Re-Chrome Tail Light Housings?

[Grigio330GT]

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

[tyang]

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

[330GT]

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.

[Grigio330GT]

Tom, Kerry

Ok Thats what I will do...

Anyone recomend any re-chrome shops?

Best

Dave

[David Booth]

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/

[David Booth]

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

[kare]

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."

[tyang]

Tom, Kerry

Ok Thats what I will do...

Anyone recomend any re-chrome shops?

Best

Dave

Hi 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

[william]

try Pauls Chrome

www.paulschrome.com

I had good luck with them.. not the cheapest.

[Al Pezzella]

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