headlamp actuator finish
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,279
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi NV,
There's a fellow in Texas who can rebuild and re-plate the actuators. He does very nice work and is a great guy to boot!
Bob Demmel 214-693-3959 or 972-377-2096. 10-7 Central time.
Regards,
Alan
There's a fellow in Texas who can rebuild and re-plate the actuators. He does very nice work and is a great guy to boot!
Bob Demmel 214-693-3959 or 972-377-2096. 10-7 Central time.
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Good info from Alan71 on the re-plating. If that is too expensive, you can shoot with [metallic] gold paint, spritz in some candy red and candy green for the chromate hues, then clear coat while the red and green are still wet so that they 'bleed' out smoothly. It still looks painted when you get close; but folks do a double-take before realizing that it's painted. [And it still looks a heckuva lot better than bare steel or rusted steel!]
If you can justify the cost, have them replated or buy new ones.
If you can justify the cost, have them replated or buy new ones.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Apr 3, 2010 at 09:57 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,279
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi nasa,
7T1 and old sarge are right on about the paint. With some practice and 4-5-6 colors blended, you can do a pretty good job... VERY good if that's what the budget allows.
Keep the total layer of paint very thin and a little transparent and it might even fool a few people.
Regards,
Alan
Wiper door actuator shown but works for headlight actuators too.
7T1 and old sarge are right on about the paint. With some practice and 4-5-6 colors blended, you can do a pretty good job... VERY good if that's what the budget allows.
Keep the total layer of paint very thin and a little transparent and it might even fool a few people.
Regards,
Alan
Wiper door actuator shown but works for headlight actuators too.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Alan, you old dawg... And here I was assuming that your "cans" were re-plated. 
Well, I guess we think alike; we can't really justify the buck$ for replated parts. I did exactly the same as you and they look pretty darn good.
Well, I guess we think alike; we can't really justify the buck$ for replated parts. I did exactly the same as you and they look pretty darn good.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 315
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Don't bother tellin' me about the plastic ties...they're already gone.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
I had a bunch of stuff plated last year for my resto project. I plan to get the actuators done too. It made a huge difference, wasn't expensive, and was very easy. I did all the chassis bolts and the steel hardware.
I got all this done for £120, which is about $180.
Rubber wasn't affected by the plating process so I hope I can put the headlight actuators through the same process without damaging them.
I got all this done for £120, which is about $180.
Rubber wasn't affected by the plating process so I hope I can put the headlight actuators through the same process without damaging them.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
If you were British that would sound like you were being ironic and you meant the opposite, but knowing you Alan you're being genuine and kind, so thank you.
Project is coming along slowly - we have two national holidays this weekend in the UK for Easter, and I've had the chance to go out and do more work on the car. Slow progress...
