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Do Red Lenses Turn Kind of Black as Years Go By?

Dibbons

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I think I already mentioned this in a previous thread listed under '71-'74 BBodies, but it is still bugging me so now posting to electrical thread.

My passenger side tail light lens is only about half as bright as the driver's side. In the photos, it does not show up very well but in person it is obvious. It looks markedly different with the lights/brakes applied or with the lights/brakes off.

I know, it could be the brightness of the mini-lamps, but in this case it looks like the one lens has taken on an almost black tint rather than red. Old age? Quality control? Previous owner messed it up? Only my wild imagination?

DSC07058.jpg DSC07059.jpg DSC07062.jpg
 
Pull them apart and wash the dirt out of the housings and back side of the lenses.. you'd be surprised how much **** gets inside.
 
I took them all apart, painted new reflective paint on the inside, cleaned up the sockets best I could, and this is the result. That was when I put the vehicle back together a couple of years ago. I guess one side could have been contaminated, but I still see the lens on the right so dark and almost black, while the other side is not like that.
 
And maybe paint housing argent. Buy chrome wrap and stick to inside of housing instead of paint.
 
its probably soot from exhaust..
most red lenses will get bleached out by the sun
lose color and start to turn whiteish
 
My exhaust exits in front of the rear tires, NASCAR style, but it could be exhaust darkened from a previous owner (tail lamps and bumper are not original).
 
How about a ground issue, letting bulbs not be as bright?
 
my guess would be that it was sitting above a tailpipe at some point in it's life.
 
My X is 50 years old and the tailpipes are right below the taillights - no color degradation at all. Has to be another issue. Agee with the above post - usually they change to a washed out whiteish kind of look.
 
Same with my '69 Road Runner, no color degradation.

Maybe this will help.
41nNDsILQwL._SL500_AC_SS350_.jpg
 
I think I already mentioned this in a previous thread listed under '71-'74 BBodies, but it is still bugging me so now posting to electrical thread.

My passenger side tail light lens is only about half as bright as the driver's side. In the photos, it does not show up very well but in person it is obvious. It looks markedly different with the lights/brakes applied or with the lights/brakes off.

I know, it could be the brightness of the mini-lamps, but in this case it looks like the one lens has taken on an almost black tint rather than red. Old age? Quality control? Previous owner messed it up? Only my wild imagination?

View attachment 888344 View attachment 888345 View attachment 888346
I have had a ton and still do have a bunch of 71 Plymouth Taillights and lenses(found another box full a few months ago while looking for other parts). For some reason there is a batch of these taillights that actually get a deeper darker red with age. Cleaning and repainting does nothing it's the actual aged lens. These also tend to get blushed also but I have seen some get darker. Why? Maybe from years of exhaust...
IMG_1187.JPG
 
Unfortunatelly is a factory miss. I got a NOS tail light assembly long time ago with lense of course, for left side, and just the lense at the same time also NOS for right side. Both are diff "transparency", making one of them look a bit darker
 
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