Cleared + Painted Housing & Brushed-Aluminum Grille Frame *Pics*
01-17-2005, 11:15 PM
#1
woooo!!
Thread Starter
Cleared + Painted Housing & Brushed-Aluminum Grille Frame *Pics*
Spent a longgg time working on them the past weekend, but the end results are well worth it imo! 
Headlights: disassemble, bake, pop off orange diffuser, 4 layers of primer, wet sand, 3 layers of paint, wet sand, 2 layers of paint, wet sand, last layer of paint, wet sand, 3 layers of clear coat, wet sand, bake + reassemble.
you can imagine how long the painting alone took...
here are some pics, comments very welcomed!
Headlights: disassemble, bake, pop off orange diffuser, 4 layers of primer, wet sand, 3 layers of paint, wet sand, 2 layers of paint, wet sand, last layer of paint, wet sand, 3 layers of clear coat, wet sand, bake + reassemble.
you can imagine how long the painting alone took...
here are some pics, comments very welcomed!
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shamal (02-15-2015)
01-17-2005, 11:21 PM
#2
Drifting
THAT RIGHT THERE, IS FREAKIN BEAUTIFUL!!!! how long did it take youuu????? i gave up after i took it all apart.. it took too long, i was planning on painting it, but instead i just put everything back together and took a shower and fell asleep for the rest of the day
01-17-2005, 11:25 PM
#3
woooo!!
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by aaronnn
THAT RIGHT THERE, IS FREAKIN BEAUTIFUL!!!! how long did it take youuu????? i gave up after i took it all apart.. it took too long, i was planning on painting it, but instead i just put everything back together and took a shower and fell asleep for the rest of the day
let's see... i started on Saturday in the evening (7?), and by 11ish we had the headlights opened up and diffuser off, with 1 or 2 coats of primer on.
Sunday i spent 3-4 hours finishing up with the primer, added all the paint, and cleared coated it. Then later on that night, another hour and a half putting it all back together.
and this was with 3 people working on it (except for the painting part).
btw thanks for the compliment!
01-17-2005, 11:27 PM
#4
i
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damn man, that looks frickin nice. thought about doin the same with my FRP, but i think it looks best on SSM and NBP. very very nice, especially on that grille, that looks soooooooooooo good.
01-17-2005, 11:33 PM
#5
Drifting
Originally Posted by subtledreamer
LOL.
let's see... i started on Saturday in the evening (7?), and by 11ish we had the headlights opened up and diffuser off, with 1 or 2 coats of primer on.
Sunday i spent 3-4 hours finishing up with the primer, added all the paint, and cleared coated it. Then later on that night, another hour and a half putting it all back together.
and this was with 3 people working on it (except for the painting part).
btw thanks for the compliment!
let's see... i started on Saturday in the evening (7?), and by 11ish we had the headlights opened up and diffuser off, with 1 or 2 coats of primer on.
Sunday i spent 3-4 hours finishing up with the primer, added all the paint, and cleared coated it. Then later on that night, another hour and a half putting it all back together.
and this was with 3 people working on it (except for the painting part).
btw thanks for the compliment!
but man you did a great job. really nice look on your car. hopefully i'll be able to do that when the weather warms up a little here. its too cold even to stand out there trying to pull the bumper off.
01-17-2005, 11:48 PM
#7
woooo!!
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by AznWayTL's
Look Great just like mine..
Now only thing left to do is get Chrome amber bulb..
Now only thing left to do is get Chrome amber bulb..
i didn't paint my grille frame though, but yeah. haha and for the light bulb, most likely not going to change it anytime soon, i don't mind the orange one at all.
Originally Posted by aaronnn
aww man, i cant do that. hahaha im too busy with work even on weekends. and usually sunday are my "catch up with sleep" days. haha it still looks good, im happy i got that orange reflector off my car.
but man you did a great job. really nice look on your car. hopefully i'll be able to do that when the weather warms up a little here. its too cold even to stand out there trying to pull the bumper off.
but man you did a great job. really nice look on your car. hopefully i'll be able to do that when the weather warms up a little here. its too cold even to stand out there trying to pull the bumper off.
