light mod pics

[src4usarmy]

Well, I got bored and have been off work for a few days, and waiting till my bed extender and coverking seat covers get here and got the mod bug again. I already have the black halo lights but figured i'd paint the oem lights and if i liked them better swap them and if not then i'd leave it alone. Just got them put back together today and it was hard considering i got something in my R eye and had to get it drilled out at the eye doctor. Anyway i painted them in black but after that i sprayed a couple of coats of black that had a small amount of glitter in it on them. I really like them and I'll probably swap them out in a day or two, plus the light will be better. I been thinking on getting the silverstar ultras also. anyway, to the pics

[Carbeaux]

This is a great looking mod. Hats off to those of you who have the patience to do this. The results look great, but dang it doesn't seem like a fun mod to do! Well done.

[src4usarmy]

I actually like doing stuff like this though, how sad is that?

[Carbeaux]

Originally Posted by src4usarmy

I actually like doing stuff like this though, how sad is that?

Not sad at all. I DO enjoy working on vehicles, but with no spare vehicle and not being able to have a vehicle down for any length of time, I just don't deal well with that pressure. I put more stress on myself than I get relaxation or satisfaction out of it. I need a hobby car!

And the fact that you like doing stuff like that shows in the work you do.

[src4usarmy]

my wife thinks i'm nuts but i do enjoy it and the end product also. its about the only thing i do as far as any kind of hobby

[dmc601]

That is a real nice job you have done... I don't remember if you ever mentioned what you sealed them back up with... Now that you got my gears grinding I am wondering what my white truck would look like with them or possibly a different colour like white or another off the wall colour that could be a contrast theme colour to perhaps match the guages and or interior trim.... All in all it turned out real nice and I also believe that they will perform better than the H1's in the projectors.... I am using the Ultra Silverstars and I am liking the look and performance...Thanks for the post...

[src4usarmy]

Originally Posted by dmc601

That is a real nice job you have done... I don't remember if you ever mentioned what you sealed them back up with... Now that you got my gears grinding I am wondering what my white truck would look like with them or possibly a different colour like white or another off the wall colour that could be a contrast theme colour to perhaps match the guages and or interior trim.... All in all it turned out real nice and I also believe that they will perform better than the H1's in the projectors.... I am using the Ultra Silverstars and I am liking the look and performance...Thanks for the post...

i copied this from someone else so the credit isn't mine but i did spray two coats of black paint that had glitter in it after the original black coats and it looks kinda like metal flake or something.

Here’s the HOW TO:

I recommend you get an extra set of headlights so that you don’t have to rush yourself. Rushing to complete a mod is usually reflected in the end product. I bought my extra set off eBay for $125 shipped.

Purchase all of the materials that are needed for this mod: Duplicolor primer, Duplicolor black paint or colormatched paint (which I had mixed and put in a rattle can), Duplicolor clear coat, 150 grit Sandpaper and a sanding block, (2) Black high-temp gasket maker tubes (any auto parts place has this), Star bit type screwdriver (can’t remember what size), Various flat head screwdrivers, Gloves, and an extra set of hands if possible

