Author Topic: Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets  (Read 4994 times)

john302

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 381
    • View Profile
Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets
« on: September 17, 2022, 09:25:07 PM »
Has anyone had any luck cleaning the original white 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets ?i am sure nobody is making a good repop ? Thanks

169INDY

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1889
    • View Profile
Re: Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets
« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2022, 02:00:39 AM »
a) I have had no luck with any attempts to clean factory gooey moldy dirty gaskets. They have a Very strange composition and accompanying resin-sealer. The do a great job but wow what a mess. None of the usual methods have worked for me, usually the side to the sheet metal housing retains the fresh white color, the side towards the lens back is nasty, moldy, dirt impregnated, deformed, dried, gooey or over sprayed during poor masking.
b) Be careful when sourcing reproductions. I have found various sources actually supply standard foam gasket die cut and thin, too thin to allow for proper compression upon the lens being tightened down, the shoulder screw bottoms out and the lens will still rattle around.
Jim
68 SS/RS L35 Th-400 LOS
69 Pace Car L48 Th-350 LOS
68 Z28 M21 LOS

rich69rs

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1119
  • LF7/M35/Z22/Z87
    • View Profile
Re: Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets
« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2022, 02:25:27 AM »
a) I have had no luck with any attempts to clean factory gooey moldy dirty gaskets.

Same here - fortunately you don’t see them once the lens is installed and after some futile attempts at cleaning I just put them back as is.

Richard
Richard Thomas
1969 RS

camaronut

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 717
    • View Profile
Re: Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2022, 11:35:07 AM »
CHQ makes a really good repro of the gasket however, its light brown / clay colored.  Maybe spray the gaskets with white paint / vinyl dye?  I'm painting mine.  169indy is right about the thin gaskets that are the right color - but way too thin and way too soft. In other words - they suck.

Sauron327

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1414
    • View Profile
Re: Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2022, 01:48:01 PM »
Use SEM paint to change the color.

camaronut

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 717
    • View Profile
Re: Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2022, 03:42:22 PM »
Will do - Thanks!!!

68camaroz28

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2252
    • View Profile
Re: Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2022, 05:22:45 PM »
Has anyone had any luck cleaning the original white 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets ?i am sure nobody is making a good repop ? Thanks
Hi John, know 68 is different from 69 but what have you or others tried using. I've had good luck with simple green and Oxi clean products. They sell Oxi Clean white revive and I've used Clorox full strength. Our 68 gaskets looked almost new after restore.
https://www.camaros.net/threads/time-for-another-68-z-28-to-be-restored.182584/page-17#post-1605638
Chick
68 Z/28 NOR 01B Orig motor/trans/rear
69 Z/28 NOR 07A Orig Block & GM Cross-ram/carbs
69 L34 Rest. Nova Father/Son Car
69 L78 Surv Nova Purch 4/69 31K miles
67 L89 Corv Tribute
68 Corv 427/400 Orig motor
07 Corv Z06
R 68Z build- http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182584

Sauron327

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1414
    • View Profile
Re: Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets
« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2022, 09:03:19 PM »
Maybe try Bleach White.  Not sure what the big deal is with shooting them with SEM. I've only been in the biz for decades. Common sense after 50 years and working on classics 7 days a week.

camaronut

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 717
    • View Profile
Re: Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2022, 02:52:43 PM »
I must be color blind - the gaskets I got from CHQ are more like a light clay / grey color.  So I'm installing them as is.  I don't care anymore!!!  I don't think anyone is gonna stoop down and look at the turn signal lights that closely and say "Hey - those gaskets are wrong!".
 
If they do, I'll kick them right in the :o and yell "Aint ya gotta life?"  LOL!!! 

Sauron327

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1414
    • View Profile
Re: Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2022, 03:11:56 PM »
I must be color blind - the gaskets I got from CHQ are more like a light clay / grey color.  So I'm installing them as is.  I don't care anymore!!!  I don't think anyone is gonna stoop down and look at the turn signal lights that closely and say "Hey - those gaskets are wrong!".
 
If they do, I'll kick them right in the :o and yell "Aint ya gotta life?"  LOL!!! 
Or if a judge tries to yank my window moldings off to see if I have the factory correct clips. Some people push this a a little too far.

camaronut

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 717
    • View Profile
Re: Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets
« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2022, 03:34:13 PM »
"Or if a judge tries to yank my window moldings off to see if I have the factory correct clips. Some people push this a a little too far."

If they do, kick them right in the :o and yell "Aint ya gotta life?"  LOL!!!

rlw68

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 57
    • View Profile
Re: Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets
« Reply #11 on: September 23, 2022, 12:04:21 AM »
 I used the Soff Seal gaskets for my lights. The off white color is also closer to the originals.
Rob
1969 02D Norwood Z/28. Lemans Blue 715

camaronut

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 717
    • View Profile
Re: Cleaning 69 front turnsignal lens gaskets
« Reply #12 on: September 23, 2022, 10:30:21 AM »
What's the consistency of the foam?  Is is semi hard or pretty soft?

 

anything