ANC297

iTrader: (2)

So after nearly 9 hours of very careful and tedious work on the headlights we have called it a night. Gettin tired, and its getting pretty cold out there.
Anyways, I am planning on posting pics and maybe doing another DIY, a improved version.
At this point, they are split apart and primed. Tomorrow when I get up I will paint them and clear coat them, give em' some time to dry and re-seal the lights. I will let them sit over night and then re-install new years eve morning. The only problem is that its my DD, but instead of rushing to finish I have waited until this week because I can take my time on all of the tedious stuff so I dont have to go back afterwards to fix mistakes.
Anyways, after I sanded them I took this pic because the bare plastic matches the car color. I think it looks pretty good, but I am still gonna go the black route.

I'll keep you guys posted and upload pics when its all said and done.

9932

iTrader: (1)

hey man, leave em white. body color looks sweet.

Ep3moschini

teh paint will bake in teh oven wen your doing the reassembly. . . no need to let them cure

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

I'm going heat gun method though

CRiXy

I'm planning on doing DIY blackout as well in the near future. Could you post what materials you used? Procedure?

Thanks!

'03TL-S

iTrader: (10)

The white looks clean on WDP. Do you have tint? If so, paint it black.

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, I will post them up in a lil while.
And yeah it does look nice, I will have tint soon. As of now they are blacked out and put together, I am waiting overnight for the silicone to cure and they will go back on the car tomorrow.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product

TequiLa

iTrader: (3)

there's already a few DIY's here, but good to see more black outs

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

Tequila- Yeah, I've seen 3 DIY's...2 of which were for the 99-01, and one for the 02-03, However the 02-03 was only clearing them, not painting. And none of which used the heat gun method which I found to be REALLY easy.
CLtotheTL32- I'kk keep ya posted. (cool username btw)

TequiLa

iTrader: (3)

you missed my thread then, lol

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-photograph-gallery-99/my-lengthy-journey-black-out-headlights-my-02-am-6000k-%2Amass-pictures%2A-687076/#post9997220

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

Shit yeah, I missed it. l0l. I went through the DIY pages, I guess thats why.
Good job man, I did the same procedure, except I used a valspar clear coat and a Duplicolor Brite Touch red primer. And to re-seal them I used a GE silicone II, it comes in a caulking type container and its much cheaper than the permatex stuff, easier to work with aswell.
I do NOT suggest this to people who have no patience. We worked on them from 4pm to 2:30 am yesterday with about 1 hour of break to eat. Then this morning from 12 to about 4 painting and re-sealing them, and I still have to re-install them in the morning. Again, I took my time on every last detail so it comes out right the first time. Everything about this is very tedious and detail oriented.
I guess I won;t do another write up, but I can post some pics if desired.

TequiLa

iTrader: (3)

^i didn't say you shouldn't make a diy, any kind of tips help people who are planning to do this. if you are going to make a diy thread, just put something new that other diy's don't have and post pics~

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Haha thanks man

xtremex626

iTrader: (1)

for the amount of precious time you took, it wouldn't hurt to post some pics man .. hahah . i gotta start blacking out my headlights soon

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

^dew itt!

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

Argh! I can't find where I placed my blue turn signals, so I am gonna have to wait to install them.
Here they are!!!!!!!!!






And the money shot.

I cannot get over how well they came out! What do you guys think? Maybe more pics tomorrow.

xtremex626

iTrader: (1)

i really like your setup. i like how you kept everything in there. i want the same setup but except change the orange amber into clear. good job !

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

Thanks man!
Yeah, the amber will be gone soon. Either blue if I find them, or silver.

jp75

iTrader: (1)

looks hot,,,so the heatgun method worked good????im think im going to try that instead of the oven...mine to to be done bad

mlrskn06

iTrader: (2)

looks clean, that's the way i want to redo my lights... and yeah no leaks w/ heat gun?? i may hafta do that cuz i messed up my lights baking them in the oven too long =[

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Damn that's hot

MIKE8898

it took a long time but the end result was definetly worth it...and we found the second piece of the resonator to take out so it worked out good

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

I preferred the heat gun method because I was a little skeptical about messing them up in the oven...with the heat gun you have full control. Also, I couldnt find my Torx set, so I just left the low beam in the housing and proceeded. You MUST be veryy patient with the heat gun method, its not 10 minutes and open but more like forty minutes a piece.
And when you re-seal, I opted to go with GE Silicon II, it comes in a caulk style tube so its easiest to work with. I just went crazy with it, covering up the entire top/bottom/sides, the only problem is that I un-knowingly bought white and was not willing to run back to the store at that time to exchange it.

Now I am debating blacking out the fog lights and painting the lower grill white aswell. What do you guys think?
I will upload more pics later today or tomorrow.

And yes, Thanks to Mike8898 for helping out, and happy new years everybody!

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

Great job ANC! Looks good. However if I could recommend one thing for the grill, I would keep the middle black and paint the chrome outline white instead.

mlrskn06

iTrader: (2)

yeah i think if u sumhow did the fogs it would look nice but i would leave the lower grill black...

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

nice. looks like *ill'tl's car, but hes got the lip kit. have u thought about painting the headlights wdp? color match. or would that be too much white

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

Are you talking about the upper or lower grill?
And thanks Raj, I think it would be kinda pale.

Thanks for the comments guys, keep em' coming!

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

Both the upper and lower grill black and the chrome white.

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

Ehh...Well its too late for the upper grill.

hANDYcaptd

iTrader: (5)

Looks awesome!

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

you can always repaint .. W/e floats your boat though.

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

Thanks handy. And my boat is floatin' how it is. l0l.

TLin401

IMO you need to black out the back of the grille now to make it flow with the headlights.

Nice work though.

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

Thanks!
Can anybody please photoshop the fogs black and the bottom grill white so I can see how it will look. I'd appreciate it!

bruistopher

Double post! Sorry its the blackberry fault!

Sent via BlackBerry

bruistopher

Duuuuuuude those are awesome!

Sent via BlackBerry

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

haha. Thanks dude.
Guys, I'm thinkin of a few spots that I may hit up tomorrow for some more pics! However, I may wait until I finish my rims completely

TLin401

Progress pics FTW!

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

^