DIY: how to make your headlights black housing with 20 bucks...

dmhenderson · 12-05-2012, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b1adesofcha0s

It shouldn't be if you do it the right way though, which I've found out we didn't. Temp was too high. Safer to go with lower temp and longer time in the oven. I think we were supposed to be around 200-210, but we were doing it at like 250. If we had it at the right temp, we wouldn't have had to put it in lens down.

Even so - most of us are college-educated, fairly intelligent people and we had lots of problems.

b1adesofcha0s · 12-05-2012, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmhenderson

Even so - most of us are college-educated, fairly intelligent people and we had lots of problems.

Well the only real problem was the melting....which was caused by the high temp. The temp we set based on experimental evidence from the previous time we did it and it went smoothly. Seems logical to me. Still don't know why ours melted that day and not the first day.

dmhenderson · 12-05-2012, 04:05 PM

The thread in here said 250 as well iirc. I checked after we had the first mishap.

The first day was still really fun. Not sure it was worth $900 for the experience though haha.

b1adesofcha0s · 12-05-2012, 04:41 PM

Last time I talked to Khoi he said we should have been closer to 200.

dmhenderson · 12-05-2012, 04:46 PM

Well the point is, it's very easy to screw up.

eastwest2300 · 12-11-2012, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmhenderson

Well the point is, it's very easy to screw up.

Grindkiezer · 12-17-2012, 12:08 AM

Is there any issue with the bulb temperature and the paint?

SgtGoldy · 12-17-2012, 04:24 AM

Nope. Holds up just fine on mine.

dmhenderson · 12-17-2012, 07:54 AM

The guys who reworked my headlight mess said that you need to wet-sand and do multiple coats to make sure the paint holds (especially on the chrome parts) but I haven't heard of anyone else's paint flaking so ymmv

Dallaz · 01-17-2013, 04:03 AM

I've got a few questions, my bumper is off, headlights are out, and I'm about to order the paint for my lights. Going to go with Gloss black Krylon Fusion for the housing, AutomotiveTouchup's spray can of Monterey Blue paint for the shrouds, and I'm thinking about VHT night shades for the reflector. Is VHT night shades the best one to use for the smoking?

Also, how are you guys removing the old silicone, any special tools? I watched Nut_N_Much's video of using a heat gun and a cardboard box which looks like a combination of both the oven and heat gun methods combined. Pretty good vid if you guys haven't seen it.

More questions. I'm going to wipe down everything with alcohol, but I wont need to use an Adhesion promoter on the housing if I'm going to be using Krylon Fusion right? because that stuff is made to be used on plastics etc and should stick just fine I think, but on the shrouds where I will be using the Automotive touch up paint I'm assuming I should use an adhesion Promoter?

Maybe I'm over thinking, but I'd just like to get it done right. Any information is helpful and I would love to hear from the guys who have had there's done for a year minimum and see if you have any problems that have occurred and if so what?

Thanks!

Kinda just chillin at the moment!!

Dallaz · 01-18-2013, 10:09 PM

Bump for answers

AlexRaymond19 · 01-23-2013, 01:48 PM

I just did mine last week. What i did was buff the housing with a green scotch bright pad, then wiped it down with alcohol until there were no more smudges on the rag. Yes Kyrlon fusion is the way to go. No adhesive promoter is needed.

VHT night shades will probably be the best thing you can find locally tbh... I just did my reflectors black.

As for the silicone, just leave it in there and reuse it when you put it back together. They is more than enough to reuse and it works just fine.

This brings me to my last suggestion/comment. Use the oven! I did mine at 190-200 for about 8-9 minutes. I put my light right on the oven rack, and had no melting issues what so ever! I took one appart with the heat gun, and did one in the oven. The oven took me 12 minutes to get appart, the heat gun took hours, and i eventually ended up putting it in the oven anyway... Also make sure to stripe the light of the bulbs and ballests and that wire harnes that the bulbs are connected to. I had to use vice grips to get the little screw off that connected to silver braided wire to the bulb and ballest, that sucker was on there good!

Take your time, and have fun with it! It was a blast, though the first one was a little stressful...

PS make sure you are in a dust free invironment when putting the light back together. Got dust on my lenses, and was really upset, but i took an air compressor and blew air though the back access port!

GOOD LUCK!

