JDM "Style" headlight how-to w/ pics (painted :) ) Options

[2gstratusrt]

Ok as promised a how-to w/ pics. I also gave credit to the original member to do this mod KnoxvilleStrat.

http://street-innovations.com/projects/jdmstyle.html

Jason

Check the link I have now painted them. I'll have to wait till the weekend to put them togther sine i'll be in buffalo thur/fri doing test and phisical for the ANG.

Jason

[pgiroua]

O.K., I am attempting to do my first ever modification to my car and I can't even do what seems to be the simplest thing! I have succeeded in taking out my front light assembly but I cannot seem to seperate the black piece from the clear piece to get to the damn yellow reflector out of there! Could anyone, someone please tell me what the secret to this is. I have successfully taken out the allen screw as directed and I still can't get the assembly to budge. I have a feeling that it is the black gunk (glue or whatever the hell it is that they use to keep the rubber on the light) that is keeping the two pieces together. I spent about an hour trying to take these two apart and I have finally given up. Someone please help me!

Thanks,

Royce

[XCR]

You have to put the headlights in the oven and bake them @ 250 for 10 minutes or so. Then the black adhesive will be flexible and will release, and you'll be able to pull the headlights apart. Put them back in the oven when you put the headlight back together too so you get a good seal.

[Gtecartman]

WAIT!!... only put the oven to 200... and 6-7 min tops. I did the 250 for 10 and the clear lense got over-heated and fogged on the sides. It looked like crap. lol Luckily by the irony of life, my car was ran into and I got a 2nd chance to redo this. I just did it this weekend. 200 degrees in the oven for 5 min. take them out and get the clips off from around the assembly. Then just pry back and forth slowly. if it gets too tough re-heat for 2 min. this time I had no fogging on my lens. and a good thing too... last time the fogging was in the shape of a male genital part. dont even ask how many people made thoes comments.

[pgiroua]

Thank you so much for the help...I can't believe that I missed the whole oven step on the directions!! Can't wait to get home and get to work!

-Royce

[stlstratus]

has anybody done this on a silver car yet? I am trying to visualize this. I dont know if it would look good or not!

[pgiroua]

I have a '01 Silver Lxi but I am going for the clear look instead of the Black. I just think that the clear would look better with our color cars. I do think that the black looks great on a darker car though. It really just comes down to whatever you like. You will probably be alright either way.

-Royce

[stlstratus]

I have a '01 Silver Lxi but I am going for the clear look instead of the Black. I just think that the clear would look better with our color cars. I do think that the black looks great on a darker car though. It really just comes down to whatever you like. You will probably be alright either way.

-Royce

Im with you to man! i liek the JDM look and all, but I dont think Dark headlights will look that great on a Silver car. I think I will do the clear corner trick though!

[ViperMan]

mr9802,

I've been thinking about this too, and talked to Greg about it in a series of PM's. He brought up a few good points:

The JDM headlights, if painted black, would match your grill and fog light covers.

My idea was, paint the JDM headlights your BODY color, also get rid of the black on the fog lamps (go with body color) and chrome the bumper. Making the mirrors silver would be bad-arse too.

On the clear corner, I plan on keeping my amber piece in there. I dunno why, but when I picture the silver Strat's without the amber piece of plastic, it looks funny. I haven't seen an actual photo of a silver car like this, so I have to rely on my mental images. I just don't think it'd look right. If you do it though, take pics and lemme see!!

Jeff

[StratusRTguy]

anyone have pics of their car at night with this mod? do headlights actually shine light afterwards?

or is everyone doing it for daily driving / show?

[liteshow]

Yea thay shine jus fine, if you notice thare are 2 sections, only paint tha outter..thats for show, tha inner is your reflective surface

[ScurRT]

yea they still work the same

[gildeferran]

has anybody done this on a silver car yet? I am trying to visualize this. I dont know if it would look good or not!

Silver Stratus

I did this last year Nov 02 to be exact. I Think it matches the fog lights well.
I aactually think it looks better on a silver car. Black car with black housing is waaaaayy too much black to my liking.

[stratusRTobsessi...]

