DIY black headlights progress...

[Todd Z]

Well Paul H came over to help me close my brothers pool and mine today and after fixing my passengers side escort seat, we got bored and started playing with the headlights...



We had to stop at this point due to my mom being in a car accident today... She is OK, the Sonata took a t bone in the A pillar, and the 99 Toyota Camry that hit her was totaled...

I drove the sonata home.....



The progress so far...

Todd Z

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[Paul H]

yes we were baking headlights today in todds oven! still cant get over it

and yes that is his dining room table we were doing the work on:wacko:

paul h

 

[Fred]

Glad your Mom is OK Todd. Is it hard to get a good seal on those lights after taking them apart?

 

[Travis Munday]

Fred-

No, not really. The design of the light lens and bezel makes it so that there is a very positive seal. The project recommends reheating the lights to resoften the adhesive to put the lights back together; I, however, recommend removing all the old ahesive and going with new adhesive, RTV or similar. I've done a number of headlights with this mod, and some have been on the road for maybe 3 or 4 years now with no problems.

 

[jason nguyen]

Todd,



just wondering why those aren't being painted green to match your truck. I thought you already had blackheadlights.

 

[Nelson Atwell]

Jason,



If I read correctly, I think he is modding an Escort.

 

[Chet 02]

Let's see....closed 2 pools, fixed the seat in the escort.....and then got bored? You guys have alot more energy than I. [Broken External Image]: Be sure to keep updating the finished lights and how they hold up...look good. I'm glad your mom is ok.



(BTW, the tb is on the way....[Broken External Image]: )

 

[Bart Adkins]

Man...I SO have to do that to my lights...I love the cheap easy DIY mods. I painted the bolts on my bed tie downs. So cheap and easy...a little splash of accent color on the sides...schweet.

 

[Paul H]

the lights are actually for my trac. we are using todds old ones and when we swap mine out im giving him my old ones and then well probably be making those also black. yep closed 2 pools and put seat in escort and still were like hmmmm what can we do to the tracs. LOL!

paul h:wacko:

 

[Chet 02]

Yeah...I have admit, when I get started installing the mods that I seem to collect, I just can't seem to stop.

 

[Todd Z]

So far if this one costs $20.00 it will be a cheep mod, The issue is it is time consuming to do it right....



I was going to do Green, But if i F**(() these up it is no loss...

So if they come out good, i think the next set may be estate green, ( have to buy the right stuff) and then mine may be up for sale...



I would consider making a few sets, but I think the cost may be high... The new lights to do it with alone would be around $120.00 bucks, then mod time, and paint....



Will keep you all updated..

Todd Z

 

[Jeff C]

So what if someone sent you a set of lights...or wanted to buy your old ones...

 

[Travis Munday]

When i did these mods for people, I charged only $50, and many thought that was reasonable. Of course, the getting the new lights was up to them. One person sent me his stock lights, another sent me a set of aftermarket headights (which sucked, BTW). I got my process down to where I could bang out a set in about 4 or 5 hours, depending on the color being used.

 

[Todd Z]

Jeff, IF I can get estate green in a good quality or high temp paint, I will do Paul's in green for me and sell mine... IF not I will keep mine and sell Paul's set...



AND yes, Jeff, you do have the first choice, since you asked me for them at Louisville...

Todd Z

 

[Travis Munday]

You don't need high temp paint for the headlights.



Think of it like this, no matter how long you keep your headlights on, the lense won't become too hot to touch. However, park out in the sun for only an hour or so and your hood becomes too hot to touch. The hood isn't painted with high-temp paint.

 

[Tim Turner]

The hood isn't painted with high-temp.quote]



And look at how many of our hoods and roofs have paint that has started cracking, especially the darker colors.

 

[Travis Munday]

Beyond Ford hoods....not many hoods have cracked paint on their hoods.

 

[Jeff C]

Lol. So you wanna do my headlights then, Trav. I got a set sittin in a box in the closet.

 

[Todd Z]

Thats not right jeff.... Not right at all....

 

[Jeff C]

Well he lives in ATL, you live in NY. I really don't care who does em, but Trav seems to have a lot more free time