ThreeOhFive

can you do that on a camaro? i have seen people do some pretty amazing things by restoring their cloudy gunked up park lamps instead of buying new ones. i have noticed thirdgen camaro's tail lights get really cloudy on high mileage cars. here's some pictures...

what most look like now:

what they looked like new:


the difference is huge (look at the reverse clear part!!!), and because our cars are so fast we should care about what these look like because this is what all the other drivers will be seeing...

now, here's the dilema. i don't want to spend $500 on a new set of lamps, especially when mine work just fine. is there any way to take the tail lights apart and clean them out so they look new? i tried but i almost broke them lol.

CaliChevyLover

if they are not leaking then polishing on the outside is a great start

ThreeOhFive

already did that, but i think you need to clean the inside of them to actually get some kind of result. polishing makes them look nicer, but it doesn't make them any clearer.

i think all the tail lights let moisture in and over time, a film builds up on the inside of the lamp. i'm pretty sure if you could disassemble them and spend a few minutes wiping them out, the finished product would be an amazing transformation.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

yes you can take them apart and clean them if they Need it.
always Keep the parts the car came with. and keep the plastic clean and polished.
sorta like repaintn the car when it needs it.
17 years old and still looks brand new.

scottmoyer

23 years old and still looks new!!

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

time flys don't it.
i remember the day i got the call from my dealer.. "your car is in"

it will be 18 years in a few months...

tpi90rs

iTrader: (2)

I don't think you're polishing them right. what are your steps, and what final compound are you using?

Yes you can pull them apart but the tabs are most likely going to break and you'll have to glue them together(it's very easy, like putting in a windshield).

all tail lights let in moisture as there are drain holes on the bottom of the housings. When moisture collects, these holes are generally plugged or restricted.

I pulled one of mine apart to wash it, but didn't do it to the other one because there wasn't any difference. It's quicker to just fill them with hot water, add dish soap and swish them around. Or if they fit, the top shelf in the dishwasher.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

some times Green Mold Will Grow inside.. then you have to take them apart

ThreeOhFive

I started another thread about cleaning them. passenger side turned out great... drivers side was a bit more cloudy and cleaning it wasn't going so well. I threw it in a bathtub with hot water and rv cleaner and simple green and it's been soaking for 8 hours. it still looks like garbage what are you all doing to restore the clearcoat shinny finish on the outside? sand paper sounds like it would scratch the hell out of them...

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

you Buff the outside of them.. the plastic is soft it cuts fast. read all the post. you will get the hang of it..you dont have to take them apart if you dont want to.. but read all the post. (link below)

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/auto...aning-you.html

FueledSoul

iTrader: (18)

I cleaned the inside of mine with out taking them apart, iv also taken them apart, but if you put them in bath tube use soap and hot water let it sit inside the housing for few mins when you dump the water out it will be dirty. as far as polishing goes depends on how pitted or cloudy, 1000, then 1500, 2000 grit. then i buff them out using a wax water soap mix. iv used buffing compounds too but the soap and wax mix imo works the best for the final. iv gotten plastic to look like glass. theres tons on methods for archiving what you want ever one has there own way of doing things