G2 Integra - USDM / JDM Headlight help
03-09-2006, 10:27 AM
#1
n00b
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 12
G2 Integra - USDM / JDM Headlight help
What's up everybody. I'm a n00b and don't even have my car yet. It's just sitting in a garage waiting for some feet and tranny... but I know what I want for this car and therefore I've been active in these integra forums.
SO, I just purchased these JDM headlights. They were in such horrible condition, but I like to challenge myself to DIYs so I bought them. After I took them home, I realized there was a hole in the housing - stupid of me... I was so damn cold - met up with this guy in Barrie and had other ---- to do so I didn't inspect the lights. I asked if this had any leaks whatsoever - the seller claimed no leaks... ya right. Anyway moving on...
So as I got home, I examined them and I shook them (both) and can hear obvious sounds of sand or rocks or something... turns out it was sand along with one of the yellow fog (high beam) lights in bits and pieces. Don't know why it was broken or how it broke inside... nonetheless, I decided to take this apart and also remove the glare guard for the highs. A previous owner must have pryed the lens apart from the housing since this looked like quite the "Mickey-Mouse-Job". Very sloppy and gloppy.
SO, I succeeded in taking both lens apart from the housing so I could clean all the crap off the inside and make these things all nice and pretty.
Ok, so I've ranted on about nothing... here's my problem and question. Once I took the housing off, I noticed alot of dust by holes for the bulbs. This dust was flakes from the reflective coating - it was flaking off. I don't think I can spray anything to replace the reflective coat and I don't want to take any chances in ruining this... My best idea to fix this "cleanly" was to take apart the reflective housing off a USDM and fit this directly into my JDM housing. What do you think? Am I being stupid?? I don't know these cars like many of you here so I just wanted to hear what others had to say. I don't see why not... but again, I can't be so sure.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THIS JDM REFLECTIVE HOUSING FROM THE USDM LIGHTS?? WILL THIS FIT RIGHT INTO THE JDM HOUSING?
SO, I just purchased these JDM headlights. They were in such horrible condition, but I like to challenge myself to DIYs so I bought them. After I took them home, I realized there was a hole in the housing - stupid of me... I was so damn cold - met up with this guy in Barrie and had other ---- to do so I didn't inspect the lights. I asked if this had any leaks whatsoever - the seller claimed no leaks... ya right. Anyway moving on...
So as I got home, I examined them and I shook them (both) and can hear obvious sounds of sand or rocks or something... turns out it was sand along with one of the yellow fog (high beam) lights in bits and pieces. Don't know why it was broken or how it broke inside... nonetheless, I decided to take this apart and also remove the glare guard for the highs. A previous owner must have pryed the lens apart from the housing since this looked like quite the "Mickey-Mouse-Job". Very sloppy and gloppy.
SO, I succeeded in taking both lens apart from the housing so I could clean all the crap off the inside and make these things all nice and pretty.
Ok, so I've ranted on about nothing... here's my problem and question. Once I took the housing off, I noticed alot of dust by holes for the bulbs. This dust was flakes from the reflective coating - it was flaking off. I don't think I can spray anything to replace the reflective coat and I don't want to take any chances in ruining this... My best idea to fix this "cleanly" was to take apart the reflective housing off a USDM and fit this directly into my JDM housing. What do you think? Am I being stupid?? I don't know these cars like many of you here so I just wanted to hear what others had to say. I don't see why not... but again, I can't be so sure.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THIS JDM REFLECTIVE HOUSING FROM THE USDM LIGHTS?? WILL THIS FIT RIGHT INTO THE JDM HOUSING?
03-09-2006, 12:18 PM
#2
There's plenty to do outside my room but I choose not to!
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: The Hammer!
Posts: 8,166
no you can't replace the reflective coating but since you got your lights apart(which i'm to afraid to do) you might as well paint the housing black. try not to pick at the reflective part in hopes not to make it worse.
paint them like this
paint them like this
03-09-2006, 12:29 PM
#3
^^mark i think he means the reflective coatin that surrounds the bulb and helps to focus the bean..not the coating around the edges for looks...
correct me if im wrong but cant u buy chrome spray paint? wouldnt that do jus as good of a job?
correct me if im wrong but cant u buy chrome spray paint? wouldnt that do jus as good of a job?
