[Held for Ransom]

Bob, why does one have a PN on the lens portion and the other does not?
My '73 unit has it.

[Bentwheelbob]

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom

Bob, why does one have a PN on the lens portion and the other does not?
My '73 unit has it.

HFR - Good eye. Actually it did although it can't be seen in the before photo. In the after photo, it has been pretty much obliterated by the polishing process. The rock pits were so bad on this one that I started sanding with 220 grit, went to 320, 400, 600, 800. 1000 and the 3000. After that I used the compound included in the 3M kit. Once this was done I still wasn't happy so I broke out the 3" R/O and used the Griot machine polish 1, 2 and 3, followed with the Best in Show Wax. On the other one the process was much the same, but I started with 600 grit and sanded much less aggressively since it had fewer deep pits, and tried to be careful to avoid the GM PN's. On the pitted one I didn't try that hard to avoid the part numbers and justified that by the fact that bezel covers that portion of the lens.

[Bentwheelbob]

While I had the polishing stuff out, I also polished the clear plastic instrument bezel window. I did it much the same as the parking lights. On most of it I started with 500 grit, but on several areas (namely the turn signal indicator windows), I started with 220 grit and worked up. There were several really deep gouges on the turn signal windows that appear as though someone took a pick or punch and gouged out a deep trough. these were very laborious to get out.

Generally I am very happy with how it turned out. It's is far from perfect, but when you look at the before and after pictures the difference is very noticeable. Beyond removing the scratches, it just makes it look much sharper and brighter if that makes sense.

While everything is pulled apart, I am trying to decide whether to replace the bulbs with LED's or 4 watt replacement bulbs. Any recommendations?

We also cleaned most everything back in the inner dash area. MPD removed the wiper switch and prism diffuser and those look like new. He also wiped everything down back there, lubed the speedo cable, and replaced a vacuum line grommet that had come loose. The center stack gauges were also removed, cleaned and the lens polished

Here's a few pictures as usual. Check out the turn signal windows.

[njsteve]

Originally Posted by Bentwheelbob

That lens looks to be around the same size as the eyeglasses I wore in the 1970's.

No wonder I never could get a date for the prom....