Folks,
The chrome on my tail light housings is pitted and peeling. I'd like to send them out to be redone, but have two questions:
1. Has anyone done this? If so, how successful were you at removing the crimped-in light sockets? The outer bulb holder is held in by about 30 little metal "petals" that are crimped ove (The Inner holders are not OEM and are pop-riveted in).
2. Any recommendations on who to use?
Thanks!
Dave
65 330 GT
Re-Chrome Tail Light Housings?
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- Location: Massachusetts
Re-Chrome Tail Light Housings?
Dave Michael
330 GT 7895
330 GT 7895
Re: Re-Chrome Tail Light Housings?
Hi Dave,
You can carefully pry the tabs back to release the socket, but don't pry it back any more than you have to.
To get it back in, I've had pretty good success using a small 1 ton hand crank shop press. I find a socket the fits over the tabs and apply steady pressure while supporting the other side of the light fixture.
Tom
You can carefully pry the tabs back to release the socket, but don't pry it back any more than you have to.
To get it back in, I've had pretty good success using a small 1 ton hand crank shop press. I find a socket the fits over the tabs and apply steady pressure while supporting the other side of the light fixture.
Tom
'63 330 America #5053
Re: Re-Chrome Tail Light Housings?
I took the sockets out like Tom suggests. Getting them re-assembled tightly was an issue. If they aren't tight, you lose the ground circuit and the light goes out. Tom's idea of a press sounds good. I didn't think of that solution.
Regards, Kerry
http://www.330gt.com 330 GT Registry
http://www.parrotbyte.com/kbc/ferrari 250 PF Coupe 1643GT, 330 GT 2+2 8755GT, 308 GTS 23605
http://www.330gt.com 330 GT Registry
http://www.parrotbyte.com/kbc/ferrari 250 PF Coupe 1643GT, 330 GT 2+2 8755GT, 308 GTS 23605
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- Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:58 pm
- Location: Massachusetts
Re: Re-Chrome Tail Light Housings?
Tom, Kerry
Ok Thats what I will do...
Anyone recomend any re-chrome shops?
Best
Dave
Ok Thats what I will do...
Anyone recomend any re-chrome shops?
Best
Dave
Dave Michael
330 GT 7895
330 GT 7895
- David Booth
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- Location: Vista, California
- Contact:
Re: Re-Chrome Tail Light Housings?
Well, here's the thing about the pitting. These parts are good old pot metal. The pitting is caused by porosity in the castings. Mine on the cabriolet were pretty pitted, and I sent them to a gent who drills out the pits and them fills them with silver solder or something in the same vein, then re-chromes them. Not cheap, but supposedly the "permanent" fix, and the parts look terrific. I used George Iverson at Iverson Automotive. http://www.iversonautomotive.com/
1960 SII PF cabriolet #2105GT
1963 250GTE #4799GT with 330 America engine #5033GT
"...Luigi follow only the Ferraris.."
1963 250GTE #4799GT with 330 America engine #5033GT
"...Luigi follow only the Ferraris.."
- David Booth
- Posts: 271
- Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 2:23 am
- Location: Vista, California
- Contact:
Re: Re-Chrome Tail Light Housings?
Hmmm... here's the page on pot metal, but I somehow can't go back in and edit my previous post to add the link, so here 'tis separately.
http://www.iversonautomotive.com/potmetal.htm
http://www.iversonautomotive.com/potmetal.htm
1960 SII PF cabriolet #2105GT
1963 250GTE #4799GT with 330 America engine #5033GT
"...Luigi follow only the Ferraris.."
1963 250GTE #4799GT with 330 America engine #5033GT
"...Luigi follow only the Ferraris.."
Re: Re-Chrome Tail Light Housings?
I particularly enjoyed this: "Sanding or grinding out the pits does not usually produce good results. While removing one pit, you may open another one under the surface - such is the nature of air bubbles."
Re: Re-Chrome Tail Light Housings?
Hi Dave,Grigio330GT wrote:Tom, Kerry
Ok Thats what I will do...
Anyone recomend any re-chrome shops?
Best
Dave
Sorry I didn't respond earlier. Finding a good plater is no easy task, and finding a good one that can do pot metal is even harder. Sometimes a bad plating job will not rear its head until a few years on the car.
Tom
'63 330 America #5053
Re: Re-Chrome Tail Light Housings?
William
1979 Avanti s/n Rqb-3016
1962 GTE s/n 3447
1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider 1495*09775
1979 Avanti s/n Rqb-3016
1962 GTE s/n 3447
1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider 1495*09775
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- Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 5:31 pm
Re: Re-Chrome Tail Light Housings?
Hi Dave,
I did all 4 of my lights and the way I replaced the bulb housing, being that I did not have a press, I used a 21mm deep socket in the back of the housing and then I started with a 17mm wrench on the round edge to start bending the clips back with a hammer, and went up in size with the wrench to the point of just using a screwdriver and hammer for final tap. It worked good for me.
Al Pezzella
8917 330GT2+2
I did all 4 of my lights and the way I replaced the bulb housing, being that I did not have a press, I used a 21mm deep socket in the back of the housing and then I started with a 17mm wrench on the round edge to start bending the clips back with a hammer, and went up in size with the wrench to the point of just using a screwdriver and hammer for final tap. It worked good for me.
Al Pezzella
8917 330GT2+2