Tail light resto

[Elwood]

Did you read the following thread?
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3091

As an FYI the following is a/the follow-up;
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3657

r/
Elwood

[mdrburchette]

Elwood, do you have a follow up on how the taillamp rechroming held up? Any pics of your car?

[fasterfiat]

I had considered the same problem and so contacted a place called Protomold. They can mold new ones but the minimum cost is around $1500 for the first mold, (one side), and then subsequent moldings are more. But then that doesn't include the reflectors, wiring, or chroming. Not the way to go. I guess, hope there's some on ebay. I've peeled all the chrome off a set in hopes of rechroming but the plastic will probably be cracked, hence the peeling, so that doesn't work too well either. Theirs also design programs like Alibre but then you get into the same problem as Protomold, too expensive. I guess if you went to a foundry for boat hardware, they might be able to cast a brass set for you that would be easy to chrome, probably last better too. I wonder how much that would cost!

[Tappy]

since the pieces are not that big i wonder what it would cost here :
http://www.creationsnchrome.com/gallery ... lmet5.html
looks very nice to me ...

[htchevyii]

I just ran accross these on Ebay, $192.00 ea complete. Still not cheap, but I've seen them for $700 per pair.

[spidernut]

Both of my Spiders don't have the chrome - they're both black. I've never seen them in chrome before. What year did the chrome them?

[spiderrey]

Every year has chrome. I was lucky enough to pick up an nos set for 200.

[dom]

I am going to try the chrome paint route when i do my restoration. i know it will not be as good as the more expensive method form of chrome painting which uses a chemical reaction but it may be good enough. There are still many steps involved using this cheaper method so its not simply a chrome spray paint. The finish will depend on how well each step is completed. The first step is painting the surface black. I have experience painting so I think I should give it a try.

http://www.innate.com/Paint/Chrome/Chrome.htm

[spidernut]

Now I'm really confused...here's a copy of a 79 and 80 sales brochure where you can see the tail lights. Was the chrome a region thing maybe? I know my 81 I bought new wasn't chromed either. I keep learning new things about these cars. What's with that?

[spiderrey]

I meant chrome up til 78 on the square lights

[Danno]

I meant chrome up til 78 on the square lights

LOL, yeah, Rey meant every year except like half of the years...

My advice is this: if you are to the point that you are worried about the peeling chrome on your tails, then your restore project is to the point where you should consider dropping a few hundred to have it done right. That's just my 2cents.

[grittracing]

chrome or mylar tape you can order or they may have in stock at any sign shop you could get enought to do both your lights for under $30 if you take your time and you are patient they will look stock and no one will be able to tell the differnce untill you tell them. Just start at the bottom side of the light than finish in the same place with a little over lap so the seem is on the under side.i have plans to do the same to my stock black tail lights,

[Danno]

chrome or mylar tape you can order or they may have in stock at any sign shop you could get enought to do both your lights for under $30 if you take your time and you are patient they will look stock and no one will be able to tell the differnce untill you tell them. Just start at the bottom side of the light than finish in the same place with a little over lap so the seem is on the under side.i have plans to do the same to my stock black tail lights,

Can one use that tape for sealing up ductwork? I think it's aluminum or something. I have a roll around here somewhere, I should mess around with it...

Edit: it's called Aluminum Foil Tape

[grittracing]

no not that tape completly differnt. The chrome or mylar i am talking about will have cleaner look.

[johndemar]

I meant chrome up til 78 on the square lights

LOL, yeah, Rey meant every year except like half of the years...

My advice is this: if you are to the point that you are worried about the peeling chrome on your tails, then your restore project is to the point where you should consider dropping a few hundred to have it done right. That's just my 2cents.

Yup that is where I'm at. Car comes back from the painter this week and I just can't see putting the peeling chrome lights back on. Seems a shame though because every lens is good and the only problem is the chrome. I'm sure I will end up replacing the entire light on both sides. So all you vendors out there know that there is a market for just the chrome bezel.