Advice in 62 hardtop restoraton.

[Anthony P.]

I was able to pick up a very nice complete hardtop for my 62 this weekend with just 2 main flaws. First is a few small dings on the top of the front stainless and the second are some minor scratches and what looks like white scuff marks on the exterior black/side glass scattered around.

Best I can tell is this is all original glass.

So my questions are:

1. Can the Plexiglas be buffed/polished to remove or minimize minor surface scratches/marks? If so any advice?

2. I may decide to tackle a complete restoration. I did a number of searches on doing this, but was wondering how difficult it was for those that have done it yourself and any tips?

3. Are there any good references for doing the restoration?

Thanks again,

Tony

[Gene M.]

Re: Advice in 62 hardtop restoraton.

quote: 1. Can the Plexiglas be buffed/polished to remove or minimize minor surface scratches/marks? If so any advice?


Yes polish and buff will help if very shallow. The acceptability of repair is subjective at best. Difficult to make total perfect.

I think newer replacement lexan windows are easier to repair. They respond to fine sanding better followed by buffing and polish. Original windows respond to polish and buff but not so well to fine sanding prework.

[Anthony P.]

Re: Advice in 62 hardtop restoraton.

Thanks Gene.

Any recommendations on what polishes work best or just a generic plastics polish such as those used for headlights?

Thanks

Tony

[Gene M.]

Re: Advice in 62 hardtop restoraton.

Tony,
I have used compounds for paint with fairly good results. Start with medium cut progressing to finest just as if doing paint. Keep it very wet, don't let dry out. Meguiar's products #2, #5, and #7 were good.

[Richard T.]

Re: Advice in 62 hardtop restoraton.

Go up on "You Tube" there are a few good videos there from Glassworks that show how to remove the header stainless, installation of the rear window etc. Very helpful. For what it's worth i would replace the rear window with one from Glassworks . Don't buy the NOS GM windows that are around from time to time. They really take a lot of time to make them fit. The Glassworks window fits in very nicely. Good luck Rich

[Jerry W.]

Re: Advice in 62 hardtop restoraton.

Richard...Thanks very much for the youtube link.....a "must save" for stainless repair and reconditioning

[Anthony P.]

Re: Advice in 62 hardtop restoraton.

Thanks Richard. I watched all of those videos, and they make it seem easy, well somewhat easy. From what I see, my biggest concern is the rivets, and properly peening them and not damaging anything, since I have not done that before.

On my rear glass, it looks like where the 2 rear brackets are, there are 2 rivets on each side that goes through the bracket, and through the glass.

Regards,

Tony

Go up on "You Tube" there are a few good videos there from Glassworks that show how to remove the header stainless, installation of the rear window etc. Very helpful. For what it's worth i would replace the rear window with one from Glassworks . Don't buy the NOS GM windows that are around from time to time. They really take a lot of time to make them fit. The Glassworks window fits in very nicely. Good luck Rich