Tail light area cardboard filler

[gtcs1]

Hi,

My 2 cardboards fillers used to cover up taillight housing area are a bit bent due to years of usage and I guess loose stuff in the trunk bouncing on it.

Is there any way to restore them. I want to keep them as original. Can it be moistened, formed back to shape, apply heat, etc.... Anyone experienced that?

Thanks

 

[case12]

I know this doesnt answer your question- but just in case - Tony Branda sells replacements. Casey

 

[gtcs1]

I know this doesnt answer your question- but just in case - Tony Branda sells replacements. Casey

Hi Casey,

I've seen them. They don't seem the exact blueish color. Also as said, I would much prefer to keep these original items, just improving their look by some restoration, even if it is not perfect.

Thanks
gtcs1

 

[nfrntau]

How does one go about installing the replacements without creasing them? I have a set of the replacements to put in my car but I don't have any idea??

I apologize for stealing your thread but this seems like a good time for this question.

 

[Northern Pony]

Thanks for the post nfrntau, and hopefully someone will answer for us. I've had mine for two + years and never installed because I didn't want to damage them on installation. A friend with 68 Shelby said he damaged a couple of sets trying to get them in correctly. Not a big $ item, but I only want them in, if there going to look good and enhance the trunk interior.
BoB

 

[GTCSMustang]

The blueish/gray color comes from them being painted. The repos come unpainted, but to be 100% correct they need to be painted on the side visible when installed. I have formed them by spraying them with water and wrapping them around something of about 12-inch diameter. A 1940's vintage practice bomb worked well for me. I put about a million rubber bands around them to hold them to the shape of the practice bomb and let them dry. That will give them enough of a bend that they can be installed without creasing.

Scott

 

[hicountrybob]

Thanks for the post nfrntau, and hopefully someone will answer for us. I've had mine for two + years and never installed because I didn't want to damage them on installation. A friend with 68 Shelby said he damaged a couple of sets trying to get them in correctly. Not a big $ item, but I only want them in, if there going to look good and enhance the trunk interior.
BoB

OK, guys. ironically, I've just finished preparing 1 of my panels for installation and the 2nd one is in my homemade jig as I speak. What I did on a 36" by 30" piece of plywood was screw a long piece of 1 by 2 on it. With another 1 by 2, I screwed it down 11 and 3/4" away from it. I wet both sides the cardboard with a wet (not damp) sponge and forced the panel between them(if 11 and 3/4" is scares you open the space some). Then when the board dried, I moved the spacing down to 10 and 1/4 inches, wet the board again, both sides, and put it back in the jig. Along the bottom of the board you'll see the 2 BEND GUIDE LINES. Those were shaped to a 90 degree right when I removed the board from the jig. Bingo, done. HC Bob Teets here.

 

[somethingspecial]

Scott, What color paint? Mike

 

[robert campbell]

Up hear in Washington we would wrap them arund a 12 inch drain culvert and wait for Spring.... If the sun ever comes out again... We have been hammered with rain.

Rob

 

[joedls]

Up hear in Washington we would wrap them arund a 12 inch drain culvert and wait for Spring.... If the sun ever comes out again... We have been hammered with rain.

Rob

That's a big "IF". One year I lived in Washington it rained every day for over 100 days in a row. That was really hard on this sun worshipper.

 

[robert campbell]

feel like I am on day 99.....

 

[Northern Pony]

Thanks for all the good advice and help, that's exactly what I needed. I think I will go with Bob's expert advice as I currently have no vintage practice bomb. The 12" drain culvert might work, but it's so damn cold and dry up here, I would have to wait for spring to get started. No slight intended here HC Bob, but I will sign off as North Country Bob here.

 

[nfrntau]

I'll have to go with Bob's jig also as I'm a little concerned with getting my vintage practice bomb wet.
Thanks Y'all

 

[somethingspecial]

OK, Why is it GT/CS owners have vintage practice bombs. I also have one, and so does Midnight Special. Is this some sort of phenomenon that we are just discovering. This is more than just a coincedence. Come clean, who else has them. Don't mean to hi jack this thread. Just curious. Mike

 

[BroadwayBlue]

How does one go about installing the replacements without creasing them? I have a set of the replacements to put in my car but I don't have any idea??

I apologize for stealing your thread but this seems like a good time for this question.

I creased mine when I bought them and they went up on the shelf where they're still sitting. Someday I'll try again.

There is a thread on here somewhere about using a hair dryer or something I think.

I'll see if I can find the thread...

 

[gtcs1]

I creased mine when I bought them and they went up on the shelf where they're still sitting. Someday I'll try again.

There is a thread on here somewhere about using a hair dryer or something I think.

I'll see if I can find the thread...

Past threads are always great source of info. Here are 3 on this topic of how to bend them.

I guess as far as my original question on how to repair the creases in them, I'm planning to do something similar, moist them with spray, hold them in a rightly contoured shape, let it dry, just hope if will take back its shape, with creases line that will kind of dissapear. Any thoughts on this procedure or am I waisting my time??

http://www.californiaspecial.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3691&highlight=cardboard

http://www.californiaspecial.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2770&highlight=cardboard

http://californiaspecial.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1911

 

[68sunlitgold]

When I was stationed in Korea, I was in charge of all the air to surface bombing/straffing ranges, so I have a couple of BDU-33's (practise dumb bombs) packed away somewhere.