AlexRaymond19 · 01-23-2013, 01:55 PM

Also, PM me and i can give you my number if you need help with section, or are not sure. If you are not sure about something, don't hesitate to ask!

dmhenderson · 01-23-2013, 02:44 PM

The baking part is where you are most likely to damage your headlights. If you want to do it the safe but long way, you use a heat gun and a damp piece of cardboard and sloooowly pry it open as you go.

For resealing them, I would use a combination of the original sealant plus that horrible black rubber butyl sealant stuff (makes a huge mess but works).

Dallaz · 01-23-2013, 03:55 PM

Thanks for the answers ya'll. feeling pretty confident, looking through automotive touch ups website and they're products I learned a lot about the whole process as well (painting, not disassembling). Hopefully have it back together for cars and coffee down here February 2nd. Will post pics

12-05-2012, 04:05 PM	#198 (permalink)
dmhenderson A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,930 Drives: AWD TT 370z Rep Power: 26	The thread in here said 250 as well iirc. I checked after we had the first mishap. The first day was still really fun. Not sure it was worth $900 for the experience though haha. __________________

12-05-2012, 04:41 PM	#199 (permalink)
b1adesofcha0s A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: MD Posts: 40,963 Drives: HypeTrain Choo Choo! Rep Power: 141	Last time I talked to Khoi he said we should have been closer to 200. __________________ Project: b1adeZmobile (2009 370Z) \| Uprev Tune by AAM Competition \| Berk Exhaust Project: b1adeZmobile 2.0 (2014 C7 Z51) \| Corsa Xtreme Exhaust

12-05-2012, 04:46 PM	#200 (permalink)
dmhenderson A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,930 Drives: AWD TT 370z Rep Power: 26	Well the point is, it's very easy to screw up. __________________

12-17-2012, 12:08 AM	#202 (permalink)
Grindkiezer Track Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 824 Drives: A Car Rep Power: 14	Is there any issue with the bulb temperature and the paint? __________________ Z

12-17-2012, 04:24 AM	#203 (permalink)
SgtGoldy A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 3,503 Drives: C63 AMG - LSD Rep Power: 650	Nope. Holds up just fine on mine. __________________ C63 AMG LSD - Straight Pipe - EuroCharge v5 - Vossen CV7 - IG: @SuperFastYo

12-17-2012, 07:54 AM	#204 (permalink)
dmhenderson A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,930 Drives: AWD TT 370z Rep Power: 26	The guys who reworked my headlight mess said that you need to wet-sand and do multiple coats to make sure the paint holds (especially on the chrome parts) but I haven't heard of anyone else's paint flaking so ymmv __________________

01-17-2013, 04:03 AM	#205 (permalink)
Dallaz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: North Dallas Posts: 1,272 Drives: 09MontereyBlu370z6MT Rep Power: 16	I've got a few questions, my bumper is off, headlights are out, and I'm about to order the paint for my lights. Going to go with Gloss black Krylon Fusion for the housing, AutomotiveTouchup's spray can of Monterey Blue paint for the shrouds, and I'm thinking about VHT night shades for the reflector. Is VHT night shades the best one to use for the smoking? Also, how are you guys removing the old silicone, any special tools? I watched Nut_N_Much's video of using a heat gun and a cardboard box which looks like a combination of both the oven and heat gun methods combined. Pretty good vid if you guys haven't seen it. More questions. I'm going to wipe down everything with alcohol, but I wont need to use an Adhesion promoter on the housing if I'm going to be using Krylon Fusion right? because that stuff is made to be used on plastics etc and should stick just fine I think, but on the shrouds where I will be using the Automotive touch up paint I'm assuming I should use an adhesion Promoter? Maybe I'm over thinking, but I'd just like to get it done right. Any information is helpful and I would love to hear from the guys who have had there's done for a year minimum and see if you have any problems that have occurred and if so what? Thanks! Kinda just chillin at the moment!! __________________ AeroJacket Lip Kit \| GTR switch \| NISMO S-Knob \| Blacked-Out-EVERYTHING\| 5% Tint \| Carbon Fangs/Upper Trim \| VOSSEN CV3's \| Painted Headlights \| CF Diffuser Last edited by Dallaz; 01-17-2013 at 04:08 AM.