But its cool man, it looks great just cleared already!
Originally Posted by moahdriven
damn man, that looks frickin nice. thought about doin the same with my FRP, but i think it looks best on SSM and NBP. very very nice, especially on that grille, that looks soooooooooooo good.
you know what i think would be hot on your FRP tho? body-colored housing! hmmm sizzzzzzzzzzle...
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01-18-2005, 12:20 AM
#10
Mr. 2tone
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both grilles look sick as hell...great job guys...i need to know how to take my headlites out...n i wana clear them...i do like the blacked out look alot...but i have a naples gold tl...CF hood soon n gunmetal rims too...
01-18-2005, 08:31 PM
#17
woooo!!
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Dark DJ
wikid bro! props subtledreamer, wanna do mine? :p
Originally Posted by AcuraTl203
hey looks nice...when u take that difuser out theres a big hole in the headlight? i thought there was some kind of backing?
Originally Posted by El pana/TL32
Nice work brother! And good job on such creative shots!
Originally Posted by AsianRage
Very nice job. Good job on the photography as well.
Originally Posted by TL_Fo_Life
I have a 200 tl and ive thought of doin the same. THAT LOOKS AWESOME!!!!!! 
Originally Posted by DAVERUBINO
Here's a good guy to get Silver Vision bulbs from cheap on eBay. I got mine from hime for my '02 tails. Good price and service. " ctlumination"
01-18-2005, 09:15 PM
#20
Senior Moderator
Looks great.
Ill be doing that soon to mine. im hoping to do it in a day ill be doing illtl's (brian) in a few weeks at teh same time (just clearing his)
Ill be doing that soon to mine. im hoping to do it in a day
ill be doing illtl's (brian) in a few weeks at teh same time (just clearing his)
01-18-2005, 11:48 PM
#23
woooo!!
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by fsttyms1
Looks great.
Ill be doing that soon to mine. im hoping to do it in a day ill be doing illtl's (brian) in a few weeks at teh same time (just clearing his)
Ill be doing that soon to mine. im hoping to do it in a day
ill be doing illtl's (brian) in a few weeks at teh same time (just clearing his)
Originally Posted by AsianRage
OOOh, can you PM me a link?
Originally Posted by benzo555
looks terrific! I like!
01-19-2005, 12:09 PM
#26
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how did u get the brushed aluminum effect on the grille?
are the headlights painted silver to match the color of the car or did u do the same brushed aluminum effect to them... cant really tell.
are the headlights painted silver to match the color of the car or did u do the same brushed aluminum effect to them... cant really tell.
01-19-2005, 02:21 PM
#28
Senior Moderator
nice work, reminds me of mine. i skipped the primer step though as it was not necessary.
3 coats SSM, 2 coats clear.
3 coats SSM, 2 coats clear.
01-19-2005, 02:58 PM
#29
woooo!!
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by 99TLKID
where did you get your guages from....I want some!!
they can be a slight pain to install though. if you want i can give u the link to the DIY i wrote up.
Originally Posted by @cUr@-TL
AWESOME!! props to you man!!
Originally Posted by Da_iLLeZt_TL973
looks beautiful.....i was gonna do that this summer i had spoken to mr. about doing mine it looks beautiful good job man 
Originally Posted by mattg
nice work, reminds me of mine. i skipped the primer step though as it was not necessary.
3 coats SSM, 2 coats clear.