Splitting the headlight open:
Remove all wiring and bulbs from the housing and preheat the oven to 275 degrees.
Place the headlight on a cookie sheet that has a wet towel on it and place the headlight face down on the wet towel. Put in oven for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes pull the headlight out and start prying in between the clear cover and black housing. You will see various clips, in addition to the black gasket that holds the headlight together. Start in one corner and work your way along two sides of the lights. Once you get enough of the gasket broke loose and the clips bent back the headlight will split apart with a little convincing. It helps here if you have some helping hands to hold the black housing part while you pull the clear cover off.
Once the headlight is split open you will want to clean out the OEM black gasket material in prep for reassembly. You don’t have to do it now, but it has to be done so why not do it while the oven is fired up? It helps to heat the black housing up in the oven for 5-7 minutes in order to pull the black gasketing out if you can’t get it out immediately after splitting the light open. Also, while the black housing is hot, bend the retaining clips back into there original place. This will help you later when you’re putting them back together.
Next step is to get the chrome housing that it to be painted detached from the clear cover. Grab the star tip screwdriver and remove the four screws that hold the two pieces together.
Remove the orange reflector with a flat head screwdriver. Be careful with these three clips as it is a PITA getting the reflectors out without damaging them.
Disassembly is finished now and it is time to prep the housing. Before we get to that though you will want to put the rest of the headlights in a safe place and wrap them in plastic wrap to keep them dust and fingerprint free.
Prep and paint:
Take the 150 grit sandpaper and sand all of the chrome off of the pieces that you can. You won’t be able to get 100% of it, but you can get most of it. I spent three hours hand sanding mine.
After the chrome is bye-bye, wipe down the piece with a lint free cloth and grab the primer.
Spray at least two coats of primer letting 10 minutes between coats. Be sure during all painting projects to keep the can at least 8 inches away from the object being painted and keep it moving being sure to cover all of the areas. Some areas are tricky so take your time and be sure that all surfaces are covered.
The next two steps are the same as the previous step only with the color and clear coats letting at least an hour between the primer coat, the color coat, and clear coats.
The reflector is done in the same manner and is open to whatever you want to do with it. I chose to put two coats of VHT nightshades on mine with no clearcoat. I think they turned out great.
Reassembly:
After at least 24 hours of paint curing, it’s time to get to the final product. Take all of your headlight pieces out that we set aside earlier and put everything back together it the reverse order that we disassembled.
Flame up the oven again to 275 degrees.
If you didn’t remove the old gasket material you must do it now. If you already did it, go to the next step.
Take the black rear part of the headlight housing and put it in the oven on a wet toweled cookie sheet for 7 minutes.
Pull the rear housing out and put the gasket maker in the channel. Put a generous bead of gasket maker in this channel. I used one tube per headlight.
Take the already reassembled clear cover with the painted piece and put the housing back together. You should be conscious of the clips that we had to pull back earlier.
Once the pieces are back together as they were before you had the bright idea of splitting them open……..your done! I let the gasket maker set up over the course of two days just to be safe. It states on the tube that it completely cures in 24 hours.

[dmc601]

Thanks for taking the time for the info....much appreciated.. I have one of those small sand blasting cabinets, I wonder how that would work to de chrome things... I also have a couple of headlights in the shop from an old ford tempo that I will try it on. Oh ya, in regards to using a whole tube of gasket maker per headlight, are they small tubes? And what kind of high-temp sealant did u use? No big deal though, I am sure when I go shopping I can figure it out.. There should be a sticky on this for the benefit of other members...

[CoeCEO]

Yeah I saw the other thread on this too and now I'm getting the itch to try it out.

My father has a a sandblasting booth used for designs on glass, mirror, etc. I was wondering if I could use that on the chrome plastic?

What do you guys think, is it really soft? I know there is a setting that makes the sand come out very slow and lightly.

Also do you think this mod would look good painted to match your truck color?

[src4usarmy]

Originally Posted by dmc601

Thanks for taking the time for the info....much appreciated.. I have one of those small sand blasting cabinets, I wonder how that would work to de chrome things... I also have a couple of headlights in the shop from an old ford tempo that I will try it on. Oh ya, in regards to using a whole tube of gasket maker per headlight, are they small tubes? And what kind of high-temp sealant did u use? No big deal though, I am sure when I go shopping I can figure it out.. There should be a sticky on this for the benefit of other members

Originally Posted by CoeCEO

Yeah I saw the other thread on this too and now I'm getting the itch to try it out.

My father has a a sandblasting booth used for designs on glass, mirror, etc. I was wondering if I could use that on the chrome plastic?

What do you guys think, is it really soft? I know there is a setting that makes the sand come out very slow and lightly.

Also do you think this mod would look good painted to match your truck color?

I think sand blasting would pit the plastic but i'm not sure, maybe somebody else will know. I went to the auto store and they had the regular tubes in the package and they had tubes meant for a caulk gun that holds as much as two of the other tubes and that is what i got, but it is permatex ultra black rtv silicone gasket maker. i belive i have seen this done to match the truck and it will look good. i seen it done in red. i have a silver truck and didn't think that it would look much different than chrome and i have black everywhere else anyhow. by the way the lights in the pic are the black halo lights, they just don't put out as much light. the oem lights painted look real close to these, they have an aggresive look to them.

[src4usarmy]

here are the finished pics, the first is with one halo and one oem light in.

[src4usarmy]

just one more pic. just put ss ultras in also for hi and low beam

[dmc601]

Looks real nice...Thanks again... I will try to do a sample sandblasting on a headlight in the next couple of days and let you know how it goes... I think just keeping a close eye and the proper air pressure should work. My little blaster has quite fine sand... It really does give your truck a nice aggresive look...How do you like the SS Ultras, have you taken a highway cruise yet?

[jkelley3209]

IMO i like ur halos better