painted headlights

[Poil336]

i'm thinking of a thread with a really good write up on how to paint the inside of your headlight assemblies and i can't find it. i can only find the ones about group buys on projector headlights. i get the idea, pop them in the oven for awhile to loosen the sealer to get the plastic pieces off. but as for what kinda paint to use and stuff like that, i like directions if anybody has any input or, preferrably, the link to this thread i'm thinking of, it would be much appreciated. i'm looking for a spring break project of painting the stockers and maybe an HID kit so i can see at night.

i DID in fact use the search button, please don't yell at me

[Warhellride]

I've never painted the headlights, so I don't know what you'd use. However, if you want them to look darker without adversely affecting output, you could paint a small black strip around the lens. It looks darker because the black reflects into the headlights when they're off. This is similar to what the Mustangs to do to make their headlights look darker. I've seen it done before on a GP (it looks good but not as dark as a fully painted headlight), but I can't find the thread right now.

[Bio248]

youre right, there is no write up on this subject because not many people do it. the fact is that aftermarket parts are really easy to come by and a lot of people just go that route.

if you do want to tackle this project bake them for a short amount of time and then take them out and try and pry them apart. if they dont come apart fairly easily dont force them because youll break it. pop it back in the oven for a little bit longer and then try it again. as far as painting the inside goes youll just paint like normal. sand, one coat, wait, another coat, wet sand, buff..etc., just like youd paint any normal parts.

however, war has a good point. if you just paint the outside of the capsule (the 'ledge' that runs around the light) it does look pretty good compared to completely stock ones.

[Poil336]

that could do it, but i'm really going for this look without paying the $230 plus shipping to get them

Spyder Auto Headlights - (Black) for 97-03 Pontiac Grand Prix at Andy's Auto Sport

maybe without the orange corner piece, we'll see. what i really need to do is make sure it gets sealed up well, there's a ton of condensation in them now. and while i'm doing it, i might get either a 6000k or and 8000k HID kit and something for the fogs so they match

[MizzBecca]

oh you mean this look?







With 6k HID's

[98GRANDPRIXGTP]

ive used black krylon fusion for plastic on the inside of lamps before and worked perfect. actually unless you have moisture on the chrome part of the inside of the lamp or its flaking you really dont need to prep it all honestly, just pop the lens and spray with the fusion paint. only issue with painting the inside is if you paint the whole inside black you really wont have any lite output at all on the ground. it will be similiar to putting covers on them. but you need to be careful also if you tape off parts of the inside to seperate the chrome and black cause that chrome is very ........brittle i guess youd say, even if you use the blue painters tape you run the chance of peeling the chrome off when you remove the tape. its a good looking mod when done right but its a pain to reseal the lamps perfectly too i think, i never had much luck with that part of it,lol!

[silverstreak]

bake them for about 20 minutes at 350*

20 mins?

2.5 minutes and mine were cooking and came apart easy.

[98GRANDPRIXGTP]

yeah 350 is cooking them, i think i always did like 2-250 for like 5mins...

[Poil336]

becca you just sold me on the 6k's haha. mainly there's just moisture on the inside of the front plastic from what i can tell. the chrome reflector part behind the bulb still looks pretty good. you can tell it doesn't seal well just because everything condenses on the inside of the housing, it makes me so mad. i'm hoping to get another kit to clean those and have them looking almost new, but painting the rest black and putting in an HID kit would look so much better. anybody have any experience with the 4K sylvania silverstars? 32W replacement bulbs, i think that would look pretty sexy

[bronzemist02]

I have silverstar ultras on now. They are working good. I also have a fair amount of moisture in my housings too though.

[Poil336]

ok cool. the ones in my last post are for the foglights, they're a little different but i imagine they would be about the same quality as the headlights