Wondering what processes are used and whom is offering restoration services for our Mopar headlight buckets (as pictured)? I am pretty sure these were galvanized when new. What is being done for a proper resto process today? I am restoring a 70 Charger and would like to get mine re-done.

I try and find a set of good originals to start with.

You can do it yourself. I do a two step process.

First soak them overnight in Evaporust. This will get rid of any small rust areas and help clean them up in general. Wash any residue from them and get them as clean as possible. This may generate an acceptable finish, but usually there are some ugly spots and they are still dull.

Second. To freshen up the galvaninzing, flash dip them in Muratic acid (HCL). The amount of time to bring back the galvanized finish will vary, but leave it in too long and you will have bare metal. I am talking seconds not minutes. Have a pail of water next to your work station to nuetralize the HCL after extraction. It will keep eating away if you don't put it in the water. It may take a few flashes to get your desired look.

In the end I usually shoot some satin clear on it to keep it fresh looking. You wouldn't have to do this step but it will weather back to what it looked like prior eventually.

Safety!! Wear safety glasses and some sort of hand protection. HCL in an open cut is like lighting your hand on fire....don't ask me how I know. (It is dissolving the iron in your blood I am told)

BTW, this works great on the rear license plate bracket as well.

Hope this helps.

D

Great tip: I had my replated and they're nice and clean but not correct.

Sheldon

CAUTION! Evaporust CAN and WILL remove all of the galvanizing if left soaking long enough which will let the little zinc deposits release their grip and slide off when rinsed which will leave you with nice shiny steel and no galvanizing. DAMHIK!

This has been my experience too. I have seen the reproduction license plate brackets....way too bright and way too thin of material used.

D

Thanks for the heads up. I have not had this experience, but obviously it can act just like the HCL looking at your pictures. How long did you have the backing plates in the Evaporust?

D

The 'grainy' appearance, technically called spangle, is only produced by dipping a part in molten zinc and nowaday it' s almost impossible to find somebody that does it in a small scale in the US (enviromental problems). In Georgia few years ago they replaced old wood power poles with very large galvanized ones where one can see the spangle very clearly. Anyway, a good advice is to diluite the acid-usually is about 30 % in the stores- to about 5 %, to control the process better.
By the way, that rear license plate appears somewhat satisfied in that photo!

On my Challenger buckets I did it the hard way.(didn't know about EvapoRust at the time) I scrubbed them with soap/water and 0000 steel wool. I sprayed them with a clear after they were clean. I tried EvapoRust on my 904 dust cover and it turned out nice. A lot faster and easier then steel wool. I'm not sure how long I left it soak. I didn't have an issue with it removing the galvanizing.

Funny stuff, never noticed before, but you are right!

D

nice job on the headlight buckets. I found similar markings on the back side of my Dad's 69 GTX vert.

I don't remember, at least overnight. I'd say that a supervised shorter term dip could be used, but once it gets under the zinc deposits they will slide off when rinsed with water. Mine looked beautiful when I pulled them out of the Evaporust....right up to the point that I rinsed them with water and I watched the zinc deposits float away like glitter...It was an OH S..! moment!

Thanks for the tips above guys.......looks like I will have to find a nicer set than I have on hand to get good results. I will try the evapo-rust process once I pick up a nice set of buckets. Thanks again!

Here is mine after Evaporust, but as mentioned don't leave it too long, it actually works pretty quickly.

evaporust can ruin some stuff if you are not careful with it.
i learned the hard way..

I tried the Evaporust dip (15 mins or so) and a light going over with 0000 steel wool. Pretty happy with the results. Now a light coat of satin clear and they will be ready to install. Thanks to everyone for the tips!!!

On my A12, thinks like the window tracks, headlight buckets, license plate bracket, and light... I first scrubbed them down with a little Dollar Store oven cleaner and Mean Green cleaner with a kitchen sink type plastic bristle scrub brush, ... then soaked for 4-6 hours of Evoporust mixed about 60/40 with water.

Everything turned out well and didn't take off the galvanizing and black phosphate coatings.

Like Scott said, any long term soak will remove plating.

2 cents...

I also washed and neutralized with some products from this place.

http://www.schafco.com/cosmoline.asp

You can order a case, and mix and match. I used the Cosmoline, which is actually more like a penetrant. Rust Veto, is more like cosmoline wax base... if I remember right.