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Old 06-11-2015, 11:32 AM   #1
Willynch
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Default headlight question

How can I tell is my headlights are chrome or stainless?

I want to polish them. Does it matter if they are stainless vs chrome to polish?
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Old 06-11-2015, 11:35 AM   #2
Russell in Tulsa
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Default Re: headlight question

What year are you talking about? Should be Nickle or stainless if original.
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Old 06-11-2015, 11:35 AM   #3
CarlG
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Default Re: headlight question

A magnet should tell you.
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Old 06-11-2015, 11:37 AM   #4
Bob C
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Default Re: headlight question

30-31 should be stainless unless somebody chromed some
commercial shells, which is unlikely.

Bob
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Old 06-11-2015, 01:14 PM   #5
Tom Wesenberg
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Default Re: headlight question

Only the repro 28-9 shells are stainless.

If they are original 28-9 nickel shells most likely there will be pits or rust somewhere on them.
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Old 06-11-2015, 05:07 PM   #6
brito36
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The color should tell you. Chrome is a lot brighter than stainless.
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Old 06-11-2015, 05:25 PM   #7
Big hammer
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Default Re: headlight question

Pictures would help us tell you SS or Crome
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Old 06-11-2015, 06:38 PM   #8
Tom Wesenberg
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Default Re: headlight question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg View Post
Only the repro 28-9 shells are stainless.

If they are original 28-9 nickel shells most likely there will be pits or rust somewhere on them.
Actually I worded this wrong and should have written "the only stainless 28-9 shells are the repro ones"

Of course the 30-1 shells are stainless, and the ones for trucks are usually painted steel.
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Old 06-11-2015, 11:07 PM   #9
Charlie Stephens
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Default Re: headlight question

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Originally Posted by CarlG View Post
A magnet should tell you.
I thought you post was straight forward until I put a magnet onto my headlight buckets and grill shell on my '31. There is a slight attraction, but if you didn't have anything to compare it to you might reach the wrong conclusion. Compared with a regular steel part there is only a very slight attraction.

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