Why are you putting the older style tail light on an 87 442? The newer ones with the red emblem are so much nicer IMO and correct for the vehicle.
BUILD THREAD 1987 Olds 442 Project Build
- Thread starter oldsofb
- Start date
"Correct for the vehicle" says the guy with incorrect junk on the trunk for a 442.... 😛
I think if the "chrome" bezel is painted upper body color, I think it will blend well. If'n it were my car, I'd think about black tinting the tails a couple of degrees to blend them even further, but then again, you want to keep the local authorities off your azz.
I plan on selling the 87 Tail Lights to recoup what I spent on the Split Tail Lights, so I start with them.
Here's how they start out, dirty and dull,
After some cleaning
You may remember this guy from my Gauge Cluster Cover Resto
I get to work on the lettering first
I then do a round of 500 then 800 sanding
Next is 3000 machine buffing with my drill and 3 rounds of machine polishing with the PlastX.
I got this idea from Hafrod. Using Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish on the plastic Chrome. You can't go crazy, and it wont fix flaking plastic, but I was shocked at the difference.
Cont...
Hutch
Here's how they start out, dirty and dull,
After some cleaning
You may remember this guy from my Gauge Cluster Cover Resto
I get to work on the lettering first
I then do a round of 500 then 800 sanding
Next is 3000 machine buffing with my drill and 3 rounds of machine polishing with the PlastX.
I got this idea from Hafrod. Using Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish on the plastic Chrome. You can't go crazy, and it wont fix flaking plastic, but I was shocked at the difference.
Cont...
Hutch
The final product after polishing the chrome out
What a difference a little elbow grease can do. Granted, the plastic chrome was in good shape to begin with, but wow!
I'm leaving the center emblems off since they're in bad shape. This will give the new owner a chance to use either the Silver/Black (84-85) or Chrome/Red (86-88) Rocket emblems sold on a few resto websights.
I'm going to put them in the "For Sale" thread here first for a week or so (I would rather a member get them), then if no one wants them, move on to ebay etc.
Hutch
What a difference a little elbow grease can do. Granted, the plastic chrome was in good shape to begin with, but wow!
I'm leaving the center emblems off since they're in bad shape. This will give the new owner a chance to use either the Silver/Black (84-85) or Chrome/Red (86-88) Rocket emblems sold on a few resto websights.
I'm going to put them in the "For Sale" thread here first for a week or so (I would rather a member get them), then if no one wants them, move on to ebay etc.
Hutch
Hehe.. Only a purist like you Mike would notice the extra chrome edging and pinstripe on my car 😜. From the factory, the 442’s had a stripped down trunk lid compared to the other models…I prefer the extras.
Hutch, what about the Olds emblems in center of tail lights?
Are you refinishing those as well?
Great job btw. 👏 👏 👏
Are you refinishing those as well?
Great job btw. 👏 👏 👏
Hey Tony, he has listed them for sale without the emblems.
They go with the lights, but are in poor shape. A set from GBodyParts or elsewhere would finish them off.
The emblems are there, just loose from the lights.
Hutch
You can get 86-88 emblems here (red/chrome/black rocket) About 39 bucks/pair.
And 85/85 emblems here (silver/black rocket) Same price as above. They also have the 86-88 emblems too.
And 85/85 emblems here (silver/black rocket) Same price as above. They also have the 86-88 emblems too.
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