Headlight Restoration Project "How To" with pics

Superhereaux

chicks make me feel inadequate

Founding Member

Jul 30, 2002

538

3

59

South Texas

Jul 16, 2005

#21

• Jul 16, 2005

• #21

iStang said:

I noticed also on that picture that the interiour of the headlamp is clear and not black like on others. Is that a Canadian special too?

Click to expand...

nope, more like '99-2000 special

 

M

megan_92

New Member

Jun 6, 2005

84

0

0

Perkasie, PA

Jul 16, 2005

#22

• Jul 16, 2005

• #22

looks great. makes me wish i didnt buy new headlights.

 

mustangGTman

New Member

Jul 5, 2005

16

0

0

Kansas

Jul 18, 2005

#23

• Jul 18, 2005

• #23

HurricaneJesus said:

Good stuff there! Once I get a job and then have a day off I'm totally going to do that

Click to expand...

 

J

jenn*jenn

New Member

Jan 27, 2004

3

0

0

FL

Aug 1, 2005

#24

• Aug 1, 2005

• #24

to add to all the accolades -- THANKS MAN! I was planning on buying new lenses!

This should also work for the rear taillight in the center of the trunk - mine's got FINGERPRINTS - anyone know how that happened?? and it's also starting to warp - so it'll get replaced eventually.

 

zincyellow03

New Member

Jul 5, 2004

0

0

0

My dead ho likes Chicago

Aug 1, 2005

#25

• Aug 1, 2005

• #25

This should be made into a sticky.

 

darthcual

Member

Mar 31, 2005

985

19

18

Arlington, TX

Aug 4, 2005

#26

• Aug 4, 2005

• #26

I used comet cleaner since it has bleach and is mildly abrasive and then polished it out. Came out perfect on my 93 coupe.

 

MSM0075

Member

May 13, 2003

741

0

16

Central Jersey

Aug 6, 2005

#27

• Aug 6, 2005

• #27

I can't belive that those headlights were that bad..I've only seen a couple 99-04's with fogged headlights here..

 

edbo

New Member

Mar 31, 2005

198

0

0

Valley, AL

Sep 20, 2005

#28

• Sep 20, 2005

• #28

9646gt said:

Does this work well on 94-98 cars or is that more on the inside of the light due to bad seals? I have heard you can take a dremel to the insides and polish them really well then reseal with 3M window weld for good results but I dont know about taking my lights apart and all...

Click to expand...

I used the rubbing compound on mine (98 GT Vert) and it made a huge difference, but still left a bit to be desired. I think the sanding steps should be in order for the next time I try it and I feel confident that it'll work just fine! Great, awesome post, kudos for all the information and pics.

My vote says this posting deserves a "STICKY"!!!

 

OCDetails

New Member

Sep 27, 2005

8

0

0

...just passing through

Sep 28, 2005

#29

• Sep 28, 2005

• #29

Here is another handy article on headlight restoration.

 

AndyG47

Member

Aug 20, 2004

0

0

16

Jersey

Oct 4, 2005

#30

• Oct 4, 2005

• #30

zincyellow03 said:

This should be made into a sticky.

Click to expand...

That's what a few people said about my speaker write-ups. you see that happend.


However great write up. I've noticed that Ford put a very fine coating over my headlights that has begun to wear out bad. I was looking at a finishing kit in Advance Auto, but this looks a helluva lot cheaper.

 

Chowder Head

Member

Dec 30, 2003

155

0

16

Tampa, FL

Oct 20, 2005

#31

• Oct 20, 2005

• #31

Great article!

Before I go out and do this, I have one question. Is a buffer absolutely neccesary for this?

I think I have one somewhere around my house but I'm not sure where.

Thanks!

 

I

I8URVTEC

New Member

Sep 2, 2004

162

0

0

Oct 26, 2005

#32

• Oct 26, 2005

• #32

Here is a very similar method that looks great when done:
http://franksperformance.com/Forums/index.php?showtopic=199&pid=530&st=0&#entry530

 

zincyellow03

New Member

Jul 5, 2004

0

0

0

My dead ho likes Chicago

Oct 26, 2005

#33

• Oct 26, 2005

• #33

I vote for this to be a sticky!

 

BigChiefSmokem

Founding Member

Feb 20, 2002

1,400

0

36

Jacksonville, FL

Mar 16, 2006

#34

• Mar 16, 2006

• #34

I8URVTEC said:

Here is a very similar method that looks great when done:
http://franksperformance.com/Forums/index.php?showtopic=199&pid=530&st=0&#entry530

Click to expand...

ANyone use this technique as compared to the technique here in this forum?

 

BigChiefSmokem

Founding Member

Feb 20, 2002

1,400

0

36

Jacksonville, FL

Mar 17, 2006

#35

• Mar 17, 2006

• #35

I just performed this on my passenger side headlight, which looked just like your "before" shot... After a little elbow grease and the use of a drill and some buffing pads and the coumpounds you suggested, it looks pretty much like new with the lights off during the day... at night it looks a little hazy, but it matches the other head light which is now a year old (accident) and it looks MUCH better.

 

loosescrew79

New Member

Dec 18, 2004

313

0

0

Mar 22, 2006

#36

• Mar 22, 2006

• #36

That is great to know. I was border line just buying new ones. THANK YOU!!!!

 

W

WTEPWR

New Member

Mar 22, 2006

1

0

0

cinci ohio

Mar 22, 2006

#37

• Mar 22, 2006

• #37

IT WORKS

I TRIED THIS IDEA ON MY YELLOW SUN BEAMED HEADLIGHTS AND IT WORKED. THANKS..

 

Adverse2Change

New Member

Aug 21, 2003

340

0

0

Raleigh, NC

Apr 5, 2006

#38

• Apr 5, 2006

• #38

jenn*jenn said:

to add to all the accolades -- THANKS MAN! I was planning on buying new lenses!

This should also work for the rear taillight in the center of the trunk - mine's got FINGERPRINTS - anyone know how that happened?? and it's also starting to warp - so it'll get replaced eventually.

Click to expand...

Same problem with my stang... its almost as if you open the trunk with some kind of oil or whatever on your hand and it bakes in the sun... bingo, fingerprints. I haven't found any way to get rid of them other than to replace the whole dang thing.

 

0

00_silver_stang

New Member

Apr 16, 2006

12

0

0

Norfolk, VA

Apr 21, 2006

#39

• Apr 21, 2006

• #39

Awesome thread, you give hope to all Stang owners, as i can see i wass really close to buying some projectors until i read ur thread, but man u got alot of time on your hands, keep it up!!!!!

 

1988_gt_mustang

New Member

Nov 18, 2004

24

0

0

Michigan

May 8, 2006

#40

• May 8, 2006

• #40

worked jus a good on my 88 read the post decided to give it a try and heres a pic.... not the best lighting but u can obviously tell which one i did. Didnt use a da or anything yet jus hand buffed.

View attachment 471344