Question: When you doing this mod, and you're putting it back together, do you put the amber reflector back on or leave it off? I can't tell what you've done from the pics. I'm not sure it would look smooth if you leave it off. Kinda like it's missing something, because there are indents there for it.

[whiffer]

Leave those out

[ScurRT]

you can leave them out, or keep them in, its up to u

[R/TCoupe02]

i left mine in, whiffer took his out. its all about what u want.. i wanted to b legal, lol

[stratusRTobsessi...]

I'll prob leave them in then. It should still look good. What kind of paint do you suggest I use?

[Mr. Mopar]

Well I just did this myself the weekend of 2/28. I used a hi-temp engine paint in low gloss black. I thought gloss black would look out of place but flat black would be too flat. As it turns out the low gloss matches the rest of the car's trim so it looks "right". At least thats my opinion.

[R/TCoupe02]

i used high gloss. either would look ok i think. check out my garage to see what the high gloss black looks like!

[GearBOX]

Just did this mod on my car the other day. I decided to use a flat black but after doing the first one and installing it to see what it looked like I wasn't happy with it. I decided to redo it and went with a glossy dark grey metallic which goes REALLY good with my Indy Red. It definitely gives the car a more stealthy look. (IMG:http://www.2gstratus.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

This post has been edited by GearBOX: Mar 28 2004, 11:01 PM

[jburke r/t]

Just did this mod on my car the other day. I decided to use a flat black but after doing the first one and installing it to see what it looked like I wasn't happy with it. I decided to redo it and went with a glossy dark grey metallic which goes REALLY good with my Indy Red. It definitely gives the car a more stealthy look. (IMG:http://www.2gstratus.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

i just looked in your garage. and damn im likin that. it looks better than a glossy black or any black at all. u think you can get like a closer pic of the headlight, to show the color of them.

[GearBOX]

I'll try to get some better pics soon ... I have to borrow a better camera than I currently use which is a video camera that can take still pics too. The resolution is really low. Check back in a week or so.

[FFWRX]

Will this work on a 2003 4 door. I cant seem to find any pics or info on it. Thanks

This post has been edited by FFWRX: Jul 8 2004, 10:14 AM

[AllEur0.]

it's pretty cool that the 03-04 already have the blacked JDM style lights.

[FFWRX]

Will this work on a 2003 4 door. I cant seem to find any pics or info on it. Thanks

Nevermind I found it on 2gss. Thanks anyway.

[Max]

I was wondering how to reassemble the headlight housing after painting it. Do i ahve to get new silicone/glue to seal headlight together, or do i put it abck in oven? Please help!

[ScurRT]

to open

260 degrees 6 minutes 2 flatblade screw drivers

to close

260 degrees for 5 minutes, 2 hands to push housing back together. pliers help too to squeeze the edges. then silicone around the edge w/ clear bathroom silicone.

[Max]

Thanks, it worked, just like u said, 260 degrees! Just a side note, i got my kicker L7 12 inch sub in today, and it punds. So if any body is lloking to buy good subs, get Kicker. If you're going to buy subs, dont go with Alpine, i blew 4 Alpine Type R's with my MTX, 81000D amp. Kicker L7 is 750 RMS, where as Alpine Type R is only 300. Once again if interested in subwoofers get Kicker, forget Alpine.

[ArmyStratus01r/t]

I have a silver r/t and am going to accent it in blue. what do you guys think about maybe painting the lights a blue color? would it look really stupid?

[shotgunefx]

to open

260 degrees 6 minutes 2 flatblade screw drivers

to close

260 degrees for 5 minutes, 2 hands to push housing back together. pliers help too to squeeze the edges. then silicone around the edge w/ clear bathroom silicone.

Don't you have to be careful with silicone? I thought I remembered hearing the fumes could haze the plastic (and even your contact lenses if your wearing them)

[killastrat]

Don't you have to be careful with silicone? I thought I remembered hearing the fumes could haze the plastic (and even your contact lenses if your wearing them)

I just did my clear corners on my 01 Strat which is silver and it looks good to me.

