The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1973 - 1987 Chevrolet & GMC Squarebody Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-19-2021, 01:38 AM   #1
wazzabie
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WA
Posts: 376
Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

Is the Headlight Bezel chrome plated? I'm wondering if I should try to polish it. The metal seams pitted/ flaking.
wazzabie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2021, 01:46 AM   #2
Warrens69GMC
Registered User
 
Warrens69GMC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Safford,AZ
Posts: 3,612
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

Yes. Use a white compound on a fluffy wheel, then use white diamond on a separate fluffy wheel for the most shine. Do not use the same buff for both. It will cross contaminate.
Warrens69GMC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2021, 02:19 AM   #3
Warrens69GMC
Registered User
 
Warrens69GMC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Safford,AZ
Posts: 3,612
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

Before polish
Attached Images
 
Warrens69GMC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2021, 02:19 AM   #4
Warrens69GMC
Registered User
 
Warrens69GMC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Safford,AZ
Posts: 3,612
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

10 minutes later
Attached Images
 
Warrens69GMC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2021, 02:52 AM   #5
Warrens69GMC
Registered User
 
Warrens69GMC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Safford,AZ
Posts: 3,612
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

and with paint
Attached Images
 
Warrens69GMC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2021, 02:06 AM   #6
LT7A
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PNW
Posts: 3,615
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

@Warrens69GMC Those came out nice!
LT7A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2021, 02:16 AM   #7
wazzabie
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WA
Posts: 376
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

When these were new did they originally have black paint?
wazzabie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2021, 11:12 AM   #8
Warrens69GMC
Registered User
 
Warrens69GMC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Safford,AZ
Posts: 3,612
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

Quote:
Originally Posted by wazzabie View Post
When these were new did they originally have black paint?
They had a matte black by the headlight only.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/33423046496...0AAOSwIuNhnp8n
Attached Images
 
Warrens69GMC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2021, 11:23 AM   #9
Warrens69GMC
Registered User
 
Warrens69GMC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Safford,AZ
Posts: 3,612
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

here's my 1978 with the bezel painted, just the corners and around the outside.
Attached Images
 
Warrens69GMC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2021, 11:39 PM   #10
wazzabie
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WA
Posts: 376
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

On my 78 there is no black paint on the recessed area of the headlight. Did some bezels come with and without paint? Maybe mine has worn down over the years. This area there is some pitting in the chrome. If this should have paint in it what paint should I use?


wazzabie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2021, 11:48 PM   #11
Warrens69GMC
Registered User
 
Warrens69GMC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Safford,AZ
Posts: 3,612
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

AFAIK, no paint came there. I think it should have, IMO.
Warrens69GMC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2021, 11:49 PM   #12
Warrens69GMC
Registered User
 
Warrens69GMC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Safford,AZ
Posts: 3,612
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

I did mine as I think it should have been.
Warrens69GMC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2021, 03:20 PM   #13
hatzie
Moderator
 
hatzie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Wentworth, NH
Posts: 4,975
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

I believe they came with dark "argent silver" around the lamps not black.
It's originally a matte finish not glossy.
__________________
1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD
1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD
1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD
1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD
1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD
1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD
2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500
2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263
2009 Impala SS LS4 V8


RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials...Please include at least the year and model in your threads. It'll be easier to answer your questions.
And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful.
hatzie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2021, 06:09 PM   #14
wazzabie
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WA
Posts: 376
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

Here are some that are claimed to be NOS with the GM box. It shows that the recessed is painted a flat black. Never mind that these are over 1k. They do not look entirely mint to me.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165247401402

wazzabie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2021, 06:32 PM   #15
KQQL IT
At the body shop.
 
KQQL IT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Land of fruits and nuts.
Posts: 5,237
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

My brother had his rechromed.
Look amazing
__________________
" That didnt make it any newer "
" Dont antique the equipment "
KQQL IT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-25-2021, 01:27 AM   #16
Willowrun
Senior Member
 
Willowrun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 1,029
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

I have several original sets. They came with both black and argent paint. I pulled one of each off of the shelf and the both sets show paint in the recess around the outside. I remember a post on here years ago debating reasons for the different colors. Last pic is one I took a few years ago that shows difference between the two colors on K5's.
Attached Images
   
Willowrun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-25-2021, 10:43 AM   #17
Corts60
Just here to tinker
 
Corts60's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Holland, MI
Posts: 3,697
Re: Headlight Bezel - can they be polished?

I’m pretty sure the 73-74 came factory matte black with the black trim band. My first square body was a 73 and it had that finish. Also here is a factory photo showing a 73
Attached Images
 
Corts60 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:09 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com