back window
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
back window
i am trying to clean smoke damage off of an original back window for a hardtop 1966. its a nos that i had stored at my sisters and her garage caught fire and it has smoke damage now. any suggestions would help. not melted just smoke damage !
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Welcome to the Corvette Forum... 
Because the rear window is acrylic, you may not be able to save it. The chemicals released in a fire can be acidic and do permanent damage to a lot of surfaces. If you were fortunate enough that it did not warp (or cave in even a little) you may have to sand and polish it like you would to an acrylic headlight that has yellowed. Of course a new rear window is under $400 so it may not be worth the time and effort, particularly if it is damaged on the inside and outside surface.
You might contact the folks at Auto Entec, who restores hardtops and sells the rear window, or Coffman Corvette and see what they recommend to try to restore it. Both are great folks to work with, know these tops intimately and will probably have a solution to the problem.
Good luck... GUSTO
Because the rear window is acrylic, you may not be able to save it. The chemicals released in a fire can be acidic and do permanent damage to a lot of surfaces. If you were fortunate enough that it did not warp (or cave in even a little) you may have to sand and polish it like you would to an acrylic headlight that has yellowed. Of course a new rear window is under $400 so it may not be worth the time and effort, particularly if it is damaged on the inside and outside surface.
You might contact the folks at Auto Entec, who restores hardtops and sells the rear window, or Coffman Corvette and see what they recommend to try to restore it. Both are great folks to work with, know these tops intimately and will probably have a solution to the problem.
Good luck... GUSTO
Last edited by GUSTO14; Aug 30, 2018 at 08:56 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,104
Likes: 701
From: Southern Illinois
Plexus is a good plastic window cleaner that polishes as it cleans. I've also used lemon Pledge too. Not sure if they'll be abrasive enough to do the trick, but they might be a start. Good luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,000
Likes: 659
From: Puget Sound
Meguiar's Plast-X Clear Plastic Cleaner and Polish. I've tried many products and this is the best by far. It works great by hand and even better if you use a buffer with a foam pad.
Last edited by 1snake; Aug 30, 2018 at 09:31 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,934
Likes: 657
From: Norwalk ohio
2019 Corvette of the Year Winner
St. Jude Donor '15
Micromesh sandpaper, you want to get 3000, 4500 and 6000 grit, coupled with a rubbing compound specifically targeted at plexiglass. If you want to make sure you get the right stuff contact GlassWorks and ask for their scratch kit. It has some sandpaper and compound. There won’t be enough in the kit to do an entire rear window.
You can download my book I put together on refurbishing my top. I found a way to slip my screw driver a couple of times when tightening down barrel fasteners. You can download it here...it’s free....it’s more near the rear of the book.
http://www.blurb.com/b/1511633-red-h...d?ebook=331964
you can see the various grades of grit that I used. Note that micromesh is used, not regular sandpaper.
You can download my book I put together on refurbishing my top. I found a way to slip my screw driver a couple of times when tightening down barrel fasteners. You can download it here...it’s free....it’s more near the rear of the book.
http://www.blurb.com/b/1511633-red-h...d?ebook=331964
you can see the various grades of grit that I used. Note that micromesh is used, not regular sandpaper.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,145
Army
This would be my fear - if the sooty smoke permeated the window, then no amount of polishing may work....I'd try a small test area with Meguiar's or 3M Marine Plastic Restorer (which I have had good luck using) - West Marine or perhaps Bass Pro may have it... You should know pretty quickly if you can salvage the window....if so you can move on to 3M Plastic Polish....
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Aug 31, 2018 at 06:35 AM.
