1968 Coronet RT Headlight surround

[4speed68rt]

Has anyone painted these before? What's the secret to taping off the chrome?

 

[4speed68rt]

Anyone? Maybe I'm in the wrong section.

 

[eldubb440]

after cleaning up the brightwork, i would tape up the big areas.......put a light coat of black on the "waffle" area and carefully sand off the high grid, then repeat.....maybe a couple of times until covered......the "grid" is raised, correct?

 

[4speed68rt]

Yes, the grid is raised. That sounds like a good idea. I wonder how it was done at the factory. Someone should know. I can't be the only one who has had to do this. Thanks

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Back in 2004 I attended to Mopar Nats & wound up discussing this with Tony D, he stated that the R/T grill being black had the raised grate areas of the headlight surrounds painted black too... No idea if this is correct but it kinda makes sense...

 

[1 Wild R/T]

And as far as sanding off the raised areas why not use lacquer thinner in a rag & wipe the tops of the raised areas... Stretch a thin rag (Tee Shirt type material) tightly over your rubbing block of choice (I use my finger) a couple drops of thinner, let it speak for a second & carefully wipe... don't hit the low areas unless you like doing stuff twice... But at least your not sanding the polished aluminum..

 

[4speed68rt]

I guess that is possible and the high areas are just worn off. It kind of makes sense. I'd like to see a picture of an original. Thanks

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I guess that is possible and the high areas are just worn off. It kind of makes sense. I'd like to see a picture of an original. Thanks

Yeah, I was just doing a Google search for sales brochures & this is the best image... Looks like it might go either way... But probably no paint..

 

[4speed68rt]

No paint. The highs are not painted, neither are the "slopes". Just the "low" is painted. Thanks for the picture, I haven't had a chance to look on Google on my computer at work.

 

[eldubb440]

Back in 2004 I attended to Mopar Nats & wound up discussing this with Tony D, he stated that the R/T grill being black had the raised grate areas of the headlight surrounds painted black too... No idea if this is correct but it kinda makes sense...

you know....one might think someone with an original set hanging on his wall might have noticed....these are from a car last driven in 1975.....definetely unmolested

 

[4speed68rt]

Are those yours, eldubb? Is that your wall?

 

[eldubb440]

I would think the factory took the easy way out and kept them solid black

 

[eldubb440]

Are those yours, eldubb? Is that your wall?

yes...... I had a pair of 68 R/Ts...... that's why I had the moldings

one of the cars was from the shore and was rusted beyond belief, that's where these came from

 

[eldubb440]

the other car I sold and shipped overseas as a project, and forgot to include the moldings...... now they're yours lol

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I would think the factory took the easy way out and kept them solid black

Well actually the easy way would be to grab a set of the regular ones that 95% of Coronets got.... But as Tony pointed out, there's a different part number for the R/T Bezels....

 

[4speed68rt]

All that really makes more sense than them not being painted, since it's nearly an impossible thing to do.

 

[eldubb440]

Well actually the easy way would be to grab a set of the regular ones that 95% of Coronets got.... But as Tony pointed out, there's a different part number for the R/T Bezels....

these were def on an R/T

 

[eldubb440]

Well actually the easy way would be to grab a set of the regular ones that 95% of Coronets got.... But as Tony pointed out, there's a different part number for the R/T Bezels....

I wonder which part # the charger 500s recieved? and were they solid black?

 

[4speed68rt]

I'm using my originals either way. Not aftermarket ones.

 

[eldubb440]

i learn something here every single day!