Headlight rebuild

[lsdarkshadow]

So I got the headligts apart but one was real bad. The water that had been building up in the lens started corroding the mirror cups.

I don't want to admit defeat so I am going to paint the reflective mirror cups with faux chrome paint, clear coat and hope they don't look like crud. Then gloss coat and clear the inner black bezel, polish the outer plastic, and I am currently waiting for the dye to take effect on the amber lenses.

Picture three shows the bad spot on the bowl

 

[Lincoln Jealous]

if you want your LS to look bad ass, paint that sh!t black, good luck trying to match the chrome, but if you paint that black, it would look really cool!

 

[lsdarkshadow]

If I paint them black, I won't be able to see at night. I wasn't going to match the chrome, but repaint over all of it the same.

 

[lsdarkshadow]

Halfway through the painting stage. So far so good.

 

[FASTLLS]

Looks good so far man. Keep up the good work

 

[Andrizzle]

Yikes! I don't know how those reflecting bowls will turn out, but good luck!

 

[FASTLLS]

Polishing may take care of that.. We'll see how it turns out..

 

[lsdarkshadow]

It's two thirty and I just applied the last coat. It isn't as mirror as the original, but it's all shiny and uniform. I'll polish lenses and reassemble tomorrow. I have higher output blue bulbs too ...so we'll see.

 

[M4rk]

That's not gonna work.

 

[FASTLLS]

You used chrome right? Got the coats fairly wet? That's what makes the chrome look like it should..

 

[1LoudLS]

i personally would look for some extra lights online that you could get spare parts from for the reflectors, since it is not mirror like any more that is gonna affect how much light get reflected and where it get reflected to, you could try some of those plastic mirror sheets that you can cut to size like the mark guys do

 

[lsdarkshadow]

If this dosen't work, I am just gonna buy new lights. They were cr@p from the beginnig so I'm not loosing anything. If it dose work, than I'll save $200.

 

[lsdarkshadow]

You used chrome right? Got the coats fairly wet? That's what makes the chrome look like it should..

And for the record FASTLLS, you are exactly correct. Unlike other paint, the chrome paint needs to go on thick coats, very wet. And you CANNOT clear coat it. It will make it look gray when it dry's.

The blackberry phone pic dosen't look as good as it dose in person but it's not to shabby.

 

[Alax7]

Cool. Now lets see the light output with it

 

[1LoudLS]

if this dosen't work, i am just gonna buy new lights. They were cr@p from the beginnig so i'm not loosing anything. If it dose work, than i'll save $200.

t r u e !

 

[lsdarkshadow]

Cool. Now lets see the light output with it

I have been workin all day but I hope to have them back on tonite!

 

[FASTLLS]

And for the record FASTLLS, you are exactly correct.

Thanks for some credit..,)

 

[lsdarkshadow]

Thanks for some credit..,)

That what it's all about. Thank you for pointing it out.

 

[Silver_LS]

I tried to do this to some aftermarket ones I bought on EBay for my Suburban, they were black and I sprayed just the bowls with primer then 5 coats of the chrome.. During the day, they looked awsome, once I needed them at night it was like having the parking lights on. I hope you get better results. The mirror chrome reflector bowl is extremely important.

 

[FASTLLS]

I think a polishing tip on a dremel or equivalent would bring out the shine a bit better. I wonder how actual pieces of mirror would work?

 

[Andrizzle]

They have mirror tape... It is not as good as the original bowls, but it looks better than that spray you have on there...

Then again I would just get new lights if this didnt work.

 

[lsdarkshadow]

I am hoping that the way I sprayed it that it will be have way decent. I know it won't be as good as the original bowls,....but they were damaged already. The dry final product is even and glossy. I have been using a blackberry to take the pics so they probably don't show the new finish as well as they should. I am going to test mount them right now. Its really dark by me. (I live in the sticks)

 

[FASTLLS]

show some pics!

 

[Silver_LS]

So, how are they?

 

[lsdarkshadow]

They work. Not as bright as stock ...but i have a brighter bulb in and it seems to work. I just drove to the corner and back. (no lenses!) Glad there were no cops!

I am glueing the ambers back in right now. I will reassemble prob around 2AM. Post pictures tomorow night. Promise FASTLLS! Pictures tomorrow.