The 'E' Type Forum

Hi
I’ve purchased some “proper” park light lenses for my early 3.8. I would like to use my original indicator lenses but find they have been glued to the park light lenses. Is there a solvent that I can use to separate them without harming the lenses?
Acetone?

Cheers
Pete

Pete

I had exactly the same problem when I replaced the lenses on my car. I ended up using a Dremel with a rotary cutting disc to separate them. I cut down slightly on the side of the sidelight lens. Once apart I removed the remains on the side of the indicator lens, both cleaned up well.
I didn't glue the new lenses back together either.

There is no known solvent for the glue (Marek tried when he was making moulds of the originals) however it does become brittle with age so tapping the lens on a table might cause them to separate (mine did). They are joined together with a tongue and groove which makes cutting them difficult. Retain the chrome strip as it is a different shape to the repro's. Best way forward is to contact Marek and ask him for a set of indicator lenses which are exact copies of the originals.

Solvents that will work will also attack the plastic, so finding one that doesn't is trial and error and error is the likely end result. If put under strain whilst you are also attacking it with a solvent, the plastic will be brittle and may not come apart as intended, so Mr Dremel is your new best friend.
kind regards
Marek