1970 s2 0453R Reassembly

[BobW]

If you have shims left over after you're happy with the tension, they can be stored under the nuts on the face of the pulley. That's where mine have always been. They're extra weight though

[dakazman]

  Yes Bob, that’s where I found them,5 to be exact , I put all except one and tightened when turning the rear tire.
I few more need to come out. I took a break from it , the wife added a few other items to her list.
Thanks for the comment, it may help others in the future.
  Another project was installing the wiper assembly . Turns out I’m missing the outer spacers, I believe they are chrome, if so I need to call the plating shop. I lost track of the items. Bumpers , interior lamp assembly and I think those spacers.  I checked the old wheel boxes,... nothing.
Dakazman

[dakazman]

After searching my parts bags I found my bag of chrome parts ,still wrapped by the shop.Whew 😅 Making progress slowly and getting familiar with other small jobs that need to get done.
Dakazman

[Pfreen]

Who did your chroming?  It looks good.

[dakazman]

Space Coast Plating & Metal Refinishing, Inc.
Melbourne, Florida .
  They do really nice work. It’s expensive mainly because of the hazardous material charges.
I decided I’ll wait for my tail light assemblies to put a little more before plating for 150 each. That will also ruin the stop lamp inner lens.
Dakazman

[Pfreen]

I have seen their advertisement.  I can tell you that crappy plating is also expensive.

[dakazman]

  Absolutely,
 They do really nice work, see pics of my bumpers. One of My tail lights are slightly pitted so with only about 1/2” chrome  showing  it just doesn’t make sense for me to get those done. I see some jaguar and lotus assemblies for sale on eBay occasionally that are about the same price point.
 The socket for the brake light are swedged thru the reflector and base. We need to source unswedged sockets or modify the assembly to properly get rechromed.
Dakazman

[Pfreen]

I was able to buy a left hand Federal light assembly that was NOS from Sports Car World in Dallas for around $150.  For the right hand, I bought a euro model (About $250 and readily available) and modified it to accept the bulb assembly from my old Federal light.  You would have to remove it to know.

My original lights were in rough shape, and I also could not see how they would chrome them.

[gideon]

Could you get away with applying a chrome effect paint instead of proper chrome plating?  How hot can the reflector get with LED bulbs?

[jbcollier]

Usually it's an order of magnitude cheaper to simply replace small parts like the windshield wiper finisher rather than re-chrome them.

[Certified Lotus]

Usually it's an order of magnitude cheaper to simply replace small parts like the windshield wiper finisher rather than re-chrome them.

Completely agree!

[dakazman]

  They threw the finishers and the interior lamp in with the bumpers . R&D does not have both fittings for the wheelbox.

   The tail lights are going back on for the time being. I go by good enough, better and better yet.
I used my old school xylene rub to hand polish and clean the lenses. I caution the use , it’s used with a q-tip and a micro fiber towel to buff out a drop immediately . You are melting the plastic to a high gloss with just hand rubbing.
 
Headlights converting to halogens H4 with a blue tint. I’m glad I didn’t install the chrome rings.

Still painting and sealing the new dash with a first coat of high gloss black trim. The crash pad was also stripped of the brittle covering. I should be able to coat with some thin veil glass and coat with some new vinyl.

[Fotog]

I say, excellent work on the photo sizing, Dave!  I think about 800 pixels wide max is great.
Vince

[dakazman]

Could you get away with applying a chrome effect paint instead of proper chrome plating?  How hot can the reflector get with LED bulbs?
 
  Gideon, yes you could easily. The reverse lamp reflectors I nickel plated and polished, so I gave it a better grade since it now has no rust. You gave me an idea though. I’ve painted the chrome effect on wheels and it would greatly enhance the pitted assembly.
Thanks
Dakazman

  There is one engine ire assembly on eBay right now but it not the correct side.
  Getting ready to install the rear window since it is 86 f and the new rubber trim needed to be loosened up after being in the bag . I installed it in place and taped for now. Where do most people put the seam Bottom center is where I placed it.
Dakazman

[BobW]

It spent some time looking for the seam on my rear window seal because it's so neatly done. It's top centre. The seam on the locking strip, which I should really replace, is on the bottom.