C1 headlamp cup finish

[Chris H.]

What finish is on the headlamp cups on a 62? Replacements are painted black and have a square hole instead of round.

It is a silverish finish but not zinc or paint? More like galvanized?

Thanks, Chris

[Mike E.]

Re: C1 headlamp cup finish

Chris--
Once again, you're right on.
Mike

[Chris H.]

Re: C1 headlamp cup finish

I know it does not show but how do I refinish these? There is a slight surface rust/oxidation. I glass beaded one and there seems to be some areas w/o galvanization left. I could just give a blast of clear or some silver paint. I have never heard of anyone galvanizing.

chris

[Christopher R.]

Re: C1 headlamp cup finish

Eastwood sells a paint in a rattle can called "galvanizing paint." That's what it says it does. Don't know if it's any good.

[Ron Cwiklinski]

Re: C1 headlamp cup finish

What is your opinion of having them Cad plated along with all the other parts. Shiney Cadmium will protect the metal?

[John M.]

Re: C1 headlamp cup finish

Chris,
The high degree of spangle on these cups indicates that they were hot-dip galvanized and not electroplated. I have plated several of these and they came out OK, but you must strip all the old Zinc off with acid before electroplating. They are not visible to judges, so just painting them with DP90 and then a little silver paint is just as good. I have a huge stack of them needing restoration, and the next time I have some metal at work hot-dipped down in San Antonio, I am going to send my cups with them!

Regards, John McGraw