Headlight restoration.
5 posters
Headlight restoration.
by 74MonteCarlo Sun Jul 18, 2010 7:49 pm
Is there a good product out there to polish/rub out your headlights? I believe Meguiar's has a product, by the name of I think, Plast-X to restore them. Does anyone know if it is any good? The headlights on my 98 Monte need a little care. I used Meguair's Scratch-X on the black rear trunk panel and it can out BEAUTIFULLY. Brought that dull nasty black back to shiny glossy, from the factory look. Tried it on the headlights, to little success.
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by BlackChevelleSS Sun Jul 18, 2010 7:58 pm
get some sandpaper and the plast-x or rubbing compound (i perfer the novus plastic polish)
sand paper in 1000 and 2000 grit should do it. start with alot of water and the 1000 grit then the 2000 grit, remember keep it wet. Then use the polish or compound. This will keep em looking good for a while, then I perfer to use some clear spray paint on them to keeping lasting for a few years.
sand paper in 1000 and 2000 grit should do it. start with alot of water and the 1000 grit then the 2000 grit, remember keep it wet. Then use the polish or compound. This will keep em looking good for a while, then I perfer to use some clear spray paint on them to keeping lasting for a few years.
___________________________________________
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BlackChevelleSS- Management
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by Roadcaptain S3 Sun Jul 18, 2010 10:07 pm
I used that meguiers plastic x on a couple of fox mustangs., and it's great as a finishing polish, but if they are reall bad, 3M has a kit with 3 different grit sandpapers and a drill pad that worked awesome. real similar to what BlackSS is talking about, just in Kit form.Took about twenty minutes per side and the lights looked brand new when I was done.
But those lights were awful to start with. Yellowed and so cloudy you couldn't see inside at all, and they were rough to the touch.
If yours aren't that bad, i'd try the plasticX first.
But those lights were awful to start with. Yellowed and so cloudy you couldn't see inside at all, and they were rough to the touch.
If yours aren't that bad, i'd try the plasticX first.
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by 74MonteCarlo Sun Jul 18, 2010 10:57 pm
Mine aren't that bad. Just could be better.
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by The Dude Mon Jul 19, 2010 12:22 am
Toothpaste, the white gritty kind. I'm told Acetone woks decent too.
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by bigredlaguna Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:18 am
I've used regular rubbing compound with success. Friend of mine who works at a local salvage yard told me that's what they do to refurbish the lenses.
Lenses on a bench and 10-15 minutes with a power tool and they look brand new.
Lenses on a bench and 10-15 minutes with a power tool and they look brand new.
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by 74MonteCarlo Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:48 am
Okay guys, here's what were dealin' with. They're not too awful, but could be better. Think I'll try Dan's method first. If worst comes to worst(making them look worse), I can pick up some new ones at the salvage yard.
Passenger side:
^This is already junkyard light. The original was destroyed behind, and held together with tape and wood
Driver's side(the better of the two):
Passenger side:
^This is already junkyard light. The original was destroyed behind, and held together with tape and wood
Driver's side(the better of the two):
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by The Dude Mon Jul 19, 2010 11:30 am
Careful with the sandpaper method. I ruined my Eclipse light that way. This is how I came to find out about the toothpaste idea. My acetone suggestion came from a police buddy. They do this to squad car headlights when they start to yellow.
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by 74MonteCarlo Mon Jul 19, 2010 12:07 pm
Yeah, kinda nervous about it. I think I'll try the Plastx alone first, w/o the sandpaper.
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by Roadcaptain S3 Mon Jul 19, 2010 12:17 pm
Those aren't bad at all, the plastix should do a good job on those with a little elbow grease.
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by 74MonteCarlo Mon Jul 19, 2010 8:44 pm
They're a little bit worse in person, especially the passenger side, but I have seen a lot worse, and I am doing so much to improve the looks of this car, that I think polished headlights would look so much nicer!
Thinking of putting some raised white letter tires on it as well.
Thinking of putting some raised white letter tires on it as well.
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by 74MonteCarlo Wed Jul 21, 2010 12:08 pm
Picked up some Plastx and sand paper on Monday. Polished the headlights with the Plastx alone. It worked...but not as well as I would have liked. Plan on washing the car today, so while I have the hose out, I'll try a little sanding. Wish me luck guys...lol
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by BlackChevelleSS Wed Jul 21, 2010 12:30 pm
Thats why you use 1000 grit and then 2000 grit. all you do is lightly sand to get the soft contaminated layer off. If you want you can just use the 2000 grit and then polish
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by 74MonteCarlo Wed Jul 21, 2010 3:26 pm
Well, just like always, when I try something I'm nervous about, I fail. Wet sanded, polished, made it worse. Just the passenger side(worst one of the two). Brought it back mostly to what it looked like before the sanding, but not 100%. Driver's side is alright. Wasn't bad to begin with. They look like hell though when the lights are on. STILL full of tiny scratches. Looks like someone sat there, with a wire brush, and tapped the hell out of the lens with it. I'm starting to not like Meguiars's anymore. They're whoa nelly never works for me, and it pisses me off!!! So, I'll probably end up buying a new one at the salvage yard for $25.
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by 74MonteCarlo Wed Jul 21, 2010 3:27 pm
DAN, I'm NOT blaming you at all. It works well for you, so you shot it my way. I just fail at everything I try to do. Thanks for the tip though.
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by The Dude Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:16 pm
I warned you. Try toothpaste on the other side.
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by 74MonteCarlo Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:16 pm
I know you did. Like i said...they aren't worse than before the sandpaper...but they're not any better. Gotta take acnaces once in a while, right?
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by BlackChevelleSS Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:50 am
what grit of sand paper did you use?
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74MonteCarlo- G3GM Fanatic
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by Roadcaptain S3 Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:58 am
It'll clean up Kyle, just keep going finer til you get'em mostly clear, then use the polish or the tootpaste.
I've done it a few times and thought I screwed it up, just takes time and patience. You can't screw it up unless you rub holes in 'em
I've done it a few times and thought I screwed it up, just takes time and patience. You can't screw it up unless you rub holes in 'em
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Re: Headlight restoration.
by 74MonteCarlo Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:55 pm
LOL! Yeah, I'm going to keep at it...just ran out of time before.
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