Best way to black out headlights?

[Armyman14]

I'm debating right now between butting the black assembly like SmokedRam has but I'm also considering blacking out my headlights...never even looked into blacking out headlights, how do I go about it? Is it a DIY project or is it something I have to haw somebody do for Me? And which do you all think would look better with my new grille?

 

[4x4Hemi]

im not positive about your truck, but im pretty sure you can just pull the headlights apart like a 4th gen, and paint a chrome peice on the inside. you dont want to paint the whole reflector or else you will lose all light output but theres a peice in there you can paint. i can give you more info on how to go about it if you want. its lotsa typing though so just let me know if you want to go that route!

 

[Armyman14]

im not positive about your truck, but im pretty sure you can just pull the headlights apart like a 4th gen, and paint a chrome peice on the inside. you dont want to paint the whole reflector or else you will lose all light output but theres a peice in there you can paint. i can give you more info on how to go about it if you want. its lotsa typing though so just let me know if you want to go that route!

I like these like this! But I have a few questions!
1. How much dimmer will these make my lights appear?
2. How hard is it to do this and how much money will it cost me? Trying to budget as much as possible to save up for some subs and amp!

 

[4x4Hemi]

Those look like just black covers to me? im not sure.

but if you want to just paint the inside of your stock lights to be all black like that... it would destroy all light out put haha unless you put projectors in then you can paint it all you like

if you painted all the insides like that it would cost you what... $20 for a can of black paint and some clearcoat? hahah

 

[WhiteExpress]

Blacking out the lenses is a terrible idea. Please don't do it.

Now, opening up the housings, and painting most everything BUT THE REFLECTORS black, that's a wonderful idea. Total cost, $5 for a can of black paint.

It's easy peasy.

 

[4x4Hemi]

youll get something like this, but in a 3rd gen



i did those a few months ago

 

[Stangshcky12]

I'll sell you mine lol

JJ has a how to for install projectors in a third gen, just follow his instructions for opening them, it only takes a min to pull them apart once you take them out of the oven
The tape I used was to tacky and pulled the chrome of of the outside bowls soni had to paint them black to
You can remove the reflector by chipping away some of the plastic on the inside
I used VHT and clear on the reflector an just trim paint on the rest

 

[Armyman14]

Okay so I want to keep them as bright as possible! So I won't paint the lenses! So I have to take the headlight assembly out and do what exactly? What's the oven for btw?

 

[4x4Hemi]

theres a rubber/plastic seal around the headlight you have to throw your headlights in the oven to heat em up so that you can pry them apart,

 

[TheSatinPumpkin]

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[Armyman14]

Okay how long do they have to be in there and at what temp? Definitely don't want to break them! Don't have alot of money right now to replace em!

 

[0212353]

250, 6 minutes

 

[Armyman14]

Okay what kind of paint should I use? I have a spare can of rust oleum painters touch black gloss that "also bonds to plastic" I used it on the billet grill. Oh and what kind of glue do I need to put it back together?

 

[Stangshcky12]

Follow this for opening and closing them back up
Any black paint should work
Scuff up the chrome really well, clean it and use an adhesion promoter primer first
If your taping off the turn signal bowl get a low tack painters tape or you'll pull the chrome off

 

[Armyman14]

This looks like a pretty big project that takes alot of care, patience and time. I definitely don't wanna break anything!

 

[Armyman14]

Would this look bad or good in red?

 

[0212353]

depends on how much red.....

good:

eh.., ok - but a bit much red for me:

 

[Armyman14]

How did that first one get his headlight to look like that? That looks pretty cool but I'm probably gonna paint them black red is a little too much red when doing those

 

[0212353]

the first one? sent it to me and I had some fun with 'em. LOL

Taped off the turn, painted it red, cleared it reassembled and sent 'em back. He added the eyelids to it, which I think just look badass!

 

[Armyman14]

the first one? sent it to me and I had some fun with 'em. LOL

Taped off the turn, painted it red, cleared it reassembled and sent 'em back. He added the eyelids to it, which I think just look badass!

Haha really?? So you did that? That does look badass! You think you could give me instructions on how to do it? I want to make sure it'll match my truck I know the paint code for it but I'm sure it's faded over 10 years