01-18-2013, 10:09 PM	#206 (permalink)
Dallaz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: North Dallas Posts: 1,272 Drives: 09MontereyBlu370z6MT Rep Power: 16	Bump for answers __________________ AeroJacket Lip Kit \| GTR switch \| NISMO S-Knob \| Blacked-Out-EVERYTHING\| 5% Tint \| Carbon Fangs/Upper Trim \| VOSSEN CV3's \| Painted Headlights \| CF Diffuser

01-23-2013, 01:48 PM	#207 (permalink)
AlexRaymond19 Track Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Maine Posts: 771 Drives: 2010 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 15	I just did mine last week. What i did was buff the housing with a green scotch bright pad, then wiped it down with alcohol until there were no more smudges on the rag. Yes Kyrlon fusion is the way to go. No adhesive promoter is needed. VHT night shades will probably be the best thing you can find locally tbh... I just did my reflectors black. As for the silicone, just leave it in there and reuse it when you put it back together. They is more than enough to reuse and it works just fine. This brings me to my last suggestion/comment. Use the oven! I did mine at 190-200 for about 8-9 minutes. I put my light right on the oven rack, and had no melting issues what so ever! I took one appart with the heat gun, and did one in the oven. The oven took me 12 minutes to get appart, the heat gun took hours, and i eventually ended up putting it in the oven anyway... Also make sure to stripe the light of the bulbs and ballests and that wire harnes that the bulbs are connected to. I had to use vice grips to get the little screw off that connected to silver braided wire to the bulb and ballest, that sucker was on there good! Take your time, and have fun with it! It was a blast, though the first one was a little stressful... PS make sure you are in a dust free invironment when putting the light back together. Got dust on my lenses, and was really upset, but i took an air compressor and blew air though the back access port! GOOD LUCK! ocnumman likes this. __________________ 2010 370Z Touring MT \| Stillen \| Motordyne \| Momentum\| Z1 \| Fast Intentions \| Advant Garde \| RE11 \| Swift \| SPC \| Quaife \| Whiteline \| Evo R \| 322RWHP 259ft-lb Mustang

01-23-2013, 01:55 PM	#208 (permalink)
AlexRaymond19 Track Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Maine Posts: 771 Drives: 2010 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 15	Also, PM me and i can give you my number if you need help with section, or are not sure. If you are not sure about something, don't hesitate to ask! __________________ 2010 370Z Touring MT \| Stillen \| Motordyne \| Momentum\| Z1 \| Fast Intentions \| Advant Garde \| RE11 \| Swift \| SPC \| Quaife \| Whiteline \| Evo R \| 322RWHP 259ft-lb Mustang

01-23-2013, 02:44 PM	#209 (permalink)
dmhenderson A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,930 Drives: AWD TT 370z Rep Power: 26	The baking part is where you are most likely to damage your headlights. If you want to do it the safe but long way, you use a heat gun and a damp piece of cardboard and sloooowly pry it open as you go. For resealing them, I would use a combination of the original sealant plus that horrible black rubber butyl sealant stuff (makes a huge mess but works). __________________

01-23-2013, 03:55 PM	#210 (permalink)
Dallaz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: North Dallas Posts: 1,272 Drives: 09MontereyBlu370z6MT Rep Power: 16	Thanks for the answers ya'll. feeling pretty confident, looking through automotive touch ups website and they're products I learned a lot about the whole process as well (painting, not disassembling). Hopefully have it back together for cars and coffee down here February 2nd. Will post pics __________________ AeroJacket Lip Kit \| GTR switch \| NISMO S-Knob \| Blacked-Out-EVERYTHING\| 5% Tint \| Carbon Fangs/Upper Trim \| VOSSEN CV3's \| Painted Headlights \| CF Diffuser

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
[FOR SALE] your oem headlights plus $200 for my black housing	im89	Parts for sale (Private Classifieds)	35	02-27-2012 02:54 PM
Housing headlights in vancouver area	hyunsoo1803	Canada	9	01-21-2012 06:06 AM
Looking to get headlights housing black out near Baltimore Area	tonybui	Exterior & Interior	0	09-27-2011 12:40 AM
Black housing headlights	im89	North East Region	5	08-31-2011 09:04 AM
SO i finally had the balls to do it.... $20 black housing headlights!!!!	simota1	Exterior & Interior	53	06-29-2009 01:14 AM