This post has been edited by killastrat: Oct 26 2004, 11:37 AM

[SliverXZennon]

I am ressurecting this thread for a few reasons.

1. You DO need to put the gasket back onto the light. I had to ask a fellow member what they did because in no threads nor how-to's does it say to.

2. Definately make sure you have proper lighting when you do spray the lights. I had to go over it a few times cause it looked like it was painted, but there was little specs of silver showing up.

3. To clear up another question, when you go to put the lights back together.. put them together as best as you can, then put them in the oven again. You don't really need pliers, just get some gloves and sqeeze hard while putting the tabs over the light cover.

4. I used Dupli-color Semi-Gloss Black. Its for up to 500 degrees. Also be sure to sand down the inner housing before painting it.

5. It is definately easier than I thought it would be, its a gorgeous mod that works. There is no affect of light output either. The end product looks like this...

(IMG:http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b12/SliverXZennon/DSCN2485.jpg)

Hope that helps some people, and BTW its pretty damn fun to do as well.

This post has been edited by SliverXZennon: Oct 15 2006, 01:06 PM

[RickAKATed10]

That looks great. A very nice mod for not that much money. If I had an 01-02 I would definately do this.

[Guest_04_sxt_coupe_*]

I would like to pull my 04 lighs apart and have the black painted to match the body. Any idea on getting these apart? I heard they changed the glue and the lense will melt before the glue.

[RickAKATed10]

I would like to pull my 04 lighs apart and have the black painted to match the body. Any idea on getting these apart? I heard they changed the glue and the lense will melt before the glue.

IIRC, this is true. There really isn't a way to get them apart without messing something up. Best bet might be a dremel and you'd have to be very careful with that.

[Guest_04_sxt_coupe_*]

IIRC, this is true. There really isn't a way to get them apart without messing something up. Best bet might be a dremel and you'd have to be very careful with that.

yeah and headlight assemblies aren't cheap.... Oh well guess I'll wait until somone handy tries it first. I just think body colored ones would look so kewl.

[RickAKATed10]

yeah and headlight assemblies aren't cheap.... Oh well guess I'll wait until somone handy tries it first. I just think body colored ones would look so kewl.

Have you thought of body colored eye lids? Those might give you a nice aggresive look and would also incorporate the body color into the head lights. Just a thought.

[BlaZiN'LXi]

Looks like i'll be the first to try to crack the 03 +headlights. One way or another, a projector is getting in there. (IMG:http://www.2gstratus.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Guest_04_sxt_coupe_*]

Have you thought of body colored eye lids? Those might give you a nice aggresive look and would also incorporate the body color into the head lights. Just a thought.

Yeah, personally I don't care for the eyelids. I tinted my headlights with 5% static vinyl, looks kinda cool. like sunglasses (IMG:http://www.2gstratus.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) I wish someone would make the plastc covers like they did for the Camaros.
Why is there nothing for the '03+ ?

This post has been edited by 04_sxt_coupe: Oct 17 2006, 02:36 AM

[nate_0022]

I just finished painting my headlights. I was wondering before i put them back together is if a clear coat is recommended?

[shotgunefx]

I just finished painting my headlights. I was wondering before i put them back together is if a clear coat is recommended?

Even though Dark Titanium is a base+clear, I didn't bother and they've held up great. Still looks cleared too because of the lens. YMMV

Just make sure they are really dry before you reseal them, don't want the paint fuming inside the lens I imagine.

[nate_0022]

thanks for the help. how long should i wait to put them together sothe paint will dry?

[shotgunefx]

thanks for the help. how long should i wait to put them together sothe paint will dry?

I dunno, I waited a day to be sure.

[Pearl01stratcpe]

After reading this and seeing the results i just might have to do this... Probably going to go with a Storm Gray metallic paint, like my interior. Then again it does get kinda warm in the headlights so maybe high temp engine paint... Most paint says you can handle whatever you painted in an hour, but would heating it up to put it back together affect it? I was planning on doing this at work on saturday and cant really stay all day to let the paint dry and dont really trust driving around with no headlights, so hopefully 2 hours should be sufficient drying time. Any thoughts?