Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: ccp49 on May 28, 2012, 02:21:12 PM

Title: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: ccp49 on May 28, 2012, 02:21:12 PM
Going through the headlight assemblies.  I need one of the brackets that is riveted to the headlight bucket.  it is used to secure the headlight door to the assembly using the larger of the two holes.  Question - is the other small hole there just for drainage?
I noticed that all of my doors are rust free, but have various levels of crud build-up.  so, I took some 400 grit sandpaper to one that is damaged, just to see how easy how well they were going to clean up with a polishing routine.  Didn't take too long to get down to brass.  Check another to see if maybe this was an aftermarket piece.  Another was brass. 
Also noticed that there were two types of mechanisms used to hold the door in place on the bucket on the opposite side from the screw.  I have a couple doors with a metal clip/tang brazed on the inside of the door.  I also have a couple doors with special wire clips used to hold the rubber seal that are also adapted to function as a clip that is inserted into the slot on the light bucket.  The brazed brackets are much more robust but, unfortunately, one of the pieces with the bracket is damaged.  Might be worth salvaging the damaged one since it has the brazed bracket. 
   
Lastly, the wire clips that hold in the rubber seal on the back side of the door need to be replaced.  In summary, I need the following:
1.  one bracket for securing the door to the light bucket.
2.  two sets of wire clips that hold the door seal in place.   

Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Dan Barbieri
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: 49 Convertible on May 28, 2012, 07:56:11 PM
To answer your questions regarding brass head light dooe, maybe you sanded down to the copper which is used prior to nickle before chroming.  They, as far as I know, were all just steel as I have nt heard pr seen any in brass.  The wire clips used to hold the rubber gasket can be bought from any fo the companies that sell screws, nuts and  bolts. restoration specialties is one that carries them
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: ccp49 on May 28, 2012, 08:58:33 PM
Herman,
That's what I'd expect, but I saw the color underneath and thought brass.  In the pic above, you can see the color underneath - weird color for copper. This calls for some more sanding to see what I find.   
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: gary griffin on May 28, 2012, 09:38:11 PM
Or possibly try  a magnet??
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: ccp49 on May 31, 2012, 11:26:03 PM
Not magnetic!  So, I think that confirms the doors are not steel.  Interesting. 
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: Caddy Wizard on May 31, 2012, 11:39:07 PM
They could be chrome plated stainless steel.  The stainless would not be terribly magnetic and the chrome plating would include a layer of copper (that will look similar to brass, since it won't have oxidized).


Art G
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: ccp49 on June 01, 2012, 07:37:51 AM
thought about that, but since there is so much unplated stainless trim elsewhere on the car, why would they choose the expense of plating these?
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: Caddy Wizard on June 01, 2012, 12:41:32 PM
It could be that they were supposed to be polished stainless.  Over the years, the stainless became somewhat dull (needed to be polished).  So maybe the previous owner had them chrome plated.


On another note, I have often wondered why the vertical parts of the 49 grill (the teeth) are stainless, while the horizontal parts are chrome plated plain steel.



Art
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: Jeff Maltby 4194 on June 01, 2012, 02:06:37 PM
Dan. I've never seen one rotted, so I'd say SS chrome plated as mine are starting to show tiny blisters.

As for the horizontal grille bars, maybe too hard to form with SS ? 

I have one good H-18 bucket and 3 inner clips for the cost of shipping.
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: ccp49 on June 05, 2012, 11:03:27 PM
excellent, Jeff!  Thank you.  Please make sure the clip on the bucket is in good shape. Looks like the rust thins the metal out and opens the hole up for the mount screw.  So, how is it that you have a good bucket and 3 clips? With only one clip per bucket, you have two trashed buckets?
good point on the formability of mild steel vs stainless. 
Dan
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: Jeff Maltby 4194 on June 05, 2012, 11:17:28 PM
Hi Dan. I have 3 good wire clips for the inner head light bezel/ring.

Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: ccp49 on June 16, 2012, 09:06:47 AM
I have found more brass while going cleaning up some more parts.  The fog light reflectors, which appear to have been given a thin coat of nickel.  which began to come off after some work with Mothers metal polish to shine them up. 
Also was cleaning up some of the dash switches/knobs and they are chrome plated brass. 
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: 4860S on June 16, 2012, 05:12:14 PM
When we were tidying up my '48 Fleetwood 60, we found that all of the stainless that we removed had been chrome plated. That included headlight rims and all the sill molds. My fog light reflectors aren't brass. Dont know about the dash knobs but they look like plated die castings to me.

John
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: ccp49 on June 16, 2012, 11:18:43 PM
Sorry, on the dash knobs, I was talking about the part that is threaded and gets a nut to tighten to the mounting bracket.  It has a chrome face with a hole through the middle for the vent pull rod, etc. 
Yes, the knob itself does appear to be plated cast piece.  Will confirm soon.   
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: Chasmann on June 17, 2012, 10:34:49 AM
Hello Dan .I have some inner clips for the headlight ring. If you need some i will be happy to send them to you.Charlie M..
Title: Re: headlight doors are brass in '49?
Post by: Caddy Wizard on June 18, 2012, 10:44:27 AM
The 48-49 fog light reflectors are supposed to be nickel or silver plated -- not chrome.  Chrome reflects better and is easy to have done.  But the original finish for this part was not chrome.  Careful with the polish, or you'll remove the original finish...


Art G