Headlight restore (bout time!)

L_King

L_King

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Like so many of you here my headlights were in poor shape. They were beginning to yellow, break down and and top of that the previous owner had done a very poor job with some spray tint. I was meaning to do this a while back but just recently got everything together.
So RollinLS was very kind and took apart my headlights for my and got a lot of the old sealant off for me and popped the amber lenses out.
I got them home and first was to tint the Ambers. I didn't go comlptely blacked out just darker:
Before clear:


Testing the look:

Test before the headlight lens restore:


So I got the 3M headlight rest kit, some additional 400,600,1000,1500,2000,2500 as far as sand paper. The kit has 500,800,3000 plus a buffing compound. I also picked up some mineral spirits, and Minwax spar urethane. Now here are my progress pics so far.

What I started with

In the photo they don't look as bad as they really were, but you can see some of the spray tint:


This was scary to be honest:








Thats it so far.I am real happy with how they look except there are some areas where the plastic was just broken down to far but it isn't very noticeable at all. I put the minwax/mineral spirits mix on for added uv protection and shine and let that dry. Next step is to ad my tinted Lamin-X plus the uv protection I got from them, then reassymble and add the eyelids. I also plan on doing the fogs but I had to order a nice used set because well the plastic was just way to far gone:
I will get another pic but I thought the cracking look was the crap spray tint but it was the plastic so I got a new set. I should have the lights finished up by the weekend. and I will post once I am done. BTW a BIG thanks to RollinLS for all his help!
 
Nice! How long did the process take, and did you notice much difference from using the mineral spirits/urethane after the 3m polish?
 
That is a huge improvement. Nice job!

Also good loookin' garage. (Floor and workstation)
 
Lamin-X will melt on your headlights. Or your headlights will melt. Either way it's not a good combo unless you are running HIDs in your lows, and LEDs for your turn signals.
 
Thanks. I did notice a a difference using the mineral spirits minwax combo after the polish. It makes them much shinier. Its like a clear coat.

Yea we re-did the garage about a year and a half ago and its awesome especially compared to what it was before.

M4rk: Lamin-x well melt my lights or melt on them? I have never heard this issue...please do tell more because so I do not want to ruin my nice looking lights. I am running 6K HIDs in the lows but not LEDs on the turns (I didn't want to go through the trouble of making them flash right so I was going to leave them regular bulbs.
 
What is that engine out off and Holy wide tires batman,

Nice headlights as well, I want to take mine apart and spray the bezel gloss black and remove the amber all together, I like the tinted look as well
 
Great Job. My lenses are starting to lose the coating slightly at the top edge, so I'll be starting the restoration process shortly. However, instead of using the 3M kit and additional sanding, I'm going to try something different -

Paint correction compounds with a Porter Cable 7424XP polisher, and 4" pads.

I'll update with pics/results after trying it.
 
L_King said:
M4rk: Lamin-x well melt my lights or melt on them? I have never heard this issue...please do tell more because so I do not want to ruin my nice looking lights. I am running 6K HIDs in the lows but not LEDs on the turns (I didn't want to go through the trouble of making them flash right so I was going to leave them regular bulbs.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I have seen a few pics of the film melting (and burning) when used together with high wattage filament bulbs, e.g. fogs. Here is one.

As well, the film can cause the plastic lens to cave in. Bullschmidt's Lamin-x'd tails caved in the same way as some others experienced with tinted tails.

Since you are running HIDs in your lows, my concern would be your parking lights. Maybe it will be okay, as the bulbs are quite small.
 
Tru-Blu said:
Great Job. My lenses are starting to lose the coating slightly at the top edge, so I'll be starting the restoration process shortly. However, instead of using the 3M kit and additional sanding, I'm going to try something different -

Paint correction compounds with a Porter Cable 7424XP polisher, and 4" pads.

I'll update with pics/results after trying it.
Click to expand...

For the first few years of my headlight decay I polished them with automotive paint polish. Nothing as professional as you are talking about. I had great results, but I was polishing them every month to keep them looking good.
 
Ouch, I'm hoping I won't have to do that, but all bets are off until the results are in. I was also planning on giving the Urethane/Mineral Spirits coating a shot too.
 
The motor is for my 88 Lesabre T-type, it is a 3800 Supercharged with a cam, headers, pulley, etc etc.




