94 headlights - what to use to rechrome insides?

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Kevin

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Having successfully refinished the headlights on my TownCar (95-97 style front end), I'm thinking of taking a stab at the Mark8's lights. It's a high-beam only car at night, and it even sucks at that now.

Taking apart and cleaning up the clear plastic lense isn't my issue, it's the housings.

What can I use to get a chrome type finish on the reflecting part?

I've even thought of using tin-foil, yeah - the kind you use to cook with. Have looked in the car sections of various stores, and haven't found anything that looks like it'll work.

Your ideas?
 
look at the top of this forum, there is a sticky on 1st gen headlights, all the info you need you'll find there.
 
Trimbright. the salvation of Gen ! headlights-less than $10 a roll, more than you can probably use, great stuff (3+ years on my 'restoration').
 
Or, alternatively, use a rocker panel tape called Guardian Stripez - you get a much bigger roll for your money (costs around $11) and, in my opinion, the finish is ever so slightly better than that of the Trimbrite.
 
I never looked at the sticky before, assumed it was about HID's, which interest me - but not enough to look, as I'm not really willing to spend money on this Mark (it's a turd). Elbow grease is an expenditure I'm willing to make. Or a $10 roll of chrome 'tape'.

Due to being in Canada, some of the options available to you guys may not be up here - but I remember seeing what looks like the TrimBrite roll on the shelf before.

Thanks guys, I'm reading through that sticky now.

On the subject, reading how everybody uses a dremmel to open the lenses - can't they be baked and pried off? Or is the glue not suitable for that approach?
 
Kevin said:
On the subject, reading how everybody uses a dremmel to open the lenses - can't they be baked and pried off? Or is the glue not suitable for that approach?
Click to expand...

Oven method can be a bit 'hit and miss'

Here's what happened to me: First headlights; one came apart ok in the oven (had a gray sealant) but the other would not come apart at all - lens was melting and it still wouldn't come apart - this headlight had a rock hard, yellow sealant that simply refused to melt. Anyway, I ended up getting another set off Jamie and did them the 'rotary tool way' Even the one that did come apart kinda' 'fogged up' slightly and would not buff.
 
what temp do you bakem and how long approx? if got 2 sets so if i lose one i wont be that upset, just dremel the second set :D i dremeled the first set i did but like the baking approach a bit better
 
Couldn't find the stuff today in three different stores. I know the stuff is available in the next town over.

Will check first as to what kind of sealant used - I have a dremel anyways if the oven bake method doesn't work.

BTW Slick - 250 for 10-15 minutes should be fine - but keep an eye on them. Setting the timer for 5 minute intervals works.
 
i use a sealant called GOOP to put them back together. it comes out like clear silicone but dries a semi hard plastic type. stuff is great.
 
Same here - Goop with no problems. I think it melts easier too - in case you ever need to get them back apart - I'm going to verify that though, pretty soon.
 
I used TrimBrite on mine about 8 mo. ago and still doing fine. It was by far the best mod I have done on the car. To add to that I used a Dremel type tool and used Goop to put it back together again and used my swimming pool to check for leaks before I reinstalled.
 
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