Factory Trunk Luggage Rack

[Vegas_M]

I have a factory trunk rack that I want to get polished and re-chromed. I've taken everything apart except the plastic ends that push into the two main cross bars with the ball ends for mounting to the lid bracket.

I can't seem to get these plastic inserts loose and don't want to break them. I remember way back when I bought a new rack (1980, I think) and had to press the ends in when I assembled it, so I know they are in tight.

Anyone have any suggestions how to get them out without destroying them?

Thanks.


Martin

[url="https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0BxOL0HRH5pDeNWRlOTVhZjgtMWE1Mi00ZWNiLWE3ZGYtOWNiODU1Y2JjOGQ0&hl=en_GB"]My TR7v8 Document Repository[/url]

[fastman]

Would hot water immersion work? The plastic would become soft and the metal would expand. Just a guess.

[Vegas_M]

Well it turns out part of the rack is stainless steel, part is plain steel oval tube wrapped in a stainless steel sheet, and the rest are chromed white metal castings.

Thus the majority of the bits just need polishing to bring up the shine. However, the steel oval tubes wrapped in stainless steel, are very rusty inside. You can hear the rust rattling around. I still needed to get the plastic end pieces out to put in some ball bearings to rattle around and knock of the loose rust. Then I plan to coat the inside with my homemade version of "waxoyl", that has kept my LandRover frame from rusting out for 30yrs or so.

I managed to get the plastic end bits out of the rear oval x-bar by sliding a bent steel rod into the bolt holes for the upper bracket, and hammering it to punch out the plastic. Worked quite well, but won't work for the other main x-bar which doesn't have any such holes. Might have to drill some holes in the underside to enable me to punch the ends out.

I'll post some pics later.



Martin

[url="https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0BxOL0HRH5pDeNWRlOTVhZjgtMWE1Mi00ZWNiLWE3ZGYtOWNiODU1Y2JjOGQ0&hl=en_GB"]My TR7v8 Document Repository[/url]