03-09-2006, 03:09 PM
#4
n00b
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 12
Hey thanks for the response. Sorry Mark, I didn't mean to confuse you. HyBrId is right. It's the coating that surrounds the bulb. After taking the lens off, there's 3 plastic reflective coated units (don't know what to call them) in the housing. In your picture above (nice car btw)- it appears to be clear/slight blue/yellow.
Another question - the fog light or high beam - not sure but the one with the yellow bulb - what kind #bulb is that?? I don't know what to put in there...
There's a guy selling his lights for $30. I think it's worth a try.
Yes, I know of chrome spray paint existing, but I am not sure of heat-resistant ones. I just don't want to take my chances. I'd rather stick to the oem coating. I'm just going to experiment with this. Maybe I'll be one of the first doing this pointless DIY. I'll take pics too (if anyone's interested). Pointless, but I'd like to get the job done RIGHT.
Actually now that I read it over again, Mark knows what I'm talking about too... so I can't just fit in the USDM reflective housing into the JDM headlight housing? hmmm.... I think I'm gonna experiment.
Thanks for the tips and advice.
Another question - the fog light or high beam - not sure but the one with the yellow bulb - what kind #bulb is that?? I don't know what to put in there...
There's a guy selling his lights for $30. I think it's worth a try.
Yes, I know of chrome spray paint existing, but I am not sure of heat-resistant ones. I just don't want to take my chances. I'd rather stick to the oem coating. I'm just going to experiment with this. Maybe I'll be one of the first doing this pointless DIY. I'll take pics too (if anyone's interested). Pointless, but I'd like to get the job done RIGHT.
Actually now that I read it over again, Mark knows what I'm talking about too... so I can't just fit in the USDM reflective housing into the JDM headlight housing? hmmm.... I think I'm gonna experiment.
Thanks for the tips and advice.
03-09-2006, 03:33 PM
#5
n00b
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 12
Forgot to answer the spray thing.
I just feel that is more work - even if a spray did exist. Overall, the coating is something I just don't want to mess with. I tried the chrome spray at crapy tire (for something else) and it was ---- (IMO).
Mark - how do you know this won't fit for sure? are they different sizes? I still havn't taken the USDM lights off the car yet so I don't know.
I just feel that is more work - even if a spray did exist. Overall, the coating is something I just don't want to mess with. I tried the chrome spray at crapy tire (for something else) and it was ---- (IMO).
Mark - how do you know this won't fit for sure? are they different sizes? I still havn't taken the USDM lights off the car yet so I don't know.
03-10-2006, 09:00 AM
#7
n00b
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 12
Cool, thanks mardos! Has anyone replaced these H4H OR H3 with Northamerican bulbs such as H4 for H4H? Will this have any effect on anything?
SO... I just bought both headlights off this guy for a bargain. Great condition and with bulbs too! I took the headlights apart and did fog first. Result - USDM was too small. The headlight looked right, so I did that (was such a bitch to take apart - I pretty much destroyed it) and IT was too small. Noticably, the USDM corners look too big so I didn't even bother. That's all. I took some pics maybe I'll post later. Clearly, the USDM part is not made to fit with the JDM housing. Boo hoo.... BUT, I learned!! It's all about the learning experience. I think I'm getting good at taking apart this housing.
Hey, I wanted to seal these headlights together - what do you recommend and where would I get it?
So... I am going to try and spray these since some parts are really crappy and I don't want to deal with this at a later time. Should I sand these down and remove the coating first or spray over? I figure I should sand them down since some parts show cracks w/o flaking - which will eventually lead to flaking. Also, have you heard of any spray that I can use? I know people use black spray to coat their headlights - like Mark. What did you use Mark?
SO... I just bought both headlights off this guy for a bargain. Great condition and with bulbs too! I took the headlights apart and did fog first. Result - USDM was too small. The headlight looked right, so I did that (was such a bitch to take apart - I pretty much destroyed it) and IT was too small. Noticably, the USDM corners look too big so I didn't even bother. That's all. I took some pics maybe I'll post later. Clearly, the USDM part is not made to fit with the JDM housing. Boo hoo.... BUT, I learned!! It's all about the learning experience. I think I'm getting good at taking apart this housing.
