72 Duster Tail light refurbish

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Jhenry70

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I'm getting to the point where I want to start on cleaning up and refurbishing my tail light assemblies. Before I start tearing them apart I was hoping I could get some advice on anything to look out for. What is the best way for removing the original gaskets around the outer assembly? Looks like they are glued on. Once the gaskets are removed do the lenses come off easily or are they glued on as well? Looks like there are two tabs on top and two on bottom where the lenses attach to the buckets. Since these are 72's and a bit harder to come by Id like to take my time and separate them correctly to avoid any damage.

Thanks in Advance for your input, it's appreciated!

Jerry
 

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If they're like 71s there will be screws holding the lens to the housing but Idk since I haven't taken the tail lights out of my 72 yet.

Btw, I just got done reading your build thread awhile back and I'm thoroughly impressed!! You've made good progress!! Wish I'd be gettin that much done on mine!! Hopefully by next spring things will settle down for us and we'll be settled in at our new place and making better money to where I can get back on my car!
 
3M adhesive remover will loosen the glue. You can buy a qt can at any body shop supply. A heat gun on low setting can also work.
Plastic polish used for cleaning today's headlight lens will brighten the lense. Old fashioned toothpaste also does the job.
If the housings were not leaking water I would not open them up.
 
If they're like 71s there will be screws holding the lens to the housing but Idk since I haven't taken the tail lights out of my 72 yet.

Btw, I just got done reading your build thread awhile back and I'm thoroughly impressed!! You've made good progress!! Wish I'd be gettin that much done on mine!! Hopefully by next spring things will settle down for us and we'll be settled in at our new place and making better money to where I can get back on my car!

Thanks! Yeah, it's been real slow for me over the summer, way too much family stuff going on and not enough shop time. One of the reasons I've been focused on the dash and other odds and ends like the tail lights... Things I can do at home in my spare time without having to run to the shop.

Jerry
 
3M adhesive remover will loosen the glue. You can buy a qt can at any body shop supply. A heat gun on low setting can also work.
Plastic polish used for cleaning today's headlight lens will brighten the lense. Old fashioned toothpaste also does the job.
If the housings were not leaking water I would not open them up.

Thank you for the info. I don't know if the housing were taking on water or not, I got them a while back from another FABO member. And they've never been on my car. I'm thinking once I get the seals off I can see better if the lenses look like the may be letting water through.

Jerry
 
I don't recall how they came apart right offhand, and I am not at home where I can check for you. I did separate mine and shot the inside of the bucket with some silver or aluminum paint cleaned up the lens and shot the outside edge with John Deere blitz black. They look good and you can see them from behind!
If you are doing an absolute correct restore, the outer edge of the lights were either black or maybe a gray. I had one of each...
Cal
 
I don't recall how they came apart right offhand, and I am not at home where I can check for you. I did separate mine and shot the inside of the bucket with some silver or aluminum paint cleaned up the lens and shot the outside edge with John Deere blitz black. They look good and you can see them from behind!
If you are doing an absolute correct restore, the outer edge of the lights were either black or maybe a gray. I had one of each...
Fwiw - I never could get mine sealed against the body using the purchased gaskets. I ended up buying some closed cell weather striping tape at Ace hardware. It was thicker and wider than the purchased gasket and did the trick for me.
Cal
 
I don't recall how they came apart right offhand, and I am not at home where I can check for you. I did separate mine and shot the inside of the bucket with some silver or aluminum paint cleaned up the lens and shot the outside edge with John Deere blitz black. They look good and you can see them from behind!
If you are doing an absolute correct restore, the outer edge of the lights were either black or maybe a gray. I had one of each...
Cal

Thanks! Not going for an absolute restore since this is a back halfed modified car... Keeping with a semi stock look but with little details that appeal to me. Using SEM Trim Black on a lot of the interior (Dash, bezel, column, kick panels, etc) So in keeping with that theme I'm thinking the Trim Black will look good on the tail light housings and outer trim as well.
 
It will look good. The SEM trim & the JD BB are a pretty close match.
C
 
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