It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 4:29 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 3:56 pm 
Offline
Posts like an L67
Posts like an L67
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:15 pm
Posts: 1472
Location: Palm Bay, FL
Year and Trim: 1999 Buick Lesabre Custom
So as you might know, I'm getting ready to do a HID retrofit on the Buick. I've used Ryan's method of clearing the headlights in the past, but the urethane used in this method tends to turn yellow and fog pretty quickly, especially in the summer months. The plastic lenses on the 90's model cars are pretty much complete garbage when it comes to staying clear, but I'm sure there are different clear coats that will yield a longer lasting result.

So I'd like to hear what your experiences and recommendations are as far as a good clear coat for headlights. I'll still be using 3000 and 5000 grit wet sandpaper to get the lenses prepped, but I'd prefer to not have to redo them every 4 to 6 months once they go back in.

_________________
Image


Joseph

Current: 2013 Infiniti G37 Journey
1999 Infiniti G20T - Sold
1999 Buick Lesabre - Race Couch - gone but not forgotten


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 12:17 pm 
Offline
Posts like a Northstar
Posts like a Northstar

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2010 11:11 pm
Posts: 1813
Location: Ontario, Canada
Year and Trim: 2000 Bonniville SSEi L67
hi, i will be on this soon...........my 96 had nice glass lamps but the 2000 is plastic................I would first try a high quality synthetic wax with uv protection and see how that works......have read about distortion so this should minimize or eliminate it............just a thought

_________________
poverty forces one to do unorthodox things

2000 SSEi
past rides:
1996 SSEi
1992 GTP
1987 Grand Am


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 12:40 pm 
Offline
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:08 pm
Posts: 7671
Location: Midland, Michigan
Year and Trim: 2002 SE
Wax will do next to nothing. Dupli-Color makes a spray clear in their "Perfect Match" lineup that is supposed to have UV inhibitors in it, I would go that route or probably one step up from there and get some 2k clear in a spray can. If you search 2k clear spray paint you will find a couple brands, should be much more durable then regular spray paint.

_________________
Ryan
Image
2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD!
2002 Bonneville SE - The Mutt Complete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD
2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH
1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one

MattStrike wrote:
It was the worst week of my life! *pause, drinks beer... smiles* But I'm better now!


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 7:34 pm 
Offline
SLE Member
SLE Member

Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:35 am
Posts: 62
Year and Trim: 97 SE w/L67
Glassweld. We use it at work for headlamp restorations.
Not cheap but it lasts


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2016 9:55 am 
Offline
GXP Member
GXP Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2015 1:02 pm
Posts: 218
Location: Dubuque, IA
Year and Trim: 01 SLE
I'm ordering paint and clear coat from http://www.66autocolor.com. It's 2k like crash93ssei said. The clear has a hardener and is activated before use. Once it's activated you have like 12 hours to use it depending on temperature..I've had good luck with their stuff on my semi. 23.95 for paint in an aerosol and 22.95 for the clear with hardener. If you send in a paint sample they'll color match.
The clear with hardener should work well on the lights. I'm going to try it myself.

_________________
01 Bonneville SLE
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 10:04 am 
Offline
Posts like an L67
Posts like an L67

Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2008 11:57 am
Posts: 1382
Year and Trim: 2003 SSEi.

LOTS of Mods
Meguires makes a UV Clear coat designed for headlights


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Dec 08, 2016 9:48 am 
Offline
Posts like an L27
Posts like an L27
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:49 pm
Posts: 640
Location: Minneapolis / Bowlus MN
Year and Trim: 2003 SSEi
https://www.griotsgarage.com/product/headlight+restoration+kit.do?sortby=ourPicks&refType=&from=fn

This is my favorite one. I just used more sandpaper than what was provided. Holds up great for 1-2 years depending on climate conditions (the winters are hard on them here)

PS: What happened to the race couch? :( I'm not on here much anymore.

_________________
Image
-Nick
'95 Grand Prix SE coupe 'Black Betty' gone but not forgotten- my 1st love
'99 Olds Alero GX Coupe the get me by beater- sold
'03 Bonneville SSEi 'Gina' Feb. '16 COTM | 35% tint | smoked tail lights | boat roller mount | carbon fiber accents | Silverline exhaust tips
Ziebart rust protection & undercoating | CompuStar Accustart | LED interior lighting
Intense shift kit | Intense FWI | 3" ZZP downpipe | RDI headers | 3.4 MPS | Autolite 104s | 180 deg t-stat | custom tune | ZZP high flow fuel filter | alum coolant elbows and LIM gaskets | much more to come…hopefully

'15 Buick Regal 2.0 Turbo AWD 259 HP | 10k miles | 2-way remote start | undercoating and window tint to come
'98 GMC Sierra SLE Z71 4x4 | 112k miles | S&B intake | garage ornament | more to come


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:33 am 
Offline
Posts like an LN3
Posts like an LN3

Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:56 pm
Posts: 565
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Year and Trim: 2001 SSEi
I cleaned my really good a couple of years ago and had an old detail guy tell me that he coats them with transmission fluid. Since I cleaned mine, I wipe them down with transmission fluid with every oil change and they have maintained the good cleaning and clear lens for over 2 years now. Transmission fluid seems to have some penetrating properties to it and it appears to fill in imperfections and give a good coating. I wipe it on pretty liberally and as I wipe it seems to penetrate and soak in and the finish lasts. Give it a try, everybody has a bottle of transmission fluid around the garage. What have you got to loose?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 10:04 am 
Offline
GXP Member
GXP Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2015 1:02 pm
Posts: 218
Location: Dubuque, IA
Year and Trim: 01 SLE
Have to try that. Makes sense I guess.

_________________
01 Bonneville SLE
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Related topics
 Topics   Author   Replies   Views   Last post 
There are no new unread posts for this topic. Headlight Clear Coat

[ Go to pageGo to page: 1, 2 ]

cooljoe51

23

2468

Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:27 pm

smokingfireball View the latest post

There are no new unread posts for this topic. Pealing clear coat

mike5631

2

2652

Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:17 pm

mike5631 View the latest post

There are no new unread posts for this topic. Clear coat- how to verify you have it

67goat

2

1205

Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:31 am

crash93ssei View the latest post

There are no new unread posts for this topic. Clear coat repair?

klindstedt

1

1317

Sat Mar 14, 2009 7:01 pm

*B2* View the latest post

There are no new unread posts for this topic. clear coat on calipers

JayGXP

0

1627

Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:58 am

JayGXP View the latest post

 


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group


phpBB SEO