Hey, I wanted to seal these headlights together - what do you recommend and where would I get it?
So... I am going to try and spray these since some parts are really crappy and I don't want to deal with this at a later time. Should I sand these down and remove the coating first or spray over? I figure I should sand them down since some parts show cracks w/o flaking - which will eventually lead to flaking. Also, have you heard of any spray that I can use? I know people use black spray to coat their headlights - like Mark. What did you use Mark?
03-10-2006, 02:28 PM
#8
There's plenty to do outside my room but I choose not to!
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: The Hammer!
Posts: 8,166
i haven't touched my 1pc lights just gonna wetsand and buff them.
use clear silicone to seal the lights back together.
Chrome spraypaint won't fix your problem. it'll make it worse. you wont get a chrome look to it, you'll get more of a shiney silver, no mirror finish. i call it newfie chrome.
H4's can replace the H4H's but won't be as bright and you'll have to grind little grooves in the h4 metal base of the bulb. you know what i mean if you compare the bulbs. you could also buy H4H's off the net somewhere. Luminics are a popular choice.
i have these...haven't installed them yet tho...
use clear silicone to seal the lights back together.
Chrome spraypaint won't fix your problem. it'll make it worse. you wont get a chrome look to it, you'll get more of a shiney silver, no mirror finish. i call it newfie chrome.
H4's can replace the H4H's but won't be as bright and you'll have to grind little grooves in the h4 metal base of the bulb. you know what i mean if you compare the bulbs. you could also buy H4H's off the net somewhere. Luminics are a popular choice.
i have these...haven't installed them yet tho...
03-10-2006, 02:34 PM
#9
n00b
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 12
SO I guess i'm stuck with this huh. I'm gonna source and see if I can get anything. Probably won't end with anything... Thanks everyone. Appreciate.
I just bought clear tails - going to paint the TOP red instead of the bottom. More hairdrying and prying lights!!
Wetsanding makes a great difference. I did this first, but the inside was way too dirty - it didn't look like my sanding did it any good. Great... now I have to put this crap all back. Well at least I got to clean the whole thing. Not done yet, but you can bet I'll do one hell of a job cleaning them!
Thanks for the responses guys. Hopefully I'll be up and running by June or July!
I just bought clear tails - going to paint the TOP red instead of the bottom. More hairdrying and prying lights!!
Wetsanding makes a great difference. I did this first, but the inside was way too dirty - it didn't look like my sanding did it any good. Great... now I have to put this crap all back. Well at least I got to clean the whole thing. Not done yet, but you can bet I'll do one hell of a job cleaning them!
Thanks for the responses guys. Hopefully I'll be up and running by June or July!
03-11-2006, 11:43 AM
#12
n00b
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 12
Modding Lights
I guess this is off-topic now, but here's another set of lights I modded when I had my rav4.
My old rav4
Reason why I brought this up was because I popped these in the oven to mod these. I've done 3 tails. Regardless, they all take patience. I just didn't have the patience to put these in the oven. Grabbing a blow-dryer took way less time for me IMO. aaaaaand these lights are plastic, but seemed thinner than my tails off my rav4. Just a little scared to do the oven thing. Believe me, it's not so hard using the hair dryer... but I understand - being scared. Before I did my rav4 mod, I bought a spare set of (older different shape) taillights incase I messed up.
Well, best of luck if you wish to proceed with this mod.
My old rav4
Reason why I brought this up was because I popped these in the oven to mod these. I've done 3 tails. Regardless, they all take patience. I just didn't have the patience to put these in the oven. Grabbing a blow-dryer took way less time for me IMO. aaaaaand these lights are plastic, but seemed thinner than my tails off my rav4. Just a little scared to do the oven thing. Believe me, it's not so hard using the hair dryer... but I understand - being scared. Before I did my rav4 mod, I bought a spare set of (older different shape) taillights incase I messed up.
Well, best of luck if you wish to proceed with this mod.
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