Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > DIY / How-to
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 06-15-2015, 08:21 PM   #41 (permalink)
Not banned yet
 
deejaaa's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Texas Coast, close to Houston
Posts: 907

Blue - '03 Chevy S-10, LS
Thanks: 423
Thanked 265 Times in 212 Posts
used 3M on mine once. looked good for 1 month. replaced just the lens with glass/Lamin-X. have looked like new now for a year.

__________________
2003 S-10, 2.2L, 5 speed, ext cab long bed.
So far: DRL delete, remove bed mount toolbox.
  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 06-16-2015, 09:20 AM   #42 (permalink)
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203

CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
90 day: 51.49 mpg (US)

Daox's Grey Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 49.53 mpg (US)

Daox's Insight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 64.33 mpg (US)

Swarthy - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Mitsubishi
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Daox's Volt - '13 Chevrolet Volt
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,585 Times in 1,553 Posts
I'd try to use multiple coats of sealer if I were you worthrj. Mine is still holding up okay with a single coat, but another coat certainly would have helped I think.
__________________
Current project: A better alternator delete
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2015, 10:43 AM   #43 (permalink)
Furry Furfag
 
Baltothewolf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Apple Valley
Posts: 2,084

Winsight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Miaderp - '95 Mazda Miata
90 day: 28.53 mpg (US)
Thanks: 67
Thanked 409 Times in 313 Posts
At the shop I sand headlights with 800, 1000 then 1200, ad my co-worker sprays them with euro clear (300$ a gallon) . He has a couple cars that are going on 2 years that still look brand new.
__________________

  Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2015, 07:04 PM   #44 (permalink)
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203

CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
90 day: 51.49 mpg (US)

Daox's Grey Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 49.53 mpg (US)

Daox's Insight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 64.33 mpg (US)

Swarthy - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Mitsubishi
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Daox's Volt - '13 Chevrolet Volt
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,585 Times in 1,553 Posts
Here is one more technique. He uses rustoleum clear coat that is UV resistant as a top coat. He claims its permanent... yeah right. But, still probably better than most other options.

__________________
Current project: A better alternator delete
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2015, 02:53 PM   #45 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
orange4boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The Wet Coast, Kanuckistan.
Posts: 1,275

The Golden Egg - '93 Toyota Previa DX
90 day: 31.91 mpg (US)

Chewie - '03 Toyota Prius
90 day: 57 mpg (US)

The Spaceship - '00 Honda Insight
Thanks: 100
Thanked 306 Times in 178 Posts
I hate to be the bringer of bad news but varnish and most polyurethanes have notoriously poor UV protection. They are meant to go on thick and with many coats and they all yellow with age even if they have some UV protection.

The automotive clear coat solution is probably the best followed by automotive clear spray cans and then rustoleum spray can clear. Just don't use clear lacquer unless it's automotive acrylic lacquer. Lacquer meant for wood will attack the plastic.

These days you can get very good quality automotive spray can clears.

BTW, you don't need an expensive kit to do this job, just a fine polish, a cloth and elbow grease. Paint polish works as well, paint is basically plastic anyway, although, if you want to spray it after make sure you use a paint ready polish without wax or you will get fish eyes. It's a good idea to clean the lens with mild solvent before spraying in any event. A mix of 25% water to 75% rubbing alcohol (Isopropyl) can be used for plastic.
__________________
Vortex generators are old tech. My new and improved vortex alternators are unstoppable.

"It’s easy to explain how rockets work but explaining the aerodynamics of a wing takes a rocket scientist.


  Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2015, 03:34 PM   #46 (permalink)
Corporate imperialist
 
oil pan 4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NewMexico (USA)
Posts: 11,175

Sub - '84 Chevy Diesel Suburban C10
SUV
90 day: 19.5 mpg (US)

camaro - '85 Chevy Camaro Z28

Riot - '03 Kia Rio POS
Team Hyundai
90 day: 30.21 mpg (US)

Bug - '01 VW Beetle GLSturbo
90 day: 26.43 mpg (US)

Sub2500 - '86 GMC Suburban C2500
90 day: 11.95 mpg (US)

Snow flake - '11 Nissan Leaf SL
SUV
90 day: 141.63 mpg (US)
Thanks: 269
Thanked 3,522 Times in 2,796 Posts
I just replaced them on my wifes Hyundai.
$120 ($100 after I redeemed a $20 ebay coupon they randomly gave me) for both head light assemblies. 3 bolts hold each one in, had them changed in about 20 minutes.
I tried buffing them and coating them but the plastic was clouded all the way through, not just the top layer.
__________________
1984 chevy suburban, custom made 6.5L diesel turbocharged with a Garrett T76 and Holset HE351VE, 22:1 compression 13psi of intercooled boost.
1989 firebird mostly stock. Aside from the 6-speed manual trans, corvette gen 5 front brakes, 1LE drive shaft, 4th Gen disc brake fbody rear end.
2011 leaf SL, white, portable 240v CHAdeMO, trailer hitch, new batt as of 2014.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2015, 11:33 PM   #47 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Elmira, NY
Posts: 1,781
Thanks: 319
Thanked 355 Times in 297 Posts
Any automotive acrylic clear used in a base coat/ clear coat system should be UV resistant.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2015, 03:34 PM   #48 (permalink)
Wannabe hyper..., miler !
 
bikeprof's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Pagosa Springs & Phoenix
Posts: 186

White Variant - '96 Volkswagen Passat TDI ~ GLS- 4 Cyl

Minivan - '96 Chrysler handicap IMS built LXI

Insight - '10 Honda Insight EX
Thanks: 146
Thanked 27 Times in 22 Posts
Here is an EASY temporary "fix":
Toothpaste, ANYTHING that has some grit in it to clean teeth tartar does good, BEST one I've found is ARM & HAMMER.

Pad on cream, rub like MANY times and repeat a couple more...
Rinse; "voila', it's done!

Last edited by bikeprof; 11-09-2015 at 03:35 PM.. Reason: dyslexic
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2015, 04:22 AM   #49 (permalink)
Not Doug
 
Xist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Show Low, AZ
Posts: 12,186

Chorizo - '00 Honda Civic HX, baby! :D
90 day: 35.35 mpg (US)

Mid-Life Crisis Fighter - '99 Honda Accord LX
90 day: 34.2 mpg (US)

Gramps - '04 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 35.39 mpg (US)

Don't hit me bro - '05 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 35.79 mpg (US)
Thanks: 7,217
Thanked 2,217 Times in 1,708 Posts
I buffed mine and was amazed, but now I do not even remember which headlight it was, because it yellowed as bad as before.

You need to protect it, which I neglected to do, and I doubt that toothpaste does that.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2015, 11:17 AM   #50 (permalink)
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203

CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
90 day: 51.49 mpg (US)

Daox's Grey Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 49.53 mpg (US)

Daox's Insight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 64.33 mpg (US)

Swarthy - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Mitsubishi
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Daox's Volt - '13 Chevrolet Volt
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,585 Times in 1,553 Posts
Its been a year and 1 month now. I'll have to get another picture or two, but the Metro's driver side headlight is still holding up fairly well. The passenger one needs to be redone. Its not horrible, but its not good. I can tell a difference in light output when I pull up to my garage door. I'll see if I can get a picture of that for you too.

__________________
Current project: A better alternator delete
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Tags
headlight, polish, protection

Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com