Actually, I'm not sure what these lights are called... on my '89 IROC, they're the lights that are on either side of the license plate. Surrounding the lens is a black metal piece/strip that also covers part of the front lens (less than a half-inch, if I remember correctly).

Anyway, on my car, this metal part has rusted-up really bad. You can even chip chunks of rust off of the metal. I'm trying to polish everything up on the front end, but I think these black things are unrecoverable--tried sanding them down so that I could put a fresh coat of black paint on, and even just short run with the belt sander put holes in the metal, it's so rusted and thin.

So, my question is: would it be possible to get just the metal pice new? The rest of the light is in great condition--I don't know why just the metal was having problems. I'm 90% sure that no junkyards in my area would have them, as I've gone to about ten of them and have yet to run across any IROCs. Ideally, I'd like to just be able to get that metal part and not have to buy the rest of the light (which would probably be way too expensive for what it is).

Thanks

 

The lights you are referring to are your fog lights. The metal frame around the glass can not be taken off or replaced. The best thing to is mask off the glass, take some different grit sand papers, sand the rust and old paint off. Take some good primer that is meant for metal. Shoot 1 or 2 light coats, let it dry according to the instructions. Then by some semi-gloss black paint and repaint it with about 3 or 4 lights coats. Keep the coats light so it does not drip. After that, they should look like new.

 

try Bruce at Hawk's...he probably has some
864-855-2694

 

Yeah, you can spend $50 - $75 for a nicer pair but if your glass is still good on yours, just paint them. Believe me, with about 2 hours of time and $10 in materials they will look as good as new.

 

chevyguy:
no offense, but the guy already said he took them off and tried sanding them. they're too crappy to recover cause they're rusted through.

 

Dang, I must be smokin something. Sorry about the post before. But, I swear the first time I read that there was not any mention about the sanding of them or the bits of metal coming off.
Oh well, looks like he needs some new/used ones.
Ebay always has a pair or two, check the classifieds here as well.

 

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, if the metal wasn't so rusted that it had holes in it (like it does), I'd try to recover them. I still can't figure out how they rusted so badly (or what sort of paint was used on them--I was peeling off what paint was left and it came off like black electric tape).

I've since asked someone at GM about it and they told me what I was afraid of: I'll have to get all new fog lamps. Sucks because the rest of the units are in perfect condition--it's just the metal border. Even worse is that the GM guy quoted me ~$140.00 per lamp.

Looks like I'll have to go used, then...

Thanks again

 

I found them new for about $95/each in an aftermarket catalog, by the way. Still kinda pricey, though. I've been hunting a pair of foglights myself...just trying to upgrade the front of my RS. I've already got the bowtie grill, just need the lights now. Ebay has had quite a few, but none of them seemed to be that great a deal or in very good condition (cracked glass, tons of rust, etc.). A lot of people on this board have just gotten the $20 Wal-mart special fog lights, but I want to go original.

Just my $.02

 

If the Walmart fogs come with the metal rim, maybe it'd be worth it.