Jorsher

So I finally got around to cleaning up the old shitbox's headlights.

Here's the result:


I just plan on cleaning up the cloudiness and oxidation in the lenses, but figured if I was going to mess with them I might as well do um right. I did the usual and baked them at 225 degrees, then pried them apart with a screwdriver. Unscrewed the part that surrounds the reflector. Took out the amber reflectors along the bottom of the turn signal because reflectors just look crappy. Left the amber one in there so I didn't have to get new bulbs, and I just liked the lights better with them.

Got some fine grit sandpaper and scraped up the chrome outside part pretty good. Took it outside on our tiny ------- apartment balcony and piled up the garbage so I had enough space. Spray painted them with some duplicolor charcoal metallic paint. Took two of the tiny cans before it had a good coat.

For the lenses I cleaned them, wetsanded a few rounds with 1000 grit paper, then a few times with 1500 grit sandpaper. They still looked cloudy after they dried of course, but at least were a white color instead of yellow. Then I used a cotton buffer thing and maguire's plastix (good ----) on the lenses a few times and they were crystal clear like new again.

Peeled off the excess silicone crap and threw the housings back into the oven. Added a little more fresh silicone to make sure I got a good seal. Didn't have a clamp so just squezed the damn things until I could pop all the clips back together. Installed them and the car looks MUCH better. Hides it's 10 year age a bit bitter without the cloudy yellow headlights. As an added bonus the light seemed a bit brighter

I guess they look mad tyte jdm. I just prefer the way they looked and sure as hell won't pay money for them. If you're going for jdm I'd suggest a more "chromey" paint because this looks kinda textured instead of shiny. I'll post up some pictures of them on the car tomorrow if anyone's interested. Put them back on and installed the bumper in darkness... I like how they came out though

Xgenturbo

Looks really good, good stuff

zex_cool

actually looks peaty good. when i saw the title i taught it was some idiot washing his car again

90dx

Sounds like alot of work but they came out ****.Nice job.

con

did you hand buff them or ??

Jorsher

Yeah I had some "terry applicator pads" that I got for a dollar or two at autozone, just squeezed some maguires plastix on the lenses and used the applicator pads to rub it in. Wasn't hard at all.

blacklabelman1

****, they are so clear now, i need to do that to the teg head lights, i hate that milky foggy look

Jorsher

Ok got them installed last night but was too dark to take a picture. Went outside and did it real quick before I left:


Can you tell it's ------- hot outside? Bank thing said 105 and the news was saying it'd get to 101 today, not including the humidity which makes it feel way worse.

Car still has a ways to go. Doing a 99-00 front end since mine is screwed up anyway, hopefully found some fenders, a lip, and spoiler today

Hope to have this in next month:

cua0

looks good, i did the same thing to my headlights with a can of black paint i aquired from a place i worked at a few years ago.