Removing old paint from '64 Tail Light Housings
 

Hi Everyone,

I am working on refinishing my tail light housing on my '64 GTO. One of the housings has some black paint around and between the fins that I need to remove.

Any thoughts on the best way to do this? Lacquer thinner and elbow grease? Some kind of chemical stripper?

Thanks.

Chemical paint stripper is the safest way.

Thanks Dick...I wasn't sure given they are made out of pot metal and was afraid something would get in the pits and not come out. Time to grab my face mask and head to the supply store...Thanks again.

All you need is patience!! I've done this many times.

When my '64 was new, the tail panel peeled the first year. I didn't know that Pontiac would have fixed it as a Service item. I stripped the panels and painted them black as you can see in the attached picture. Then, when I restored the car in the '80's, I painted the panel Marimba Red again.

Thanks Dick. This one had been painted black too.

Three stops yesterday but no stripper to be had. So I picked up some lacquer thinner to give it a try and that worked really well. Have one stripped now and have started drilling the chrome bubbles between the ribs.

You are right about patience - I'm gonna have some hours wrapped up in these. Thanks again.

I like to use a mini soda blaster I got at Harbor Freight. It cleans old paint and oxidation off chrome without damaging it.