blacked out headlights

montanaT4R

montanaT4R

New member
Is it possible to get a side by side on one w/ and w/out the black background...preferably not a black runner. Or even jus two pics one w/ one w/out...I need to decide, b/c once i do this there is no going back...and do the headlights need to be realligned??
 
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Anyone out there w/ a "non" black runner want to help me... I'm kind of scared to modify my headlights, need some reassurance. Don't want it to look "ricey."
 
Blacked out is not ricey, lol definitely the opposite. Here is a silver 4Runner w/ blacked out headlight. Bowtie3, he did mine for me.

002-5.jpg~original

003-4.jpg~original
 
Honestly, how difficult is this mod. I did everything else on my rig by myself other than the powder coating. Is this a weekend job or a day job. Painting isn't an issue, it's the disassembly that scares me. MOTIVATE ME!!!!!
 
I read that the grill has to be dissasembled...the whole thing or just the bottome piece? I want to do this mod but I need my hand held.
 
it looks soo good. I think it would look really good on a shadow mica since they are about the same color (the lights and paint color)
 
I've read the process....how difficult is this mod. The oven part scares me. Do I have to re-aim the lights? I think it would look good w/ the mods I've done so far...but the headlights scare me for some reason. Flat black paint...does that work?
 
montanaT4R said:
I read that the grill has to be dissasembled...the whole thing or just the bottome piece? I want to do this mod but I need my hand held.
Click to expand...
That's incorrect, the grille is attached to the hood, it's easy to take the headlights out, but blacking them out.. I have no idea.
 
got an idea. they have some on ebay for 30 bucks.. try those out and then replace them or if you mess up you are only out 60 bucks. you have to have an 03 through 05 though
 
I just did this mod this past weekend and it took me 4 hours.

3-4 bolts to remove the headlights. Unscrew the 5-6 small screws on the back of the assembly. Throw each light in the oven at 250 degrees for 8. And it peels right apart.

The chrome piece is attached to the lens with 2 small screws. Remove these and the chrome pulls right out.

Scratch up the chrome with steel wool or sandpaper. Go to the hardware or autoparts store and paint the chrome with "high temp" black paint (I like the gloss better, even though I got flat black). Put a couple coats of paint on. Careful not to scratch the paint. Then screw the new black piece back into the lens. Throw it in the oven at 250 for 8 minutes. Then put it back together, screw it up and yer done!

I really don't know how you could mess this project up. I'm not very experienced and if you've done any work to your car ever then this is really simple!


IT WAS REALLY EASY!!

IT LOOKS BAD A@#, TRUST ME YOU WANT TO DO THIS. IT'S NOT RACEY OR RICEY ;)
 
clean, sand, prime, sand, base coat with gloss if u want, i did, and then clear coat. use automotive paint, my lights came out looking like factory match paint.
 
Is there any chance of them leaking after the sealer comes apart. Once you heat that up and melt that down, is it as good as when they put it on in the factory.
 
montanaT4R said:
Honestly, how difficult is this mod. I did everything else on my rig by myself other than the powder coating. Is this a weekend job or a day job. Painting isn't an issue, it's the disassembly that scares me. MOTIVATE ME!!!!!
Click to expand...

I think it looks great especially on Silver or White. Don't feel bad I would be nervous as hell doing this one. Just something about putting plastic in the over ....lol :D and getting it resealed again is what I don't understand.
 
The light assembly is constructed to withstand sun, heat, rain, snow, wind for hundreds of thousands of miles. The temps you put it in the oven at will not prematurely degrade the plastic, it only loosens up the caulking. Which does not vaporize at these temps over a short duration. So when you put the headlight in the oven, the caulking only has a supple adhesive bond. You could probably continue the heating and cooling process several times (even though eventually you may weaken the chemical adhesive bond of the caulking)

I put a bead of automotive GOOP on the exterior of the headlight lens and backing seam for good measure. Then reinstalled.

My 4runner is white with a color keyed grill. I've already had a guy from the off road shop ask me where I got my headlights from ;)
 
Ditto the above and also did you have to re-aim the headlights. I am a bit scared of this mod for some reason. So far I've had my wheels powder coated flat black, I've painted the grill insert flat black and painted the rear chrome piece flat black. I'm not afraid to pain but something about taking apart the headlights scares me. I do have a silver T4R and I think w/ the rest of the flat black this would really finish it off...

Here's my rig so far...do you think the flat black headlight mod would finish it off or be too much??

P1020014.jpg~original


P1020149.jpg~original
 
painted

go for it! the blacked out headlights look great! even on my salsa red. you could buy a cheap pair off ebay & do it. that way ya still got the stock as backups.
 
Re: painted

chaz said:
go for it! the blacked out headlights look great! even on my salsa red. you could buy a cheap pair off ebay & do it. that way ya still got the stock as backups.
Click to expand...

Thats a good idea . Thats what probably would do.

I would probably math the headlights to my truck color (in my case) since I have Galactic Grey with a color coded limited grill on it. Thats just me I'm fine with the way they so probably won't do this mod anyway.
 
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