Re-mirror headlamp interior

Topic: Re-mirror headlamp interior (Read 18645 times) previous topic - next topic

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #15 – September 23, 2012, 04:35:19 PM

Lincoln Continental headlights (not sure what exact years though) are the same as '87-8 Cougars.

I think it's around 89 or 90 for the Linc Conti's...

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #16 – September 23, 2012, 06:07:13 PM

http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?33121-(New-Goodies)Need-Your-Opinion-on-Headlight-Color!(Lots-of-Pics)&highlight=

There you go, the ultimate final solution.

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/product_info.php?products_id=237 Where to get them. You're savvy enough to build your own relay harness, and I would recommend to. Theirs is probably ok, but I suspect them as being the only non top shelf component in the kit. X3 made his own clear lenses, and I know yours are different, but you seem like the type of guy who is willing to put the labor in to grind down and polish out his existing lenses like I did.

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #17 – September 23, 2012, 08:33:49 PM

thanks everyone,
if anyone tries the polyurethane method, make sure to heat them up after it dries, just watch the lense soak up the poly and clear things up.

gotta use that 3000 grit paper or 3000grit sponge under running water first though.

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #18 – September 24, 2012, 09:21:39 AM

On this subject, what is the best way to get the glue out of the channel? Mine is so hard I couldn't dent it with a screwdriver.

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #19 – September 24, 2012, 09:34:22 AM

Quote from: jcassity;398988

here is a tip on clearing the lenses.
I sand the lense with 3000grit foam pad they sell at auto parts places.
I then use a foam brush and paint on min wax polyurethane.
it looks good when brushed on but i learned something last night.
When the poly is almost dry, use a heat gun and get the whole lense really "warm" and watch the whole thing clear up even more.

I'm going to be doing this on my 93' Tempo headlights. I already have polished them once and installed those Sylvania Ultras (red package) but they started to haze back up again.

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #20 – September 24, 2012, 11:53:25 AM

Quote from: Soul;399069

On this subject, what is the best way to get the glue out of the channel? Mine is so hard I couldn't dent it with a screwdriver.

Heat it in the oven, it pulls off like a soft twizzler stick when it is warm.

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #21 – September 24, 2012, 11:30:54 PM

Quote from: 1BadBird;399071

I'm going to be doing this on my 93' Tempo headlights. I already have polished them once and installed those Sylvania Ultras (red package) but they started to haze back up again.

I should further define "warm",,,what me and my son learned is that you hold the lense with a t-shirt or something and when you cant take the heat, lay it down.... thats how hot.
He put too much poloy on, i laid down a thin coat only.
Some of your last few passes with a heat gun should be approx 3'' off the face of the lense covering every inch like you are scanning the surface not missing an inch.
If you smell something that can only be described as "clear plastic" melting, and yet its not actually melting,,, then you hit that sweet spot of perfect heat. It will be like a chemical plastics smell. If you smell only Poly getting warm, your not close enough to the lense.

I think what i did was actually bond the poly into the grain of the lense somehow.

Litterally under water, it only takes a min or two of vigorous sanding to be done sanding.
Of course i chopped off those Ice Break sticky outty things , mason still has them.

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #22 – September 24, 2012, 11:35:32 PM

Quote from: Soul;399069

On this subject, what is the best way to get the glue out of the channel? Mine is so hard I couldn't dent it with a screwdriver.

buy a heat gun from lowes or somewhere.
Heat perimeter first then pick a stratigic area to start prying up with a flat head screwdriver.
too easy

dont forget to inspect for cracks on the rear of your housing as well as where the bulb inserts.
Found a couple on my pass side and that i siliconed up... was the culpert for water intrusion.

first add water to housing then blow real hard in the lamp opening and you will easily hear / see your lense leak.

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #23 – September 24, 2012, 11:40:42 PM

Im done, fully satisfied and want to comment on what i did. I never in my life would have imagined these lights could glow so white and bright. I dont even have the relay mod done to my lights on the 20th either.

I deleted the mirrors i put in. I added metal tape (very shinney and almost like mirror) because it was what i bought myself.
you gotta look at the different ones, there is shinney then there is "more" mirror like. I added two 3'' long strips along the area where the bulb is and also to one side that was worn away.

I will be going back in them soon to re-do the tape because while up here in ohio, i found an HVAC shop that has actual "mirror" finish metal tape. This is a unique tape to HVAC guys when heat retention is critical on duct work.

Excluding the 30min or so time waiting for the poly to dry, breaking into and adding tape and re-assembly of each headlamp lense only took about an hour.
I spent more time doing the mirror tape then lamp resto. This has became so easy for me its like a walk in the park.

If anyone wants a set redone, then send em my way.

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #24 – September 25, 2012, 09:28:24 AM

On the headlight subject, only the back of the housing, the side the bulb inserts, is mirrored correct? Not the floor or the top of the housing?
Also the metal insert at the top, should it be polished?

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #25 – September 25, 2012, 08:36:16 PM

Quote from: Soul;399167

On the headlight subject, only the back of the housing, the side the bulb inserts, is mirrored correct? Not the floor or the top of the housing?
Also the metal insert at the top, should it be polished?

correct to part 1 above
not required to part2 above, its just a heat sync

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #26 – September 29, 2012, 11:51:42 PM

this is the stuff you want for a replication of a mirror inside your headlamp lenses.
its a poly type metalized mirror tape.
The description is wrong, i talked to grainger about this product and the store i was in at youngstown did not even know they offered it.

Another application would be the 1/2'' roll which would nicely applie to the center chrome trim of the black molding. just stick it right on top of your old faded stuff.

here is the link, i got two rolls of 2'' wide.
will be removing the other metal tape i put in there and trade in this thin poly mirror stuff.

wont be able to till i get some more silicone though.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/search.shtml?searchQuery=15d441&op=search&Ntt=15d441&N=0&GlobalSearch=true&sst=subset#productReviewTabs

enjoy,, its like 8bucks a roll for 15' long x 2'' wide

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #27 – September 30, 2012, 09:49:56 PM

I wonder how much it would cost to get the inside of the headlights re-vacuum chrome plated? Is it even possible to get some one to do that?

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #28 – September 30, 2012, 10:14:56 PM

Many chrome shops offer Plastic Chrome Plating. It's def not cheap though, that's for sure.

I recently had the plastic front grille on my '93 Lightning done, at Chromemasters in Nashville, TN. Was definitely worth the money.

Re-mirror headlamp interior

Reply #29 – October 01, 2012, 04:45:04 PM

Did you get a chance to pull the lights back apart and try this tape? Curious if it was better or worse light output. I just got mine back together and left the mirroring alone for now.