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Black housing headlight

Discussion in 'Exterior' started by badboy4li3f, Aug 13, 2004.

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    badboy4li3f Guest

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    Black housing headlight

    does anyone know where to get direction on how to do black housing head light? and also the burn out tail light? and also i drop my car using S. tech Tien lower spring, do i need camber kit to go with it?
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    DIABOLIC HIPPO Guest

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    I'll let you know, I am getting together with some matrix guys tomorrow and were have a "jdm light day". I dunno if were using a oven or a heat gun to heat up the rubber seals for the headlamps.
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    Tro1086 Guest

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    I think most people do it in the oven. But you might try to do a search, I think RollaS did a DIY on how he did his black house'd headlights, and they turend out real nice.
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    Schoat333 New Member

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    yea rollaS posted a like to a site with instruction on how to black the matrix headlights housing. i used that way and it was easy and turned out good. also i have some pics on my page of painting mine white if you wanna see how it goes.
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    bewildered_spruce Guest

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    ive been wondering... those of yall that have taken ur headlights apart, is it possible to take out the nasty yellow reflector without destroying it with the cover off?

    u dont have to get a camber kit but u do need to get an alignment and some aftermarket struts would be a good idea
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    Tro1086 Guest

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    I think if you take the cover off, the orange reflector peice is very easy to get out in one peice.
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    Schoat333 New Member

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    yea the reflectors is much easier to get out with the lights open.. it basically clips to the part that you paint so if you wanna keep it in the for laws in your area you just unclip it paint and then clip it back in before you put the lights together... i think it looks much better without it tho
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    RollaS New Member

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    here's the website that gives a basic idea of what to do. just don't worry about taking any screws out once the headlights is outta the car. I think that's the only difference.

    www.thewrongway.com
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    DIABOLIC HIPPO Guest

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    first you want to remove all of the hardware in the back of the headlights, the 2 rubber gaskets where you would insert your light bulbs and all the other plastic and rubber peices. Then you pre-heat the oven to 300 degrees, then turn off the oven. Then place the headlights on a pan and cover the entire headlight with a cloth or towel, then place the headlights in the oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes have passed remove the lights from the oven and proceed to pry the lense apart from the housing with a flat head screwdriver. (you will need 2 people to do this) one person prys while the other person pulls on the housing. (it is not that easy buy yourself). The mask off the area you do not want painted, spray 2 coats of primer then 2 coats of paint, (make sure you let the paint cure for 15 minutes between coats). Re-assemble in reverse order, again pre-heat oven to 300 degrees, turn off the over, place headlights in oven for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven then quickly press headlight back together.
    the end.....

    some helpful tips.
    here are some things I may have left out
    1) no sanding of the headlights is needed. just use rubbing alcohol to prep painted surface.

    2) do not use windex to clean any of the chrome surface, it will take the chrome right off.

    3) you will need 2 people.

    4) make sure to let the paint cure before re-assembling your headlights. (may cause the vapors from the paint and primer to fog up the inside of the headlight lense.

    5) be sure to clean the inside of the lense with a good non-streak window cleaner.
    I suggest eagle one 20/20 window cleaner and a paper towel. My friend used a terry cloth and now has lint stuck inside of the headllight.
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    RollaS New Member

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    i didn't remove the rubber or hardware on the headlights.......and i didn't need two people
    either.

    I also wouldn't touch the inside of the clear lens piece w/ anything. even cleaning it will leave some streaks.
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    DIABOLIC HIPPO Guest

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    thanks for sharing..... I guess I am not as skilled as you are....

    I would also prefer not to clean the inside of the lense, but shit happens.
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    RollaS New Member

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    i wasn't mocking you, i was saying it's an extra step that doesn't need to be done. I also didn't need a flathead to pry it open........I heated it, pulled what i could apart, then heated it again and pulled again. i'd be scared to pry it open w/ anything. I've already ruined one set tryin to pry them open.
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    DIABOLIC HIPPO Guest

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    my apologies....
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    Schoat333 New Member

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    i did it myself also.. and i did not take the rubber pieces off either... the worst part was handling a hot headlight. gets hard to hold on too but is much easier to take apart right out of the oven. and yes do not touch the lens... i made that mistake and now i have to take em apart again to try and fix it. also i only had to heat each one one time and they came right apart with pnly fingers.
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    DIABOLIC HIPPO Guest

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    yeah, I think I might redo my headlights to, the inside of the lense looks fogged and smeared a little. I have 2 sets of headlights, so I may try sanding the interior and exterior of the lense and spray clear coat with some pearl...lol

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