Headlight modifying

[wuzzzer]

With all this talk about clear side lenses and other modifications, I remembered an idea I had a while back. What I'd like to do is use either NiteShades or the black spray paint that I have left over from painting my windshield wiper arms. Here's an idea of what I'd like to do:

My goal is to have a sort of 'eyebrows' look. Looking at the headlight and the horizontal slits in it, I'd paint the very top section, as shown in the picture. Not sure if I'd do just that or also the edges, as shown in the picture.

Does anyone think this is a stupid idea? Would it block a lot of light from the headlights?

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Did you get a little subliminal idea from fleabay???

In any case, I personally think it would look cheezy. Have you thought about just upgrading to the '99 style headlights?

 

[Glue Maker]

You could try vinyl, I will eventually

I like mine
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[SHOZ123]

I have black vinyl on the non-lens part of my headlights. Gives a nice cut off to the light pattern too.

 

[Fast4SHO]

Now these are some headlights...

 

[crixtopher]

Paul, very interesting. could you describe how you installed? such as purchasing material, and is this mounted inside the lens assembly ?

 

[SHOZ123]

It is just a vinyl decal on the outside. Been there for at least two years now. I took one of the headlights into a decal shop and told them where I wanted it and they made one for it and a mirror image for the other headlight.

Even though there appears to be no light that goes out of the lens at this area I now have a very sharp cut off to my light pattern. It forms a nice V shaped light pattern.

 

[crixtopher]

oh ok, seems like it would have been weathered off, but two years is pretty good. thanks for the info, looks good.

 

[robb65]

Hook it up like Paul's - SHOZ123, but have it match the color of the car.

Just a thought.

 

[97V8SHO]

Fast4SHO, what did you do to make em that bright or is that highbeems?

 

[DavidT]

how are the 99's different?

 

[Fast4SHO]

Those are the real deal full Xenon conversion. It is the exact system that you would find in a Benz, Audi, Lexus, etc with the very bright HID (high intensity discharge) lights. They work like a fluorescent, the light bulb is a small tube with gas inside and there are 2 ballasts that fire the lamps. The wire harness plugs into both factory plugs for the lights and then it also connects to the battery with a couple relays in the middle to power them. The bulbs don't have a high and low beam, but when you put this kit in a car like the SHO that is made for a regular headlight the projection is higher and makes the lights even brighter than a BMW, Audi, etc.

A similar setup is availible for $585.00 at http://www.xenonfactory.com/products/hid/philips.htm

 

[Mr Anonymous]

how are the 99's different?

The inside trim is all black instead of chrome, and they seem to have a superior coating on them to the earlier '96-mid-'98 housings so they don't get as pitted or turn yellow.

 

[wuzzzer]

Did you get a little subliminal idea from fleabay???

In any case, I personally think it would look cheezy. Have you thought about just upgrading to the '99 style headlights?

No, I didn't see that on eBay. I think it looks ridiculous how they have it.

If I do this, how hard would it be to remove the paint if it looked dumb or I didn't like it?

 

[99V8SHO]

Paint thinner. Just don't get it on your car. I don't know what affect it would have on your headlight lens though.

 

[DavidT]

Did you get a little subliminal idea from fleabay???

In any case, I personally think it would look cheezy. Have you thought about just upgrading to the '99 style headlights?

Hey, that looks like "Herbie the Love Bug's" twin
(Isn't that the name of the cartoon?)
EDIT: not Herbie, BUT Speedbuggy, the cartoon

 

[SHOGrabber]

Hook it up like Paul's - SHOZ123, but have it match the color of the car.

Just a thought.

I painted mine to match the car just like you said. They are "99" lights, and if you look close enough on some "99" lights you can see the lines I followed. The clear hook and loop pieces you see, I use to hold my headlight covers on. After having this done for about a 1 1/2 years now, I'm really not sure if I would do it again.

As far as this goes

99V8SHO Paint thinner. Just don't get it on your car. I don't know what affect it would have on your headlight lens though.

I think I might find out sometime, I'm just not sure.

 

[robb65]

I painted mine to match the car just like you said. They are "99" lights, and if you look close enough on some "99" lights you can see the lines I followed. The clear hook and loop pieces you see, I use to hold my headlight covers on. After having this done for about a 1 1/2 years now, I'm really not sure if I would do it again.

As far as this goes

I think I might find out sometime, I'm just not sure.

Awesome, I think that looks great. I'm thinking of doing something with the taillights!

 

[DavidT]

Awesome, I think that looks great. I'm thinking of doing something with the taillights!

 

[SHOGrabber]

Awesome, I think that looks great. I'm thinking of doing something with the taillights!