Polishing 86 head lights

[EDKA]

It is possible to take the head light assemblies apart to polish both the inside and outside. An exacto knife and very careful work gets them apart. We polished the inside and outside of both lenses with 3M Clear Plastic Restorer but it only helped a little bit. Cleared it up some but not to fully usable clearness. It is my understanding the fault is in the plastic itself. It reacts to ultraviolet light and that turns it color. Still looking for new ones both left and right.

Would like to get a line on companies that remanufacture parts for the SVO. Anyone know of any? The net is a little slim on SVO things. I am new to this and any help would be appreciated.

[SVOeric]

finding SVO parts ....that is what we are all about here!!!!!

Go to our links page. We dont just find a vendor, and slap them on our links page, or even worse, take $50 and put them up.
The vendors on our links page are all trustworthy, and time tested.

They support our hobby, so we support them, and we recomend them to our friends, so they can supprot them.

[AT6svo]

Thats interesting about using the exacto to separate the lense. I have posted on this subject before elsewhere but here is what has worked for me. I use a variable speed right angle buffer with foam pads. Any detail shop will have these. First step was using a light compound. Second was a few runs with polish. Third is hand wax. They come out looking great, not quite as good as new, but inifintely better. You just have to use caution when using the buffer not "burn" the lense, the buffing wheel creates alot of friction and you can't stay in one place too long. Once you clean them up just wax them as often as you do (or should do) your car.

I have heard of people using tooth past and semi-chrome but, like I said, this is what works for me.

-mike

[venomizd93]

Speaking of headlights......the car I just bought doesn't have what seems to be a rubber "gromet" around the outside of these lights......the lights are clear as a window but they get condensation in them every time it even sprinkles...Is this rubber "gromet" piece aroudn the outside a stock piece that comes with a NOS headlamp when you buy one? Thanks

[SVOeric]

Nope, the rubber is a seperate piece.

If you buy a NOS headlight (OUCH on the wallet!) it will not have the ruber on it. (unless you can run across some full assemblies)

the rubber is actually harder to find than the lights themselves.

[svobud]

Is this rubber "gromet" piece aroudn the outside a stock piece that comes with a NOS headlamp when you buy one?

No. The rubber trim has a separate part number. I've only seen one set of NOS headlights that were 'full assemblies' - and they included the bucket, trim ring, mounting bracket, and attaching hardware. When you buy new lights, it's usually just the headlight 'bucket' - and you have to swap your rubber trim on it.

The condensation you're getting could be from rubber seal at the plug in the rear. You might try checking that.

[venomizd93]

Could someone tell me what kind of rubber is around the headlamp....I am missing that piece and would like to know if it's hard molded plastic or supple like weather stripping?? Thanks

[SVOeric]

It's not hard, like molded plastic...
it is more like the weather stripping in your window chanel.

[SVOeric]

as requested, nice pics of the rubber grommets...

[SVOeric]

here is the back side...
you can see the clips that hold it on...

[EDKA]

Are the lens new?? If not, how did you get them so clear that in the picture they look like new.

[SVOeric]

They are new, and I have had them for a while.

I bought these just before the (left) went obsolete from Ford.

Wish I could get new markers too, but my lottery ticket had the wrong numbers on it!!

[venomizd93]

Thanks for the pics eric, another stumper question......are the metal clips that are used to secure the light onto the adjusting posts available anywhere or used on any other vehicles....I see that these lights cross reference with the lynx is this true??? The bottom screw should hav a clip on it as well right????

[richsvo]

venomizd93,

Actually, the bottom one is a little unique. It has a clip/arm. The arm sticks up beside the light on the top side. I guess so you can disengage it to get the lens out? Anyway, they are not the same little clip like on the top two. Out of all of them, I would imagine this is the hardest to find. Sorry, but don't know where to look!

Hope that helps....good luck!

Rich

P.S.- If you look at Eric's pic (pic 1) you can see it hanging off to the top right of the picture. Installed, it would actually be folded to the left and down...(does that make sense?) so that it would be parallel with the light lens itself