Packard Forum Index » Project Blogs

I would experiment and see if sanding the lens with like 80 grit in an orbital pattern on one side would provide adequate diffusion.

Quote:

Yes, mine has the green turn indicators. I have some styrene sheets from other projects that I will experiment with. I have a couple sheets of clear, and I'm thinking I may airbrush some thin paint over that first to see how it looks. If it needs more light blockage, then I can try to back it with 0.010" styrene, or increase the paint thickness. I'll have to hook a bulb directly to the battery to see how it looks.

Quote:

I may end up doing something like this if I have to back the clear plastic with white. Some sanding on the white can thin it out and I should be able to dial in an appropriate light output.

-Kevin

The nail Polish dept at your local drug store has a great selection of colors. I’m pretty sure it’s lacquer which could be thinned and airbrushed or brushed on as I did to match the original color of the Jag’s oil dipstick. Always impressed with what you’re doing with that car, Kevin.

Thanks Joe, I'll check and see what colors of nail polish my wife already has. That may be an easy solution.

Today my replacement bezels came in the mail. Gerry at Packards Southwest reached out to me letting me know that he had some nice ones in stock. He had two NOS and one used in good condition. The price was great and communication was excellent. This is the first time I have bought from Packards Southwest and I'm sure I will do it again. Everyone in the Packard world has been so awesome to deal with. We are really blessed to have so many great suppliers of parts out there.

I completely disassembled the old bezels, glass, and black surrounds. I sanded down and painted the surrounds semi-gloss black (all had some rust and flaking paint). The glass was polished and metal shards removed (I was an idiot way back when I was cutting metal to fix my rusted header....didn't protect the dash like I should have). The glass cleaned up much better than I thought it would. The new bezels were also polished.

I did a quick test fit to see how it looks and I'm very happy. I still need to address the faded indicators, but the difference in overall looks of the cluster so far is striking. I can't wait to get it all wrapped up and installed back in the car.

-Kevin

Attach file:

---

  New gauge bezels.jpg (153.84 KB)


  New vs Old.jpg (88.04 KB)


  Polished glass.jpg (125.65 KB)


  Coming together.jpg (145.83 KB)

My wife got me some new parking light lenses, since my old ones were trash. She ordered through the Packard Club, and it looks like the lenses are supplied by Max Merritt.

The old lenses were cracked and faded, and the gaskets were marginal at best. The housings themselves were no longer silver (or white...what were they originally?) but instead the paint was flaking with obvious corrosion present. I sanded them both down and repainted with silver rattle can paint.

The new gaskets were a pain to keep in place, so I used a couple drops of glue to help out. New hardware for the lenses is excellent, though the screws are a bit longer than original. I polished the faces of the lenses with clear plastic polish just for some extra shine.

Lights and turn signals still work. Slowly improving the car bit by bit.

-Kevin

Attach file:

---

  Original lens passenger.jpg (92.91 KB)


  Original lens driver.jpg (89.85 KB)


  Faded and correded housing.jpg (100.27 KB)


  Sanded and repainted.jpg (80.01 KB)


  New replacement lenses.jpg (97.30 KB)


  New lenses installed.jpg (82.33 KB)


  Lights work.jpg (109.85 KB)

The reflector was originally silvered like a mirror but probably the silver paint is better than the way they were! LEDs would help too but then you would have to change the flasher unit with an electronic one.

I bought a pair of these same lenses a couple years ago from Max Merritt when I discovered that mine on my 1954 Patrician were missing. As it used to be an everyday car, I am not sure where they went but I may have "borrowed" them for a 1953 Patrician that I was selling. Not sure, though, as I don't recall doing it.

Really look good as new. Only people who have done restoration will know the work and time spent on on such small part of project.Details separate the excellent work from just good enough

Kevin, Ross and other here have recommend a bright white paint for the tail light reflectors. Seems that would work just as good for the front lights. Brighter is better.

I am also curious how the silver or mirror finish mylar body wrap would work. Applied over a reflector that had any rust or pits smoothed it seems like the high gloss film would be more like the silvered finish and less likely to scatter light than a comparatively rough paint finish. Question would be if it would maintain the curved shape over time or would it shrink and pull away from the reflector.