3 coats SSM, 2 coats clear.
yeah, i knew i could have just sprayed painted over the chrome but wanted to play safe, sanded down the chrome completely and then went with the steps i said. its worth the extra effort for piece of mind (that the paint wont chip and such)
Originally Posted by car_lost
how did u get the brushed aluminum effect on the grille?
are the headlights painted silver to match the color of the car or did u do the same brushed aluminum effect to them... cant really tell.
are the headlights painted silver to match the color of the car or did u do the same brushed aluminum effect to them... cant really tell.
<-- keke smiley* secret formula my friends and i figured out.as for the paint, it was just a nice metallic silver spray i picked up from the local autostore (its pretty close to SSM). i wasn't trying to match the body color as i have HSM (heather mist) and it has a slight shade of gold. i simply wanted metallic silver housing and a fresh look on the grille, so im really happy with the results since it's exactly what i wanted them to be.
01-19-2005, 03:09 PM
#30
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did the brushed aluminum effect by any chance involve a brillo pad?
p.s. thats pretty messed up you wont share that info... but w/e... only you can choose to disclose that information.
p.s. thats pretty messed up you wont share that info... but w/e... only you can choose to disclose that information.
01-19-2005, 03:29 PM
#32
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by subtledreamer
yours looks great too!
yeah, i knew i could have just sprayed painted over the chrome but wanted to play safe, sanded down the chrome completely and then went with the steps i said. its worth the extra effort for piece of mind (that the paint wont chip and such)
yeah, i knew i could have just sprayed painted over the chrome but wanted to play safe, sanded down the chrome completely and then went with the steps i said. its worth the extra effort for piece of mind (that the paint wont chip and such)
i completely scuffed the chrome w/ a grey scotchbrite pad befor i base coated it, and i know i got great adhesion. chipping really isn't a concern because the surface is behind a plastic cover.
but there is nothing wrong w/ you playing it extra safe.
01-19-2005, 08:26 PM
#33
woooo!!
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by AcuraTl203
can u post a pic of the side of the headlight where the orange used to be? thanx
Originally Posted by mattg
i completely scuffed the chrome w/ a grey scotchbrite pad befor i base coated it, and i know i got great adhesion. chipping really isn't a concern because the surface is behind a plastic cover.
but there is nothing wrong w/ you playing it extra safe.
but there is nothing wrong w/ you playing it extra safe.
Originally Posted by car_lost
did the brushed aluminum effect by any chance involve a brillo pad?
p.s. thats pretty messed up you wont share that info... but w/e... only you can choose to disclose that information.
p.s. thats pretty messed up you wont share that info... but w/e... only you can choose to disclose that information.
01-19-2005, 09:19 PM
#34
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change the amber bulb to a chrome amber one... makes the cleared out look, look 10 times better... dont get those blue/ hyper white bulbs... they blink yellowish compared to the HID's and it just doesnt look right.
01-20-2005, 10:41 AM
#37
Racer
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[QUOTE=subtledreamer]you can tell from this pic that the orange diffuser is gone... see the hole connected to where the turn signal bulb is?
: agree : <-- since the smileys still aren't working O__O
i can tell the diffusers gone but it looks like a black rectangular hole there now, did u paint it black? i thought there was chrome behind the diffuser?
: agree : <-- since the smileys still aren't working O__O
i can tell the diffusers gone but it looks like a black rectangular hole there now, did u paint it black? i thought there was chrome behind the diffuser?
01-20-2005, 11:05 AM
#38
woooo!!
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by AcuraTl203
i can tell the diffusers gone but it looks like a black rectangular hole there now, did u paint it black? i thought there was chrome behind the diffuser?
I'll post up a brighter shot in a little bit, stay tuned.
01-20-2005, 11:09 AM
#39
woooo!!
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Type S Lady
Wow SubtleDreamer, looks hot.
Originally Posted by InspireUA5
Very nice.... it is the best looking for UA4!!!
Originally Posted by car_lost
change the amber bulb to a chrome amber one... makes the cleared out look, look 10 times better... dont get those blue/ hyper white bulbs... they blink yellowish compared to the HID's and it just doesnt look right.
