resto

[madkaw]

I am trying to clean up my 71 tailights and need some help. I want to get that little clip off the back and remove the lens so I can reseal them. Any advice would be great.

[Arne]

You have found the hardest part of this job. Getting the clip off without breaking the plastic stud. The safest way to approach this is to damage, cut or break the clip, rather than to try to remove it. Removal almost always breaks the stud. Using tools like dental picks or similar, try to lift the opposite edges of the clip. Then use a long-nose pliers to squeeze the clip until it deforms or breaks.

Even doing this, there's still a chance that the stud might break. If it does, for non-show car use, you can drill a small hole the chrome trim piece where the stud was, then use a small head black screw and nut to replace the stud and clip. (I did this on my yellow car.) It's not pristine or original, but it works well, is serviceable and is darned hard to see the difference unless it's in your face.

[madkaw]

Arne,

I know we are talking the same thing but the stud on my lights looks metal as well as the clip. Once the clip is removed then the lense comes apart from the backing? The lense was originally glued in place with sealer and secured with just this clip?

[Arne]

The clip is a secondary retainer, not the main event. The adhesive is the main part.

The stud is a molded part of the center chrome trim, and is vacuum plated white plastic. After all these years, that plastic is soft and fragile.

Once you get the outer clip off, you'll have to pry the lens loose from the backing. You'll be surprised at how tough that adhesive is, and how hard it is to separate the lens. I had to use a 3" putty knife to break the adhesive bond and pry against the backing plate.

Once the lens is removed, you'll see that the chrome strip is attached to the lens with three more metal spring clips. These are more standard type clips, and are easier to get at to remove them. But again, the studs are plastic, so be careful.

[madkaw]

Thanks Arne

[=Enigma=]

Ok, I'm scared now and not looking forward to this. I tend to man-handle things unintentionally thinking "it's just about to come apart" and then WHAM! Something lets loose in a bad way....

[zpizzaman20]

I have not done 70-73 taillights yet but on 75-78 ones very warm water does the trick. Fill them up on the inside and run water over the outside for about 3 minutes and the adhesive loosens up and the lenses pop out.

[240znz]

I did mine about a month ago. Just take your time with a craft knife and run it around the seal, then slowly, very slowly apply pressure to the lens to lift it free. It will more than likely let you know when the seal is broken and should separate at one side first. You will need to apply a suprising amount of force to get them to budge.

Then try your hardest to remove the three clips that secure the centre plastic divider. Spin them slowly back and forth with upward movements and they will eventually come off. As above, if they do break, then just buy some small self taping screws to secure them back on. Some poeple have suggested glueing it back in place but I'd recommend not as 20 years down the line you won't be able to repeat the process without breaking them. If you think they are hard to find now, try in 20 years time.

I used some brasso to finely cut the lens and the results are amazing. They look as close to new as possible and all the correct markings are intact. I have sent the plastic divider out to a plastic chromers for new chrome. Can't wait to get them all back together so I can tick another box off in the resto.

Just take your time and you'll be OK. They cost too much to rush.