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Topic: Headlight repair/replacement (Read 4644 times) previous topic - next topic

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #15 –
How would you make an aftermarket lens for this? I could see it probably on headlights from an 83-86 cuz u can find aftermarket lights for those anywhere it seems..but for the 87/88 would i have to go to a specialist to make them or...if i made them myself theyd turn out awful ha
1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe ~ STOCK

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #16 –
Quote from: TheFoeYouKnow;392541
The alternative to making lenses is grinding the diffusions out of your old ones, and polishing them til they're clear.  That's how I did mine.  X3's method does produce a better finished product though, and it might be less work.
This may be a way to do it and still pass a state inspection. The DOT stamping could stay intact.

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #17 –
Quote from: BlueBird1987;392943
How would you make an aftermarket lens for this? I could see it probably on headlights from an 83-86 cuz u can find aftermarket lights for those anywhere it seems..but for the 87/88 would i have to go to a specialist to make them or...if i made them myself theyd turn out awful ha

It is a process called vacuum forming, it involves heating plastic and then using vacuum to mold the heated plastic around the outside of the OEM lense. The way I learned was by watching a lot of Youtube videos on vacuum forming and from there it was a matter of trial and error. There is plenty of information out there about this process, lol sadly alot of it is only used in the Star Wars population to make there own masks and stuff lol. But, none the less it is still the same process. I had about two weeks into leaning how to make a really nice set. IMHO the final product is just about perfect, outside of a few specs of dust that seem near impossible to keep out, but they really aren't noticeable.

I will be glad to help you however I can if you decide to make your own. There is a good bit of info in the thread that I posted earlier should be helpful and here was my original thread on NATO linking to Kevs first attempts at making clear lenses. It is kind of cool to look back and see  how the plans changed and progressed.
http://natomessageboard.com/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=024363;p=1#000000
 
Quote from: Chrome;393059
This may be a way to do it and still pass a state inspection. The DOT stamping could stay intact.

I have not tried this method but I would think this would be very time assuming and you would still have the yellowing issue that comes with a twenty year old lense, I think I remember (?) thefoeyouknnow talking about there being tiny cracks inside the OEM lense that you can't get out.

If you live somewhere with strict state inspections, no matter what changes you make to your headlights, you will be better off just having some OEM housings to swap back in when it comes inspection time.
...and there was light!

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #18 –
It is a shiznit TON of work.  And because my lenses were old, there were years of micro-cracks from years of thermal stress.  I didn't see them until I powered them up the first time.  I haven't had to go back and polish off any new yellowing, though.  I retro'd my 05 Escape the same way using 03 headlights (single bulb reflector buckets just work out better when mounting projectors), problem was that the 04 and older housings use diffused lenses.  I started with new Chinese housings, so I didn't have to work on the outside of the lens and there were no micro cracks in them, also, I used BiXenon projectors harvested from a wrecked 10 Flex.  I had a thread with it over on HIDPlanet. http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?38325-E55-projectors-halogen-hid

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #19 –
Quote from: TheFoeYouKnow;393083
I started with new Chinese housings

I wish this was an option for our Tbirds! lol

Thanks for chiming in, I thought I remembered you saying there was some cracks in them but was too lazy to look to make sure! lol
...and there was light!

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #20 –
Some states like cali will crush a car for running modified components without dot and carb numbers. In my opinion you can only use lenses off another car or "downgrade" to 83-86 header panel, or attempt a 87-93 mustang front end swap.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #21 –
Or, as I've posted before, DON'T LIVE IN CALIFORNIA.  CALIFORNIA IS A STATE THAT HATES CARS.  The people of California love cars, the state government hates cars.

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #22 –
Yeah cali is pretty horrible with cars and modifications. When i cut my ler off I got a ticket for sound violation and having no exhaust when I still had my cats, was going to get written up for clear turn signals too but i showed the cop it had yellow bulbs. It's BS. I found this write up on how to do the process and looks quite simple so I might be trying it out. http://www.instructables.com/id/E8RW98YF3C4XLCQ/
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #23 –
Around here in utah, they pull people over for not having mudflaps on lowered cars, and people with aftermarket head and tail lenses to check for dot numbers. On of my freinds had a honda impouned for having aftermarket tail lights without a dot number, and couldn't get it out until he re-registered his car and put stock lenses on.

On and we pay taxes everytime we register our cars, and not having a dot number is an automatic registration suspension.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #24 –
That's stupid but government needs to make money someway.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #25 –
I don't think Washington laws are very tough on cars. I'm only running a cat since my ler fell off somewhere.....many ppl drive their cars with HID's in halogen housings (or used to at least). Here they don't seem to give a  as long as it isn't hazardous or if it's way to loud then they give a warning. Smog? nope. The only incident I heard of a cop pulling someone over was for lights out or my friend had a straight pipe rx-7 for a day. Heck, I drove around 2 days with only one light. I like that lens idea...contemplating this..i just need a housing or one of those clip things for the adjusters.
1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe ~ STOCK

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #26 –
As much as I hate the boxy look of an aero fox stang fron end, I think that would be the best way to go if you want good hid's. They make everything for mjstangs. Next would be a 83-86 front end.

I would love to make my own hid lenses, but I like to pass saftey too.  Funny thing is I think stock 87-88 lights are probably worse off then aftermarket hid's would be.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #27 –
Eagle eyes!!!
 

Headlight repair/replacement

Reply #28 –
Quote from: BlueBird1987;392152
So...its really dang hard finding a pair of headlights for an 87/88 tbird (obviously)...the reflective paint on mine is worn pretty bad. Is there a legit way to get this repainted specially? Something like that, just to get them shiny again.


I found the same thing so check this out. Need to read what I did trust me it helped out tons. http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?31504-Headlights-were-SO-DIM!&highlight=headlights
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird