Rear Reflector Refinishing Experiment

[SCWDP911]

That might be a better route wowzer... I am not happy with the mathcing aspect of my various attempts so far. I have tried gloss white, silver, "chrome", and none match the factory finish well enough for a repair. However, I think acceptable results could be had if the whole thing was stripped and then repainted with the black letters, followed by a chrome/silver, and finally finished with a grey primer. I am not sure it would count against you in a concours judging, but I am equally unsure anyone would notice unless they looked maybe at your car and another side by side directly comparing the two. Also not sure on the overall reflective ability of this restorative process. I will see if I can do a section up to take pictures in the dark... One thing of note though: whatever paint that is applied NEEDS to be applied by spray method. The brush strokes seem to show up regardless of how many coats applied by brush...

I hope this has at least helped someone... maybe someone else will be able to figure out the missing part of the equation. It would be great if Porsche might sell the actual coating they used at the factory, then it would not be much of a problem in my opinion...

[javadog]

Did the white turn out any brighter/lighter than the chrome silver paint? I know neither is an exact match to the factory finish, I'm just wondering which is lighter and how they compared to the look of the factory finish.

Thanks,
JR

[gsmith660]

What about clear coating the prisms with high gloss bfore the white or chrome to restore the reflective propeties of the prism

[SCWDP911]

Originally Posted by javadog

Did the white turn out any brighter/lighter than the chrome silver paint? I know neither is an exact match to the factory finish, I'm just wondering which is lighter and how they compared to the look of the factory finish.

Thanks,
JR

It was a little whiter background, but the original looks more like foil pressed against it to me.

gsmith: I was thinking about something similar, only using the plastic headlight restorer polish instead. I am not sure if paint will stick to the polish or not though. Maybe the gloss is worth a shot. I may give it one more go before moving on to the blackout treatment.I will try to post some pictures when I can.

[3.2 CAB]

I bought some reflective auto finish paint, and after spraying on a surface, it almost looks just like a clear coat. It does not have any real color, except a slight metallic look, depending on the way the light is hitting it when you look at it. Almost a holographic type effect. I have not really tried to strip a plastic reflector that used a reflective coating in addition o the natural prismatic effect on the textured rear surface. I believe that this would have a fairly good chance to duplicate the OE finish, then the white/gray top coat applied. It really makes a piece of scrap sheet metal shine when hit with a flashlight in the dark. Good luck!! Tony.

[gsmith660]

I would think the polish would take down the sharp corners on the prism and the gloss paint would add the shine like clear coating paint, after thought the secret would be to remove the paint without dulling the plastic.

[gsmith660]

Originally Posted by 3.2 CAB

I bought some reflective auto finish paint, and after spraying on a surface, it almost looks just like a clear coat. It does not have any real color, except a slight metallic look, depending on the way the light is hitting it when you look at it. Almost a holographic type effect. I have not really tried to strip a plastic reflector that used a reflective coating in addition o the natural prismatic effect on the textured rear surface. I believe that this would have a fairly good chance to duplicate the OE finish, then the white/gray top coat applied. It really makes a piece of scrap sheet metal shine when hit with a flashlight in the dark. Good luck!! Tony.

Brand and where you bought it at?

[3.2 CAB]

I am not able to go to the shop right now, but I know that it is either Dupli-color, or Plasti-coat, auto finish paint. I bought it through a MOPAR website, that deals with paints, wheel, engine, trim colors, interior dye, etc. As soon as I am able, I will let you know. I really do think that this will WORK rather nicely. Tony.

[911 tweaks]

dmcummins, I sent you a pm on your reflectors.
Thank you Bob

[khamul02]

Originally Posted by wowzer911

Why not just buy a red letter one (still available), sand off the paint on the back of the letters only, then paint the letters black?

After a bit of thinking about this I really think that the smaller script size might look a little funny.

[wowzer911]

No, this style "red letter" reflector is still available for purchase.
I believe it's the original Euro style, but it is still being manufactured.
Same as the black lettered one (NLA), only w/ red letters.

[Targa4now]

My replacement reflector arrived in the mail yesterday. It's in reasonable shape but the coating is similarly flaking off...

How about power washing the stuff off to protect the prism shape followed by the painting sequence outlined earlier?

[khamul02]

Originally Posted by wowzer911

No, this style "red letter" reflector is still available for purchase.
I believe it's the original Euro style, but it is still being manufactured.
Same as the black lettered one (NLA), only w/ red letters.

Very nice. That might look good as is.

[SCWDP911]

Well, I finally had some time tonight to work on this long overdue project... Not done yet, but progress...

I gave up on a total restoration experiment on this reflecftor as I did not want to have ot remove the paint anymore, I am already concerned about the effects of 3 media blastings on the overall finish when I am done.

So, I decided to move on to my blackout project. (let me say that I think acceptable results could be had on the restore to orginal look but only if all material is first removed. It would be close but not spot on. I haev not found the magic formula for fixing on a touchup basis.

So onto what I am doing now...

So far, I media blasted it for the third time with a very low abrasive bead. Then washed a few times to make sure all the media was cleaned off. That left a black red canvas.

This is where the tedious part came in... taping around the PORSCHE letters on the back side of the reflector. The are raised from the surface, but small and tight area to deal with. Also, great care must be taken to try to get the tape in there right asthe surface is that prism cut (rough). Here it is after taping (about 30-45 minutes of work):





Here is the backside after my brilliant tape job! You can kind of get a sense of what it might look like when I am done with it.

[SCWDP911]

Oh, I used the blue painters low tack tape, but all I had here was 1/2 inch, because someone used up my really small stuff I had bought just for this job... Wonder who that might have been... one of the boys maybe??? nah, they are all so innocent and never get into Dad'd things...

Here is the reflector after 5-6 very, did I mention VERY, light coats of Krylon Silver (1511). The key is not to put too much on so id does not run down the sides AT ALL, because like I mentioned, it is hard to get the tape on there perfectly sealed - I think...

[SCWDP911]

Next came 4-5 VERY light coats of el cheapo Wally World flat white. This is where I will leave it tonight. I want the paint good and dry before I remove all of that tape. I hope to finish tomorrow some time...

[SCWDP911]

Stay tuned... black paint to come tomorrow...

[1topcat]

Shane,
I have had great sucess with soda blasting as an alternative to glass bead or other media. The soda blasting seems to be the least abrasive/intrusive on the finish, I just finished soda blasting bottom paint off my boat and the gel coat looks brand new, no cutting into its finish. Anyone interesting in this project may want to try that process. Whats really cool is that it washes off with water, completely. just my .02 worth/
Tony

[SCWDP911]

Huh, thought I posted pics here already... Here are a few shots for basically what it looks like. I still need to wetsand and polish the exterior side and then remount, and then find a nice sunny day to take some better pics. I am very bad with a camera... Overall, I think it has a ncie look, but mayybe not on my car. I thik it would be a great look on a black or silver car.

[khamul02]

How did you remove the rectangular plastic tabs from the back of the reflector? I got a spare in and and preparing to experiment on it.