The tires and wheels are what my brother got for his Grand Prix but the tires are to wide at 275 45s

I tried to do the Lamin-x today, and it was a PITA it did not turn out well so for now I will not be using it for now...
 
9 times out 0f 10 I would sat a Lesabre, hmmmm but that thing looks sick. Good stuff, what made you choose the Lasabre platform? Is there something about that makes them great for modding, I mean other than that engine.
 
I had initially considered the Lamin-X, but backed off when I saw the issues a few others had doing their tail lights.
 
I was a fan of the 'ol Buick T-Type models. Owned a few myself. With the exception of the Regal, all the other T-Type models were just an appereance package. That Lesabre had the regular crap 3.8 V6. See your trying to convert to the newer 3800 SC, never knew those things to be that powerful. Awyways... good times.
 
HOLY CHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek2: WOW!!! The lenses turned out great. Before, they looked some bad and hazy. Nice work sir.:Beer Looking forward to seeing them on the LS soon.
 
My family has always been pretty big GM people specifically Buick. Not sure why but I grew up on them. My dad has a 1970 Buick GSX stage 1 he has had since 19, a 1987 Grand National GNX clone that runs low 11's, my brother has a lightly modded 86 Grand national, and I am not sure why I fell in love with the lesabre. I mean I am not a huge fan of a regular lesabre of that era just the T-types.

Fla02ls: Crap 3.8? Actually it is a 3800 which is close to 3.8. but either way I would never call a GM 3.8 or a 3800 crap. They used them of decades because they were reliable, easy to work on, put out decent power. I have had a handful of 3800s all with over 150K a few at 200K and the motors were still kicking with no major issues. I had one sit for 5 years with old gas and still start right up, no kidding.

The L67 (supercharged 3800) is a common motor to swap in to a lot of cars. There is a pretty large performance market for it and with what I have done I should be looking at low 13's high 12's. RollinLS should know what I am talking about!;)

As for the headlights. I contacted Lamin-x and they sent me 03+ films so thats why they fit like :q:q:q:q so they will be sending me a large sheet and I will be doing it again, I guess.
 
L_King said:
My family has always been pretty big GM people specifically Buick. Not sure why but I grew up on them. My dad has a 1970 Buick GSX stage 1 he has had since 19, a 1987 Grand National GNX clone that runs low 11's, my brother has a lightly modded 86 Grand national, and I am not sure why I fell in love with the lesabre. I mean I am not a huge fan of a regular lesabre of that era just the T-types.

Fla02ls: Crap 3.8? Actually it is a 3800 which is close to 3.8. but either way I would never call a GM 3.8 or a 3800 crap. They used them of decades because they were reliable, easy to work on, put out decent power. I have had a handful of 3800s all with over 150K a few at 200K and the motors were still kicking with no major issues. I had one sit for 5 years with old gas and still start right up, no kidding.

The L67 (supercharged 3800) is a common motor to swap in to a lot of cars. There is a pretty large performance market for it and with what I have done I should be looking at low 13's high 12's. RollinLS should know what I am talking about!;)

As for the headlights. I contacted Lamin-x and they sent me 03+ films so thats why they fit like :q:q:q:q so they will be sending me a large sheet and I will be doing it again, I guess.
Click to expand...

1991 Chevy Beretta GTZ. L67/3800sc swap. Right at 300hp in a 2700lbs car. It scoots.;) BMW e-36 headlight swap. Shaved front bumper. Custom ram-air fully functional. Mustang Mach 1 lip spoiler. Lots of suspension and performance goodies.;)

GTZ%20200.jpg


GTZ245-2.jpg


Berettalip20.jpg
 
L_King said:
Fla02ls: Crap 3.8? Actually it is a 3800 which is close to 3.8. but either way I would never call a GM 3.8 or a 3800 crap. They used them of decades because they were reliable, easy to work on, put out decent power. I have had a handful of 3800s all with over 150K a few at 200K and the motors were still kicking with no major issues. I had one sit for 5 years with old gas and still start right up, no kidding.
Click to expand...

I didnt mean crap as in a bad engine, i was implying crap in the comparison with the base 3.8 (150hp) and the GN 3.8 (235hp). I have owned 4 Buicks, most when i was younger, and two different T-Types. One was a Somerset and the other a Riviera. I believe the Somerset was a 3.0 V6, the Riviera might have been a 3.0 or 3.8, dont remember. Back in those days the T Type package made your Grandfathers Buick look pretty sporty. Even now that Lesabre T Type doesnt look too bad. I had a Regal with the 3.8 and as a 16 yr old kid i beat the piss out of that thing and it lasted, so i agree with the durability of the 3.8 V6.

