VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 1932 cowl light lenses

Well After getting my cowl lights back form the chroming folks the lenses do not want to go in the trim rings. they were difficult to remove in the fist place and I new it was going to be a task to re-install them. They are chipped all along the edges and not in the great of shape.

Two question guys? One I know there are no 32 replacement lenses only 33's.
I assume this is what's used? Any ideas as to how to get them in the trim rings without breaking them? It should not be that difficult right?

As bad luck would have it I broke one of the original one's. They are so yellowed and scratched they look bad with the new chrome anyway.

Any help or experience would be great. Thank to all and happy new year.

According to the February, 1933 Chevrolet parts book the 1932 and 1933 cowl light lenses are the same.

Since one cowl light lens is broken and the other is yellowed you would probably be a lot better off to look for another set of cowl light lenses or cowl lights with good lenses and then put those lenses in your re-chromed cowl light housings.

Thank you Dog. I wonder why they are so tight going in? Any ideas? Could it be the new chrome?

Could be the thickness of the new chrome or if the chrome shop polished the rims they could have distorted the rims slightly.

Are the lenses you have glass or plastic? Replacement acrylic plastic lenses were made 30 years ago. They discolor and scratch. The clear glass lenses don't yellow or scratch easily.

They are glass. They look like rust discoloration. I tried to polish it out, no luck.. Anyway I have to replace them now because I broke one trying to put it back in. I think the chips in the glass led to the breaking.

one last question Dog. will the 31 lenses fit? I see them on on Bowtie reproductions. Nothing for a 32 or 33.

Rust discoloration can be removed by immersing the glass in acid. Anything from lemon juice to muriatic acid.

I don't know of a source of '32-'33 lenses. Many years ago they were available as reproductions.

'31 lenses don't fit. Way too big.

I put my heat gun on my '32 trim rings first before trying to remove them. They then came off much easier. The heat melted a strange gluey bond on them. Maybe try heat on the rings on the way back in ?

Its my understanding that all 1932 ---1935 Chevrolet cowl light lenses are the same. BOWTIE REPRODUCTIONs in ohio had some, they get them once a year from a guy in Holland who delivers them to Hershey........that's what they told me.

I believe DICK MOFFITTS in ohio ( 1-937-325..7861 ) also has some cowl light parts. I got the special roadster ONLY 1932-1935 chrome cowl light mounting pads. They also had some of the other parts specifically the 33--master cowl light bezel .

mike lynch

While we're on the subject of cowl lights. One of my 31' cowl lights has a crack in the front lens rim. Are there rims available?

A glass shop should be able to trim the outer edge to fit. You could possibly do it yourself with the right type of sandpaper.

The complete cowl light assembly is available but not just the rim. Check your Filling Station catalog.

tRY iandireproductions in California.....

also dick moffitt in ohio.........1-937--325-7861

2932 reproductions in ohio

mike lynch

Dick Moffits, the last I know, has repro 1932 lenses in plastic if you can't find glass.

Bow Tie 440-327-4800 - Dale Wahl has the whole cowl light sets with the glass lenses. I believe the lenses are are glued to the rims. Dale is great to buy from.

I believe the Filling Station has the 1931 cowl light assemblies but not 1932.

Thanks Dough for the information and I will follow up. Also thanks to the rest that contributed to the discussion.
Steve