cleared and painted headlights, a story w/ pictures
10-14-2004, 09:34 PM
#1
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
cleared and painted headlights, a story w/ pictures
i basically used soopas method. no, not 
so anyway, let the pics begin.
lights before clearing
naked. looks kind of tough.
the most satisfying part.
i had them masked up so nice. it was going to be part painted and part chrome, but the chrome started to peel up from the tape so i had to tear off all of my hard work. :'(
mixed up some factory ssm paint (basecoat)
loaded the trusty sata jet
finished applying base coat
all clearcoated and finished
bling
1 done, 1 clamped
awaiting transformation
done
money
Removing Bumper
1. Remove screw in front of each front tire.
2. Remove plastic pins from the underside of bumper.
3. Remover 10MM Bolts from underside of bumper.
4. Remove plastic clips on top of bumper.
5. Remove screws on top of bumper.
6. Unplug fog lights.
7. Remove bumper.
Removing Headlights
1. Remove Bumper
2. Remove bolts from the side of the headlight housing.
3. Remove two bolts under the headlight housings.
4. Unplug connections.
5. Remove headlights.
Clear Lights
1. Remove Headlights
2. Place headlights on a wet towel inside of an oven. Heat oven to 225 degrees. (Do not preheat)
3. After 20-25 minutes remove headlights from oven.
4. Separate headlights by hand starting from the inner corner.
5. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Using a razor, trim excess silicone from the inside of the lens cover.
Do not remove silicone from the black portion of the housing where the sealant channel is, you will be reusing it.
6. Remove the two screws that hold the chrome housing to the lens cover.
7. You may now pop out the amber reflector by pushing a CLEAN screwdriver or any utensil for that matter through the hole for the parking light.
8. Reattach the chrome portion of the housing to the clear lens.
9. Place lens and black housing back in the oven at 225 degrees for 10 minutes. Do not reassemble yet.
10. After the stock sealant has softened remove both pieces from the oven.
11. Add a small, fresh bead of silicon to the sealant channel on the black portion of the headlight housing.
12. Beginning from the outer side of the headlight, reattach the lens portion of the housing to the black portion.
14. Tighten lens to the black housing in each corner using bar clamps.
15. Allow 24 hours for silicone to cure.
16. Cover holes with duct tape. Test for leaks in steamy bathroom.
17. Put back on car.
1. Remove screw in front of each front tire.
2. Remove plastic pins from the underside of bumper.
3. Remover 10MM Bolts from underside of bumper.
4. Remove plastic clips on top of bumper.
5. Remove screws on top of bumper.
6. Unplug fog lights.
7. Remove bumper.
Removing Headlights
1. Remove Bumper
2. Remove bolts from the side of the headlight housing.
3. Remove two bolts under the headlight housings.
4. Unplug connections.
5. Remove headlights.
Clear Lights
1. Remove Headlights
2. Place headlights on a wet towel inside of an oven. Heat oven to 225 degrees. (Do not preheat)
3. After 20-25 minutes remove headlights from oven.
4. Separate headlights by hand starting from the inner corner.
5. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Using a razor, trim excess silicone from the inside of the lens cover.
Do not remove silicone from the black portion of the housing where the sealant channel is, you will be reusing it.
6. Remove the two screws that hold the chrome housing to the lens cover.
7. You may now pop out the amber reflector by pushing a CLEAN screwdriver or any utensil for that matter through the hole for the parking light.
8. Reattach the chrome portion of the housing to the clear lens.
9. Place lens and black housing back in the oven at 225 degrees for 10 minutes. Do not reassemble yet.
10. After the stock sealant has softened remove both pieces from the oven.
11. Add a small, fresh bead of silicon to the sealant channel on the black portion of the headlight housing.
12. Beginning from the outer side of the headlight, reattach the lens portion of the housing to the black portion.
14. Tighten lens to the black housing in each corner using bar clamps.
15. Allow 24 hours for silicone to cure.
16. Cover holes with duct tape. Test for leaks in steamy bathroom.
17. Put back on car.
so anyway, let the pics begin.
lights before clearing
naked. looks kind of tough.
the most satisfying part.
i had them masked up so nice. it was going to be part painted and part chrome, but the chrome started to peel up from the tape so i had to tear off all of my hard work. :'(
mixed up some factory ssm paint (basecoat)
loaded the trusty sata jet
finished applying base coat
all clearcoated and finished
bling
1 done, 1 clamped
awaiting transformation
done
money
10-14-2004, 09:37 PM
#2
Suzuka Master
Thats hot.
Thats exaclty what I want to do to mine. Damn, I wanted to be the first though
Question. How much was the gun? How big/how much PSI is your compressor?
Thats exaclty what I want to do to mine. Damn, I wanted to be the first though
Question. How much was the gun? How big/how much PSI is your compressor?
Trending Topics
10-14-2004, 10:01 PM
#8
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
i should have painted it when i did the lights. oh well, i have more paint.
10-14-2004, 10:10 PM
#11
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by mrsteve
Looks awesome Matt. Did you paint the reflector part of the sidemarker bulb or leave it. I can't tell from the pics.
10-14-2004, 10:16 PM
#13
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by mclarenf3387
Question. How much was the gun? How big/how much PSI is your compressor?
i have a 60 Gal. craftsman compressor. i think it makes 130 psi or so.
10-14-2004, 10:52 PM
#18
TQ > MPG
Gee some of those chrome coated bulbs that illuminate amber, that'll look perfect.
The Altima guys have done the body colored headlight thing a bunch too, I think it looks badass.
The Altima guys have done the body colored headlight thing a bunch too, I think it looks badass.
10-15-2004, 08:27 AM
#27
If He Dies...He Dies
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Age: 45
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by mrsteve
I already have the '03 headlights in my NBP. I wonder if actually painting them NBP would improve the look. 
Mine
LiQice
10-15-2004, 08:58 AM
#28
Suzuka Master
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Age: 48
Posts: 9,940
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by darrinb
nice work matt, i think it would also look good in a flat black to match the hood
i'm w/ ant on ditching the chrome grill
i'm w/ ant on ditching the chrome grill
no way, that chrome grille matches the Center 'A'... I switched my painted one for a chrome one.
... nice job Mattg.... I will send you mine next..
10-15-2004, 09:05 AM
#29
Suzuka Master
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Age: 48
Posts: 9,940
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I recommend you take that orange bulb out and get yourself this one..
http://www.cardomain.com/item/APC504129B
http://www.cardomain.com/item/APC504129B
10-15-2004, 01:55 PM
#33
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
how much did you pay for the trim ring, Smitty?
10-15-2004, 03:13 PM
#36
Suzuka Master
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Age: 48
Posts: 9,940
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by mattg
how much did you pay for the trim ring, Smitty?
