I am in the process of prepping my car for paint, and am trying to get all of the "little stuff" done, so I don't screw up my new paint trying to do it later. I was considering a new set of headlights for my 94 rs, b/c the ones in it were stock, filmed up, scratched, moisturized...you get the picture.

The first pic will be a pic of the old light, and the pic doesnt really show how bad of shape they were in. Long story short, I took them apart, cleaned up the inside/outside of the cover, clearcoated it and painted the housings a dark gunmetal color. What do you guys think?

Before:

After:

 

Looks much better. I've painted 3 sets of integra housings, love the look. Especially on '98+s when you leave the chrome ring. I was toying with the idea of painting the housings the same color as my car, it might look good. Has anyone done that like with a red, blue, green, etc. car?

 

 

that looks MEAN!

PatrickGSR94 and juicyfn did this also along with their HID retrofits (e55 and s2k oem projectors, respectively)

Needless to say, its on my to do list!

 

I really would like to have some sort of HID setup, just b/c my lighting sucked before. I haven't checked since I got the lenses cleaned up (tonight will be the first chance i have). The HID's also give your car a classy, expensive look. I haven't researched them, but if it's possible for me to do a set relatively inexpensively I probably will, if not I may do some silverstar's or something. I need to research and see some pics to see what I like.

Those pics, with this one make it MEAN...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94lsboost &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I haven't researched them, but if it's possible for me to do a set relatively inexpensively I probably will, if not I may do some silverstar's or something. I need to research and see some pics to see what I like. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Voila!

HID retrofit club

What projectors fit in an Integra headlight for HID Retro?

E46 Projectors--&gt;'00 Civic*How To*Updated often*Attn: Hondazvic *12 Pics*

Skafia's 1998 Integra Type R OEM HID Retrofit

HID Planet

HID Planet Forums

 

for some reason Knight Rider pops in my head....

 

that looks pretty sweet! It make the car look mean as hell for some reason. 94-97 front ends = x2

 

Gunmetal lights+black car+FMIC= one mean *** car.

I'd suggest smoking your corner lights/turn signals. That would give the car an EXTRA hot look. You can pick up some paint at a hobby shop that will give you a 'tint'.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by accordselux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Gunmetal lights+black car+FMIC= one mean *** car.

I'd suggest smoking your corner lights/turn signals. That would give the car an EXTRA hot look. You can pick up some paint at a hobby shop that will give you a 'tint'.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Overkill. The amber turn signals provide just enough contrast to the front end to give some emphasis on the bumper's elegant lines and curves. Alas, to each his own.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Alexander &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Overkill. The amber turn signals provide just enough contrast to the front end to give some emphasis on the bumper's elegant lines and curves. Alas, to each his own.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Then actually, looking at it, like my EG, i'd get ambers. A full amber colored signal will give good contrast...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by accordselux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Then actually, looking at it, like my EG, i'd get ambers. A full amber colored signal will give good contrast...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Use some amber tint spray from your local hobby shop.

 

Yeah I'd like to pick some of that up, my corners are dirty/nasty looking, and I'd like them to be all amber, as opposed to just the inside housing being amber.

 

How well to the highbeams work now. Looks like the entire refractor was painted.

 

I think they will be fine, but I'll let you guys know after dark tonight...

 

Good work! You should've done an HID projector retrofit while you were in there!

 

Never liked painted headlights but boosted is cool

 

Those look pretty aggressive!!

 

 

nice job!!!

 

can we get a right up on this?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thekurupt_ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">can we get a right up on this?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nah, he might be able to do a write-up though...

 

Wow, it looks really good

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by entr0py &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Nah, he might be able to do a write-up though... </TD></TR></TABLE>

lol i hate when i do **** like that

 

I can do a quick overview of how you do it (i'm kinda stretched for time) and if anyone has any questions they can PM me.

1- Take both your headlights out of the car and inside the house.
3- Preheat your oven to something around 375-400
2- Take the 4 metal clips off of whichever headlight you are starting with (you'll be able to see, the only metal clips on the headlights)
3- Once your oven is preheated, stick the headlight in there (make sure the light is room temp, not cold b/c it could crack if going from extreme cold to extreme hot)
4- Check the light in the oven periodically to see when the grey sealant around the light has turned from hard to soft - the more like liquid it is, the easier it is to take apart.
5- Get the light out of the oven, and pry it apart (flat screwdriver, butter knife, etc)
6- Once you get it apart take the two chrome rings out of the cover, and sand them with 400 gritt sandpaper (you can use higher numbered paper, just sand longer, but don't use anything rougher than 400 b/c the paint wont fill the scratches)- next sand the chrome piece in the housing.
7- Clean the sanded parts w/ a non linting rag and alcohol or paint prep.
8- Paint the parts the desired color
9- Clean your lense cover with alcohol inside and out to remove all grit and moisture.
10- After everything dries, put it back in the oven to loosen up the glue, and put them back together. After the glue is liquid again, it is a good idea to run a bead of clear silicone around the housing before you put them together to ensure a leak free seal.

If your lights are really blurry like mine were, you can spray clear coat over the lenses and restore the clear, shiny finish. (just use the high temp automotive clear coat available at wal-mart, autozone, pepboys, etc) The clear sticks fine over the lenses after you clean them, but if you want you can sand the lenses with 1200 to get any rock chips out, then spray the clear...the clear will cover the sand scratches.


Ok I took the car out last night, and my dim lights were a lot brighter (from getting the cloudiness and moisture out), and the bright lights were dimmer (from painting the chrome housing). So if you don't want your bright lights to get dimmer, just paint the 2 chrome rings that come off in the clear lense, and leave the one big chrome reflector that's in the housing alone.