anyone have a recommendation of type of paint to use on headlight housings? Also is spray can the typical application method? I have access to a gravity fed spray gun at work and could use that if i bought some automotive paint.

Basically what I'm concerned with is if the automotive paint with clear coat is worth it, or can I still get great results from a spray can.

Also has anyone ever hand painted????

 

Ew hand paint...... Try a brush instead jk jk

Mine came out good with just cans

 

i sanded my housings down, wiped off with an alcohol/water mix, sprayed 3-4 coats of Dupli-color GM color matched paint (i color matched my housings silver and did black shrouds) and then 3 coats of Dupli-color clear

 

Doesn't the gm color match duplicolor stuff already have a clear/hardener mixed in? I think shooting clear housing would just cause a more waved effect...

 

Got my EvoX-Rs and fabricated some foreground limiters for them. I'm sure they still "outdistance" the Mini H1s, but less light close to the car makes the distance even better.



Looks like just about the right amount of foreground blocked out. Not nearly as aggressive as a TL foreground limiter.


I used a DVD-R shape the curve too.

 

nice man! i know me on the other hand, when i got my mini 5.0s i hated my foreground limiters. then with my fxrs i wanted to test out my cutting and aligning skills. got them pretty good lol. fxrs are good for width a great distance then minis, but unfortunately, it is a aftermarket projector with its little flaws. (cutoff solenoids getting stuck, bulb seatings). but now im getting together parts for my next build.

gunna be running:
1st gen bixenon muranos
irish shrouds
sti-r or if i can test it, black series lense
phillips 85122 d2s bulbs
and adjustable denso ballasts

 

for paint i think the best thing to do is strip the chrome, scuff it with plastic prep solution use an adhesion promotor and automotive paint..... not everyone has the ability to do that but i like vht or duplicolor

 

Yeah, I was kinda turned off from the FX-R. I'm sure they're an excellent projector. I just didn't like how narrow the high beam is. Now, I'd use a set of FX-Rs in a vehicle that had separate halogen high beams. Then both the FX-R high beams and halogen high beams can help each other. I just think the EvoX-R is better for cars that only use dual beam bulbs.

 

the evo xr has a better high fxr has a better low

 

i think thats just because of the 2 mechanisms the 2 projectors use. thr fx-r uses a electromagnet to pull the shield down, and in my case, if it doesnt pull all the way down, it gets stuck :/. the evo-xr uses a hinge system i believe.....but i may be wrong lol.

 

Painting them really isn't that that hard. There is no need to strip the chrome. Scuff it up with steel wool, clean it off then lay down a primer. The go ahead and paint whatever color you want. Don't need to put a clear coat on it, but obviously if you want it to be shiner then you can do so. I have used several brands, but I have had the best with Kraylon (spelling?). I use their plastic paint series which works very well.

 

Krylon.

the reason i strip the chrome is because of my roots. Paint does not stick to chrome at all no matter how good the prep is. The only reason people get away with it in headlights is because nothing contacts them to where it will chip off. Personally I have to strip it when Ii do lights because its whatI i know and whatI know i last and provide the quality I seek. Everyone's entitled to do it how they.want as we are all different.

 

What do you use to strip the chrome?

 

you can use exterior grade bleach. Otherwise what i do is blast them with a light grade media and light pressure as it helps get impurities out. Plastic is not perfect so I like blasting to help rid of anything that could be stuck in the plastic that would ruin my paint

 

i understand the paint not sticking to the chrome part. however, this may sound newbish, is the headlight stuff even real chrome or just a coating or film of some sort? maybe thats why the paint sticks when its scratched.

 

Oh I agree, and if the headlights were exposed I would do the stripping. Plus you gotta remember you have way more access to painting/blasting then the normal person lol. I've never put paint right over the "chrome", I always scuff them with steel wool pretty good, basically can not see the chrome anymore.

 

I do 500 grit, bulldog, then rustoleum enamel or if need be colormatched, then duplicolor colormatch.

 

Random post:

I just love retros on my cobalt. It is so expensive but holy **** do they change the look of the car entirely. I thought they would mostly look like black headlight but no! They totally give the car a mean ass pair of eyes whether on of off. During the day it looks straight menacing and at night with the fogs on, they are just the business! I switched cars with my buddies srt caliber for a cruise today and seeing my **** come up in the rearview made me feel like i gad the baddest looking car in the world

So retrofitters: keep doing your thing!

 

This is reassuring to hear! Mainly because I like to keep my car mostly OEM looking, and I always debate with myself about getting new headlights or not. On that note, my retrofits are currently on their way and should be here sometime this week I would think!

Will make sure to post pics asap!

 

You will never wanna go back. Your car will definately not look oem like this but holy **** will it look better. Its like.. more exotic, i guess.

 

yep theres only a handfull of guys that i think make them here that i consider up to par. not going to mention any names but most know who they are. they are the only ones i feel can provide an oem look and oem product.

 

 

 

^^^^NICE work man!

 

those the new halo things from trs?