Has anybody restored the RS back-up light bezels? The chrome on mine is wearing and are a little pitted. I'd like to restore the original (w/PNs) versus buying a repo.

The question I have - can you remove the light socket part and then re-attached it or attach a repo socket later?

Sounds like nobody has restored/re-chromed these?

Why would you it would cost a lot more to have them recromed. New one are not that high.

Originally posted by Tim Meredith:
Why would you it would cost a lot more to have them recromed. New one are not that high. Tim,
Some of us are bent on originality. It's part of the fun for me. Also in my experience original always is better that repo.

San Diego--
Sorry I don't have an answer. Maybe post your question in another area as the "restoration" section is a little new and may not be getting much use yet.

Z28Doug - you're correct. I'm trying to make sure any part that has a GM part number on it, goes back on the car.

Since most repo's don't have the GM PN, especially the pot metal stuff, I prefer to re-chrome the originals, even though you can't see the PN, once installed - as goofy as it sounds, I'll admit.

So, even the original side marker emblems will be getting re-chromed, vs buying $3.00 repos...kind-of challenging and fun, but its presenting a challenge for the RS Back-Up light bezels, because of the way the light socket is secured within the bezel.

Thanks, Hans

I understand I have no repop on my car. I did my car back when I could still get stuff from GM. But here is the thing. One that is pot metal hard to chrome and it stay on. Two rechroming side markers and the backup lights will be hard. Pay close atention to the corners and make sure they do not round them off. A good friend ( big gear head ) had a lot of that stuff done and it came back all rounded off looked good but was no good at all. All I am trying to say is. It will be very hard not to round them off “the corners” and will cost a lot to do. And for a plating shop to slow down and pay that much atention to each piece he will charge you a lot more. Is your money better spent here or on more important things?

TIM

One more thing the light scoket is no big dell they can plug it off at the shope. I have it done all the time. A lot of the cars I do you can not get parts for so we do a lot of rechroming. Getting a shop to take there time and pay close atention to detail can be hard to do.

Be sure to check for NOS parts on e-bay. I recall seeing these items in the last few days with GM packaging. Someone had them for years , never used them, etc.

They weren't too expensive. But of course today I can't find them. I found the repops, but not originals. Thats the problem when your not too familiar w/e-bay! Gotta learn to use the "watch" function... DOH!

SanDiegoZ you mentioned the rechroming of the side markers. I know your car is a 9, but on the 68 the side markers are different front to back. A perfect example of if original counts you have to go with original parts. Even GM converted service parts to a generic front and back part many years ago. The only way to get this right is to get parts that were on the car when it was built

Edit: the post above got me sidetracked onto the side markers not backup lamp bezels...

The last I checked the '69 side marker bezel's were still available new in GM boxes. I just looked at the 2 I have for my front fenders (p#3943269) and they have the p# on them like you are wanting. The boxes have NPD barcode stickers on them with an NPD p#C-2575-12. They are NORS, say Genuine GM on the box as well as www.gmgoodwrench.com (http://www.gmgoodwrench.com)

Here's the kicker and I'm finding this true of a lot of the small chrome parts, the repro stuff usually has a better finish.

Thanks for all the feedback - especially the cautions regarding replating pot-metal.

Regarding the side market bezels, the front and rear are definitely different.

The fronts, PN 3943269, has solid triangles where the press fit against the fender opening, with the lower angle at about 70 degrees, while the rears, PN 3945713, have hollowed-out trianles and is a right-angle triangle (remember geomtery??)...

I also had an original off my Chevelle - its different again.

I believe the main differences are with the curveture of the emblem - how it wraps and snuggs the fender.

Amuzing stuff. I'm also re-chroming the RS front light bezels, and all the grab-bar chrome pieces on the deluxe interior - which of course, have GM PN's on 'em!

Thanks, Hans