Fiberoptic Lens Console Plate
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 153
Likes: 36
From: West Virginia
Fiberoptic Lens Console Plate
My old one is scratched so I thought I’d get a new one. Just found out there are metal and plastic reproductions. I think I’m putting too much thought in this but I’m not sure which to buy. I would think metal is better but if the original is plastic, should I stick with that? Anyone have any thoughts?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 3,136
From: Shamong, NJ
What year is your car? 1968's originally came with the plastic fiber optic trim plate, 69-71 Corvettes came with the pot metal plate. The plastic trim plate was just one more of the thousand different one year only parts found on 68 Corvettes.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Use chemical paint stripper to remove all paint; wash and dry part; paint ALL of it with satin black paint; after about 10 minutes, use cloth dampened with lacquer thinner to wipe paint from lettering and ridges. Alternative is to use X-acto knife to scrape paint from raised areas; DO NOT WIPE OFF SHAVINGS. Allow to dry overnight, then remove shavings. Easy to do and you keep the original part.
P.S. If you just paint over the part as-is or you just touch-up the scratches, the part will look BAD. The only cost is the paint stripper; you need the satin black paint and lacquer thinner for all the other paint repairs you will do in the future.
P.S. If you just paint over the part as-is or you just touch-up the scratches, the part will look BAD. The only cost is the paint stripper; you need the satin black paint and lacquer thinner for all the other paint repairs you will do in the future.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 3,136
From: Shamong, NJ
If originality matters to you then your car should have the metal fiber optic plate, but I'm pretty sure the plates are identical except for the material, and interchangeable. The plastic 68 plate is about $5 less than the 69-71 plate, if price is a consideration.
This is just a guess, but I assume GM switched to metal because they were likely experiencing breakage installing them while threading speed nuts onto the plates plastic studs?
I agree with 7T1vette though, that they are easy enough to strip and repaint, that it probably doesn't pay to replace it.
This is just a guess, but I assume GM switched to metal because they were likely experiencing breakage installing them while threading speed nuts onto the plates plastic studs?
I agree with 7T1vette though, that they are easy enough to strip and repaint, that it probably doesn't pay to replace it.
Last edited by gbvette62; Apr 22, 2025 at 10:08 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,183
Likes: 1,178
From: out of nowhere
Most everything black, black & chrome in these things can be restored as such!
Last edited by litevette; Apr 22, 2025 at 06:31 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,413
Likes: 1,824
From: Apple Valley, MN
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 832
Likes: 809
From: Chapin SC 29036
When I redid my 69, I cleaned off all of the old paint and then painted it and then used a Q-tip dipped in Acetone to clean off all of the letters and chrome edges. If you screw it up the first time you can just clean it off and try it again. Once you get the hang of it, it isn't too difficult.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,183
Likes: 1,178
From: out of nowhere
When I prime, I carefully (but not thoroughly) rub most of it off of letters, or trim that can not be taped, using either a rigid piece of plastic (think of like cutting a strip off of a credit card), or a piece of polishing cloth (think 8000 or higher grit sandpaper) wrapped around a flat head screwdriver tip. Do the same after the satin has set up. Not trying to be too thorough. After sitting about a week, paint is better cured so I can go back at it and really get to all of the edges well by using a careful hand and a razor blade with a light touch.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Re-read post #6. You can wipe the paint off the chrome areas with lacquer thinner and soft cloth BEFORE the paint hardens; or you can shave it off with an X-acto knife blade while it is somewhat soft. Either way works well. Much better than masking or sanding it off later.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,039
Likes: 504
From: myrtle beach sc
Army
The original 68 headlamp fiber optic plate was very flat and had a squared off separator ridge between the left optics and the right optics. So if the reproduction ones are accurate, they are not as nice looking as the later issued metal ones. Their divider ridge is rounded.
I changed mine to metal from GM many years ago. Lou.
I changed mine to metal from GM many years ago. Lou.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 153
Likes: 36
From: West Virginia
My original was metal and I I opted for a metal version on the new one. Some information I came across said the 69 had plastic. I haven’t researched if that’s true or not but I just prefer metal over plastic.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,039
Likes: 504
From: myrtle beach sc
Army
I researched all of the 1968 interior changes from actual cars, in the day. There were many changes. The change to metal fiber optic headlamp plates was in middle 1968 for 68 cars. Lou.