The secret to removing the lenses from the assemblies without breaking them is as follows:

1. Use a HAIR DRYER to heat the contour of the lenses where they latch together and also all around where they make contact with the rear assembly. This is to make sure the butyl that seals the lenses to the assembly gets hot and soft. (Hot to the touch NOT BURNING HOT) (DO NOT USE HEAT GUN WAY TOO HOT )



2. You will notice there are V shaped latches with plastic hooks inside, on the top and bottom of the lenses that hold everything together ... DO NOT PRY UP THESE LATCHES with a screwdriver !!!! You must slide a piece of plastic about the thickness of a credit card in between the latch and the hook so that the hook releases. (See Pic Below) Once you've inserted all the cards and the hooks have released reheat the contour a little more ....gently pull apart the two making sure all your latches are unhooked. You will see the lenses will spread and open...



3. Once apart let the butyl cool.... it is easier to clean up and remove the old when cold. You can put new sealant butyl that can be bought in any good automotive shop... the strip maybe thicker but you can stretch it thinner to fit in the slot and reseal the lenses.....

Take you time and be CAREFUL these lenses are VERY VERY BRITTLE
Have fun

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My Build Thread
Tylers Toy

Great tip

Can you please send me your new OEM set so I can practice on it? I promise to return them, unless they mysteriously get lost in the mail. You know... like swap harnesses regularly do in Canada

Or perhaps you can give me your address and exact location of where you keep the lenses and other goodies, so I can pay you a quiet 3 AM visit next time I am in Froggieland And don't forget to leave the doors unlocked before going to bed!

quote Originally posted by cam-a-lot: Great tip Can you please send me your new OEM set so I can practice on it? I promise to return them, unless they mysteriously get lost in the mail. You know... like swap harnesses regularly do in Canada Or perhaps you can give me your address and exact location of where you keep the lenses and other goodies, so I can pay you a quiet 3 AM visit next time I am in Froggieland And don't forget to leave the doors unlocked before going to bed!

No problem .... if you come to visit .... as long as you like Rottweillers....his name in Mushy .... called him that because I gave him a metal hammer to play with.....when he was finished with it... the damm thing was all soft and mushy
regards
Danyel
PS do you know why they call us FROGs ?? Ie Froggieland?
.

Thanks for the tip danyel... Hopefully another set of unused fiero store lenses show up on ebay again i'd love to give this a try to restore mine.

quote Originally posted by Danyel: The secret to removing the lenses from the assemblies without breaking them is as follows: 1. Use a HAIR DRYER to heat the contour of the lenses where they latch together and also all around where they make contact with the rear assembly. This is to make sure the butyl that seals the lenses to the assembly gets hot and soft. (Hot to the touch NOT BURNING HOT) (DO NOT USE HEAT GUN WAY TOO HOT ) 2. You will notice there are V shaped latches with plastic hooks inside, on the top and bottom of the lenses that hold everything together ... DO NOT PRY UP THESE LATCHES with a screwdriver !!!! You must slide a piece of plastic about the thickness of a credit card in between the latch and the hook so that the hook releases. (See Pic Below) Once you've inserted all the cards and the hooks have released reheat the contour a little more ....gently pull apart the two making sure all your latches are unhooked. You will see the lenses will spread and open... 3. Once apart let the butyl cool.... it is easier to clean up and remove the old when cold. You can put new sealant butyl that can be bought in any good automotive shop... the strip maybe thicker but you can stretch it thinner to fit in the slot and reseal the lenses..... Take you time and be CAREFUL these lenses are VERY VERY BRITTLE Have fun

A putty knife also works for this.

The mastic will stick to everything so if you get it on hands stop what you are doing and use some alcohol to clean hands before you smear it over both sides of lenses.

Separating the lens from the back was the hardest part of the swap for me. I sprayed some penetration oil on the seam. I had a plastic putty knife to get the clip apart. Very carefully prying the clip apart.

quote Danyel: The secret to removing the lenses from the assemblies without breaking them is as follows:

The 'Real' Secret to Lower the Risk of Plastic Breakage - Use SUMMER HEAT

IMHO: Don't even try in cold weather as decades old plastic can easily break...

My Advice:

1) Remove the taillight assemblies from the vehicle and then sit them in the summer sun for an hour to warm-up the plastic and soften the butyl seal

2) Use Danyel's Separate Strategy and the trick is 'slowly' spread the warmed lens from the soften butyl seal in the housing. Starting at one end; cautiously pull apart the housing hooks from the lens tabs one-by-one to open the assemblies.

3) I disagree with Danyel on this step; to me it is easier to remove the old butyl seal when warm. I removed and cleaned up any butyl seal from the housing using a small screwdriver...


After removing all the butyl seal in the sun, now let the housing cool. When cool, use isopropyl alcohol to remove all traces of the old butyl seal.

As Danyel said:

quote You can put new sealant butyl that can be bought in any good automotive shop... the strip maybe thicker but you can stretch it thinner to fit in the slot and reseal the lenses.....

I brought 3M Windo-Weld


Reassembly:
*Stretch/roll the butyl strip to fit into the housing slot/track
*Place the taillight parts in the summer sun for an hour to warm-up the plastic and soften the butyl seal
*Align and firmly press the lens into the housing until all the tabs lock into the hooks
*Let the taillight assemblies cool before installing them into the vehicle

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Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT
Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles

[This message has been edited by Vintage-Nut (edited 01-19-2025).]