Cleaning tail light lens

[EScanlon]

I'm probably misreading your reply, you meant the plastic housing and NOT the lenses themselves, right?

Don't paint the inside of the lenses with any kind of opaque paint as you will not only block the light, you will heat up the inside of the lens and housing and melt the sucker.

If you do want that "tinted" effect, check into the transparent paint you can get for making "stained" glass. You can get it in different colors for a different look.

[Alfadog]

Nah, I decided white is the go. Maybe my next Z can have black? hehe

Finally got them apart - those little nuts were impossible to get and in the process I snapped the plastic pin but I've glued the pin back on with some really tough stuff so it should hold.

I cleaned up both lenses as much as I could, and used some ordinary car polish which worked well.

I've also painted the inside of the backing white - it's still drying.

Now I've got to find some glue which will stick, but not too much that next time I want to take the tail lights apart (God forbid) I can do it without too much trouble.

I take it some silicon based stuff is the best?

[EScanlon]

Silicone will work, but do keep an eye on it over time to make sure it doesn't peel off.

You could also use strip caulking, which is what Wick Humble refers to as "dum-dum". It generally never hardens and provides an excellent seal and adhesion.

Just don't use any kind of adhesive / epoxy / glue that gets HARD, as it will literally be impossible to remove from the lens if you do have to remove it.

[Alfadog]

Yea, point noted!

I couldn't restrain myself earlier this morning... I just HAD to go for a small drive around the back streets... Z's are addictive!!!

[Ed]

AAhhhh, I had to dust the cobwebs off of this one. I followed Escanlon's directions on the taillight restoration and I must say, THANK YOU ENRIQUE! My taillights look like new (except for the chrome strip, still working on a solution for them). I did the passenger light first and left the drivers as it was removed from the car. WoW! what a difference.

[Bambikiller240]

plase add a pic of the driver side tail light when you get it cleaned.

It'll be interesting to see how much of the dingy-ness comes off since the tail lights on the driver side are typically soaked in exhaust fumes for years. (more so than the passenger side)

[EScanlon]

Excellent Job, Ed!

The only problem I've found with the lights looking so bright, is that at times they can fool me and make me think I've left the lights on (no kidding!).

Alfa, how did yours turn out?

E

[ChrisA]

Courtesy Lights:

There is wiring in the 240 wire harness that will allow you to mount a pair of courtesy lights to either the door panel or the kick panel. Datsun originally intended for the light to be mounted on the door and illuminate the entry area to the doors, but few if any cars (to my knowledge) ever arrived in the US with that option.

Had to reply to this part. One summer while fiddling with the wiring up under the glove box I noticed this wiring. When I determined what it was I mounted some custom LED units on the kick panels that aim the bright white light down into the footwell. I must say it was a nice surprise and it sure makes an improvement to a black interior on a dark night. Thanks E!!

Chris

[ncz]

Ed I appreciate you bringing this one back. I'm filling in time with bunch of cleaning and polishing and didn't want to buy new lenses!!! I thnk the new ones are made of gold. Your lights look great and thanks Enrique for the original info

[Ricklandia]

Any tips on paint removal from the plastic lenses? I'm gonna take a drive to the hobby shop and see if anyone there has a recommendation for restoring the "chrome" strip. If I find out anything I'll be sure to post it STAT.

[Bambikiller240]

Plasti-Master www.graffitimaster.com

[gnosez]

Nice info and well written! I have done several pairs so far and have found that a hairdryer or heat gun is a great tool to soften the old adhesive holding the lens onto the backing plate. Don't forget the little felt pad(s) that allow the water to run out. I use either caulk to put them back together. One lens had over 2 inches of fine Arizona road dust (28 yrs and 368,000 miles of southwest driving) in it.

As to the chrome bands I have given up and after lightly sanding them paint them.

Once I have the lens completely cleaned I paint them with clear. Mine are still new looking after 2 yrs. I wish I had painted the backing plate as was suggested. Next pair...