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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Headlight lense

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Discussion Topic: Headlight lense

Catfish Jones

08-01-2025 @ 9:56 AM

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Posts: 45
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This question is in reference to an original ‘38 Fordor Deluxe.

I’m sure this question has been asked dozens of times but I couldn’t find a recent discussion.
What is the best way to clean/polish an original slightly tarnished headlight reflector lens?

Thanks

nelsb01

08-01-2025 @ 10:05 AM

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Very carefully.
The silver is not that thick and a hard touch will remove it.
As you mentioned, this subject has been discussed before. Suggest that you do a Google search on a silver polish that is rated as being the most non-abrasive. And even with that I would use a lot of water to thin it down even more.

The next best alternative is to try and find a silver-smith to replate the reflector. Not going to be cheap and your state may not even allow the business to exist due to environmental restrictions.

There are reproduction (non-silver) reflectors out there, but opinions vary on them.

Hope this helps.

ford38v8

08-01-2025 @ 10:34 AM

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Your reflector is very delicate as Bruce advised, but there is more you can do to improve the headlights: your lens itself gets cleaned on the outside when you wash your car, but has many years of smog accumulation on the inside. Remove the lens and clean with dish soap inside and out.

Alan

TomO

08-01-2025 @ 12:16 PM

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Also make sure that you are getting at least 6 volts to the bulbs. Light falls off considerably when the voltage is less than 5.8V.

Tom

carcrazy

08-01-2025 @ 1:53 PM

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One source for new headlight reflectors is C&G.

https://cgfordparts.com/headlight-reflector-37-39-pass-39-merc-7-78-13028.html

carcrazy

08-01-2025 @ 2:06 PM

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One way to increase the voltage to the headlights is to use a headlight relay which allows you to go directly from the headlights to the battery. This removes the circuitry from the battery to and from the switch to the headlights. Just wire the relay into the circuit as illustrated in the instructions which accompany the relay.

Fifth Avenue offers these headlight relays.

https://www.fifthaveinternetgarage.com/electrical_parts.php

Catfish Jones

08-02-2025 @ 7:01 AM

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Thanks to everyone for their responses, great information!

trjford8

08-02-2025 @ 8:28 AM

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There is also a company in Oregon called Uvira that can recoat your reflectors

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