John G.

I had just gotten my car home from a local car show and gotten out. As I turned to admire her, there was one thing that really caught my eye: Normally I can see my reflection in those beautiful chrome headlight rings. This time, however, I was distorted in one. To my horror, I found that the ring had been hit by a rock on the way home and had a dent in it...

Sorry for the novel:

Is there any easy way to pull out a ding in a chrome headlight shroud? Or is it one of those parts that will have to be replaced in order to keep the car looking "perfect?"

Or am I being entirely too **** about the thing?

-JG

KC911

You mean you're actually considering KEEPING the car? I like to keep my car looking nice, but rock chips, etc. are going to happen if you use them as the good Doctor intended. How does she handle with the dent ? Just bustin' yer chops... If it were me, and I could easily fix/replace the part I would, but I wouldn't worry too much about it if I couldn't...

ps: I purchased a garage queen some years back, and with each chip, etc. she just becomes more of a "driver" and still turns heads.

Keith
'88 CE coupe

bourgeois911

I think I have a set of chrome rings I am not using, but I need to check that.

LaughaC

Have you tried alternating ice and heat yet?

Just kidding; you're gonna have to hit the wallet for new chrome.

psychoideas

Don't the paintless dent removal guys have a tool that "rubs" small dents out from the inside???

Just a thought, ring one of them to find out.

John G.

Yeah, poor car. Might as well put 'er down.

Ah, I won't worry about it. Saw a car with H4 headlights, and the rings on those have these huge screws in them. Made me feel a little better.

Thanks for all the answers.

-JG

Daniel Dudley

If I were looking to knock that out, I would make a softwood anvil with a hollow, and a softwood punch with the correct curve, but really rounded edges.

I would put cloth on the anvil, and I would start out using the lightest blows possible to effect a gradual change in the dent. If the dent is really shallow, i might just work it on a flat softwood anvil, and let the piece develop it's own hollow.

The trick with these is not just to prevent distortion, but to prevent marring as well. Much easier just to replace the piece, but then there is less bonding. I'm glad a rock that size didn't hit your hood. Always a silver lining in that.

911S3.6

Hi John,
if you have the OEM "sugar scoop" recessed headlight type large rings, I have a flawless pair i just removed from my 1975 911S. If you need them, they need a home.

Nick