Carl 61 Fleetwood Phyllis

[Clewisiii]

I would like to plate one of these fuel door brackets. But it is to big for my tank. I may just paint this.

[Cadman-iac]

  So what is the biggest thing that you can/have plate(d) with your system?

[Clewisiii]

So what is the biggest thing that you can/have plate(d) with your system?

I did the parking lamps. Bracket in yellow lamp in clear.



There is a way to do longer pieces with the same amount of electrolyte. Use a 4 or 6 inch drain pipe with a cap on one end. You can transfer your electrolyte into it to do longer skinny pieces.

[Clewisiii]

Laundry and lawn mowing day today, so I did not clean up much. But I get a little done.

The big thing is those fuel door reinforcement rods. Very rusty crusty and took a while to clean before plating.

I am taking a 4 day weekend next weekend. So I will try to start cleaning up that firewall.

[Cadman-iac]

  When you say electrolyte, what exactly do you use for this? Is it water that you add a chemical to, or is it an acid like what you clean up the parts in?
 Nice job on those lights too. You are probably saving a ton of money doing this yourself too.

 Rick

[Clewisiii]

When you say electrolyte, what exactly do you use for this? Is it water that you add a chemical to, or is it an acid like what you clean up the parts in?
 Nice job on those lights too. You are probably saving a ton of money doing this yourself too.

 Rick

I used starter chemicals from Caswell plating. But it is acids and salts. Some people start making their own with vinegar. I maintain mine with Hydrochloric acid. I have noticed my chemical has gotten better over time. I don't know if that is due to more zinc being suspended in solution. Years ago I did have a batch somehow become contaminated. Everything I tried to plate came out black.

[Clewisiii]

DA$% &T

This morning before leaving for work I went into my basement to photograph a part for someone in Germany.

I noticed that the lid of one of my storage boxes was holding soapy water. I can only assume that my dishwasher or sink above was leaking. I moved stuff out of the way and decided to investigate after work.



Well turns out on the shelf to the left I had my restored rear parcel shelf cover. It is long so I had two bags on it with the split in the middle. The leak was over this bag. So it protected all the stuff below it. But half the water ended up in the bag, and the other half traveled to the right and landed on the storage box lid.

So now I need to remake this parcel shelf. Dang. And it had turned out so nicely.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

DA$% &T

This morning before leaving for work I went into my basement to photograph a part for someone in Germany.

I noticed that the lid of one of my storage boxes was holding soapy water. I can only assume that my dishwasher or sink above was leaking. I moved stuff out of the way and decided to investigate after work.



Well turns out on the shelf to the left I had my restored rear parcel shelf cover. It is long so I had two bags on it with the split in the middle. The leak was over this bag. So it protected all the stuff below it. But half the water ended up in the bag, and the other half traveled to the right and landed on the storage box lid.

So now I need to remake this parcel shelf. Dang. And it had turned out so nicely.

Looks like it could be saved OR sell it to another 61 owner who needs one too.

[Clewisiii]

The fasteners are almost done. Maybe through the weekend.


The next big thing will be restoring and plating the tail lights like I did the parking lamps.

[Clewisiii]

So I am using prebent brake lines for 1962 on my 61. So far I have only needed to modify one area on the line going back to the rear.

I have just finished restoring a divider block for the front lines. When it comes time I will need to drill the frame to secure. But I will only do that after I connect to the master Cylinder



I will need to get the master and booster cleaned and rebuilt. I bought one from 62 supposedly rebuilt. But looking at the cosmetic condition of it I do not trust their work. I have tried opening the booster. But I think they painted it closed.

[Clewisiii]

So little hardware left to restore. I should be starting on the tail lights over the weekend.

[Clewisiii]

First one done. I need to verify how much and what color wires I have left.


I had a 3 gallon bucket of acetone I used to clean these bigger parts. Well it all evaporated while in a "sealed" bucket inside my chemical cabinet.

[Clewisiii]

The plastic bulb base for one of these was broken.


Luckily I had saved an extra one from the front parking lights. I have more on my parts car. But it would be a lot of disassembly to dig one out.

[Clewisiii]

I am almost out of the bulb base terminal ends. This completes everything exterior. But I may need more for interior ends.

[Clewisiii]

I cannot believe it but I misplaced one of them. I don't know if I was carrying it around as I looked for the plug base. I may have randomly set it down.

[Clewisiii]

Found it. I carried it into the basement with me to get wire.

[Clewisiii]

Testing the lights. One more to do tomorrow.

One bulb has two filaments. The other is just one.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I like the different illumination with the cleaned housing over the dirty one.

Maybe Members should be looking at their own lights when complaining about dull lights.

Bruce.