The Riviera was the sh!t back in the day with the touchscreen. The digital dash on the Riviera and Somerset were cool too.
 
since you have it open you should get a angel eyes kit and install that aswell you can get it on eabay for less than 150
 
Fla02LS said:
I didnt mean crap as in a bad engine, i was implying crap in the comparison with the base 3.8 (150hp) and the GN 3.8 (235hp). I have owned 4 Buicks, most when i was younger, and two different T-Types. One was a Somerset and the other a Riviera. I believe the Somerset was a 3.0 V6, the Riviera might have been a 3.0 or 3.8, dont remember. Back in those days the T Type package made your Grandfathers Buick look pretty sporty. Even now that Lesabre T Type doesnt look too bad. I had a Regal with the 3.8 and as a 16 yr old kid i beat the piss out of that thing and it lasted, so i agree with the durability of the 3.8 V6.

The Riviera was the sh!t back in the day with the touchscreen. The digital dash on the Riviera and Somerset were cool too.
Click to expand...

When GM transverse-mounted the 3.8 into its FWD platform. It lost a ton of power. Which is why the horsepower rating is so much different.

Somerset was a 3.1 v6. Piece of junk motor. Not enough horsepower or torque to get out of its own way. 140hp. To bad you didn't have the 2.3HO Quad4. 195hp with a 5-speed. Great motor. But people would rev to high and blow headgaskets in them.:( Rare to find one not blown up anymore. Matter a fact, the W41 heads and cam in good condition are worth some money.

Without knowing the year. Your Riviera range btween 125 to 160 horsepower with the 3.8. If it was a 3800, it would have been 165 horsepower.

The 3800 L27, L36, and L67 all run different compression.

You really can't compare the 3.8 to the 3800. Totally different motors.
 
I would love to do angel eyes but I need to put the money in repairs for the LS.

Yea I love the 3800 but its nothing compared to the turbo 3.8. RollinLS I can't wait to see the beretta in person and the LS!
 
RollinLS said:
Somerset was a 3.1 v6. Piece of junk motor. Not enough horsepower or torque to get out of its own way. 140hp. To bad you didn't have the 2.3HO Quad4. 195hp with a 5-speed. Great motor. But people would rev to high and blow headgaskets in them.:( Rare to find one not blown up anymore. Matter a fact, the W41 heads and cam in good condition are worth some money.

Without knowing the year. Your Riviera range btween 125 to 160 horsepower with the 3.8. If it was a 3800, it would have been 165 horsepower.
Click to expand...

My Somerset had a 3.0 181cu V6. I remember it had a plate on the engine that said "3.0 High Output". At the time it was a zippy sporty little two door. 140hp wasnt that bad for the time, considering the Monte SS had a V8 with only 180hp and was much larger. That Somerset could hold its own, i dont remember the speed, but the digital speedo only went so high then it just flashed. I remember the gearing being odd, no overdrive, thing would be revved up on the highway.

As far as i knew the Quad4 was never in a Buick, only the Pontiac Grand AM and Olds Ciera.

My Riviera had the first gen LN3 3800, 165hp...same that was used in the Reatta, that car was slow, but the digital dash and touchscreen made up for its lack of any power. Wierd how the 3.8 165hp car seemed slower than the 3.0 140hp. Maybe the T-type version had some kind of gear ratio that made it seem quick.

Sad, checked autotrader and there isnt one single 1986 Buick Somerset for sale anywhere, yet the "value" for that year T type says $3000.

I remember i backed into a hill with the Somerset and it broke off the tip from the muffler. That thing sounded like a V8 after that. Had a deep growl.
 
SO got the lights back in and new fogs (used but better shape).I am not 100% happy with the drivers light. I am not sure if I didn't get it sealed real well or what but there is a slight haze that makes me a little angry but for now it looks 100 times better. Here are some pics. I decided not to use the lamina-x and I added the eyelids:




I tested a theory on a old fog. I wanted to see what it would look like to make the fogs appear to be round to better match the headlights. In my opinion the stock fogs look out of place and are so bright being all chrome and all. I may tint them IDK, what do you guys think?



Here is how the car sits now:



Let me know what you guys think!
 
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