Headlight painting questions

[RAMnCali]

I'm trying to pull together enough scratch to buy a retro projector kit, and wanted to paint while I'm installing the kit. So I have a few questions about the process.

- Can I paint over the chrome after a good cleaning and have good adhesion but still have the option to remove the paint if I mess up or get a fix-it ticket?

- Has anyone used Plasti-dip inside the headlights to have the convenience of easy removal, or would the heating during re-assembly melt the rubber?

- Any suggestions on a good satin black paint brand to use? Looking for spray cans if the quality would be good enough.

Finally, I just wanted to get some thoughts on paint scheme. I was hoping to mask off both of the chrome bowls, and paint the rest of the light black, including the little reflector in front of the turn signal, but leave the turn stalk orange for now. Then I wanted to paint the mini-gatling shroud black as well for a black/chrome contrast to match my grill which is also the black/chrome look. Thoughts or suggestions anyone?

 

[4x4Hemi]

I scuffed up the chrome with one of the green scratchy sponges, and then washed it out with some degreaser, and air hose. I dont know why you would ever get a ticket if you have projectors in them, so i wouldnt worry about removal... i wouldnt use plastidip because headlights are a pain in the butt to get open and i wouldnt want to do it twice.

I used duplicolor color match paint, it worked well, but ive also used a black enamel, which was more of a flatter black

 

[RAMnCali]

OK, there's one for Duplicolor, but I definitely want a flatter black. As far as being able to remove, I'm more concerned with my own screw-up vs getting a ticket, but any headlight mods (projectors included) are basically illegal in CA, and the Highway Patrol can be real ***** about some things. If the quality can be decent, painting over the chrome would be cool, but if it would peel or crack I would want to just do prep work like you described and pick up a replacement OEM set if any legal issues arose.......then swap 'em back after I cleared the ticket.

 

[0212353]

yeah, don't "paint" it with pd. Thats...........well............I doubt it would turn out well.

The BEST satin paint I have come across in a can? SEM Trim coat. we use the non "can" stuff for our jobs here - GREAT paint.

 

[4x4Hemi]

well the black enamel i used was fairly flat, if you dont do what JJ says, then you could try that,
thats how mine came out

 

[RAMnCali]

OK, I figured the PD was unlikely to be usable but I have some left over from my grill and bumper so it was worth a shot. If I could borrow a bigger compressor, would I get better results with a Harbor Freight air sprayer? I could handle the cost of one of those if it would be significantly better than rattle cans. Otherwise it might be a lonnnnng time until I could spend the $600 for the real deal Retro setup, but I would rather wait than have something cheap looking that I can't fix.

 

[4x4Hemi]

if you prep it right you wont screw em up haha, just dont get crap in the paint and your good!

 

[RAMnCali]

Fair enough. Those headlights look pretty sick by the way; very similar to what I was thinking of doing. Thanks for the advice, I'll post up pics once I get a chance to order myself a retro kit.

 

[4x4Hemi]

Thanks man, I sold em and did some projectors after, ita fun! Pics are always good too