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View Full Version : Rear Clip - Taillights & Bezel Restoration



Smartin
01-01-2007, 10:44 PM
It's the little projects like this that will put your car a notch above the car next to you. With just a rag and a bucket of water, you'll never get all the dirt and crap out of the crevices to make it look crisp like it should.

The best way to do this is to disassemble everything and clean clean clean and paint! Polish the taillight lenses while you have them apart.

Here is a picture of the convertible with everything off. Check out all the dirt!! You could never see that with the car together. And when you remove all of this, there will be no more dirt that you can see in the lines and the joints. It will be completely clean. This is KEY if you want to make an impression on people.

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/centurion/trunk_lip002.jpg


Now, check out the crispness and clarity of the lines and joint on the LeSabre I finished this Spring. It completely changed the look of the car.

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/71lesabre/ebay/lesabre_ebay024.jpg

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/71lesabre/ebay/lesabre_ebay025.jpg


The taillight bezels and metal shields that bolt on with the taillights were painted. I also repainted the black lines on the taillights themselves. The Centurion (at least the 71) has the pot metal frame that is removable from the actual lens itself. This will allow easier painting of the black highlights, as well as polishing the lenses. I use a good chrome polish for the lenses.

32kCenturion
01-02-2007, 07:58 PM
Adam, I bet we both had our cars apart at the same time. Here are a few pictures. This is how I like to clean my Centurion once a month. I remove the wheels for cleaning, detail the wheel wells, and even under the rear wheel drums. I have run out of things to clean at least until I drive it again. My wife said she wishes I'd clean the house like this.

Smartin
01-02-2007, 08:09 PM
That's what I'm talkin' about! I think we all would like to see more pictures of that sweet 72...:cool:

32kCenturion
01-04-2007, 08:48 PM
Iz it me seeing things? or is there a hidden image in Adams rear bumper. Look and see! Looks like a Bling Buick in the background.:D

Smartin
01-04-2007, 10:49 PM
That's my former convertible, which is now owned by Rolf "The German" here on the board...

32kCenturion
01-09-2007, 08:53 AM
Is that another Buick I see reflecting in the bumper above the license plate?

Eric B
01-09-2007, 03:27 PM
What have people done about their 71 chrome taillight eyelids? I imagine these are pitted on everyone's car. Did you just remove them, paint them silver, or buy NOS. NOS are expensive and basically impossible to find a pair.

Smartin
01-09-2007, 06:22 PM
Is that another Buick I see reflecting in the bumper above the license plate?


Yes that was my convertible. The taillights you are seeing are from my LeSabre, which got the same clean/paint treatment as I described in the first post.

Eric: mine were pitted in the convertible...I just polished them and reinstalled. The Formal Coupe chrome looks pretty good...best I've ever seen on a car, really.