Opening your headlights

[MSHardeman]

Jay did this on his FJ and it looks slick. Hopefully he'll post some pics. When I saw his install in Moab I thought about doing it on the VX....looks like LittleBeast will be the guinea pig. Definitely post some pictures once you're done.

[VXorado]

Jay did this on his FJ and it looks slick. Hopefully he'll post some pics. When I saw his install in Moab I thought about doing it on the VX....looks like LittleBeast will be the guinea pig. Definitely post some pictures once you're done.

Yeah Jay's looks great. I've been looking onto a kit specially made for FJ's that I think would look great in the VX headlight assembly.




The biggest problem with adding basic projectors to our headlights is that they are long and need to stick outside the headlight. Check out whaleboy's gallery- he already added projectors a while back.

[pbkid]

yup, lots of people with colored cars do this to match the car...

also, like others said, its common to paint them black, to give them more of a smoked look without loosing any lightpower.

i'd like to do this to my Runner, but need to pick up some 'laser cut lenses' rather than the old 'projector' style i have now.... the 00-02 runners have laser cut but the 98-00 was projector.

I just havent wanted to cough up the dough yet

[LittleBeast]

I know it has already been done:
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...light=Whaleboy
Bit I think with V-LEDs kit this will be MUCH easier! They are ordered and on their way. Will be late March before I finish though.

[WormGod]

The REAL trick with this fab is aiming the modded lights. Luckily, I never had to do it since the conversions I did were just painting housings. I looked into doing a projector fab for the VX a while back but concluded I didn't have the patience for it, heh.

There is a place near me (total boy-ricer shop that I dread dealing with) that does AMAZING custom light kits. I have seen some of their work at meets and I will give them credit for that. Just don't know if I care enough anymore to commit.

[LittleBeast]

So I have ordered everything needed, all I need to do is decide what type of spray paint to use on the parts I need to paint. I think I will use Krylon Fusion for plastic (gloss black), but I am worried about the heat from the headlights, so should I get some high heat spray paint? I am pretty sold on the Krylon plastic paint but want to make sure the heat from the headlights does not ruin the paint job. I know I will sand down the plastic to help with adhesion, anything else you all suggest?

[WormGod]

I always used Glasurit automotive basecoats since I had access to a paint shop. The Subie crowd is big on headlight masks, and they typically swear by Duplicolor. I used it on some wheels a couple years ago and it has stood up VERY well, but I never personally used it on a light assembly. Granted, you want to do it right the FIRST time, so don't cut any corners. You REALLY don't want to crack the lights open again for a flaw.

Here is what I would suggest:

-Scuff (Scotch-Brite) assembly parts to be painted/ mask off what you don't want painted to protect from scratch marks.

-A few thin coats of self etching prime

-Scuff prime

-Light even coats of base coat. Duplicolor wheel or caliper paint is heat resistant if you are concerned about heat.

Let it dry for a good day before rebaking/sealing. If you want to go the extra distance, fill a bucket with WARM water and drown the assembly lens side up. Keep dunked to look for leaks in the seal. If you don't fix them, you will get fogging in your assembly in some weather conditions.

I imagine you are going with a matte color/base coat? You give the assembly a shiny/lacquer enamel surface, you may get unwanted glare and reflection from the lights.

Above all else, try to have fun and set aside some "grace time", since nothing ever goes right.