WJ Headlight/Turn Signal Mod - Page 2

blovingier · 12-09-2007, 09:30 PM

I'm going to say the Blue Magic is the winner. I think either one is a pretty safe bet to get descent looking lenses.

redhatman · 12-09-2007, 10:49 PM

If you do the sandpaper method, why would you have to do all of the dissembly? Arent you just sanding the front of the lens? What am I missing?

BucYouUp68 · 12-09-2007, 11:27 PM

He removed the Amber Turn Signal.

Jeeples · 12-10-2007, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blovingier

I'm going to say the Blue Magic is the winner. I think either one is a pretty safe bet to get descent looking lenses.

Good call

I too was impressed with the Blue Magic product the first time I used it. We picked it up because the lights on my GF's '02 Neon (her other ride) were getting cloudy. With just the first application there was a very noticeable difference in clarity, although hers were not nearly as bad as your WJ's.

I'm gonna put another couple coats on this next week using an orbital buffer and see where that gets me.

nashmd454 · 12-10-2007, 02:33 AM

very good write up and pics for that step by step process. Though it is easier to just get new ones that are clear already...you took on a challenge and had fun with it....and it is the end product that you can be proud of...I may have missed it...but how high did you get the oven temp, and where did you get the spray and seal leak stuff?

WJChris · 12-10-2007, 08:45 AM

I polished mine as well.
Wet sanded with:
600 Grit
1000 Grit
1500 Grit
2000 Grit

and finished up with a Mothers Powerball and my drill with PlasticX.

Blovingier:

You need to polish those out with PlasticX, or something like a fine polish/swirl remover. Hand polish may not get very good results.
Look brand new.

sandman · 12-10-2007, 09:23 AM

when i did mine on my zj it was forry as hell from the sanding so i sprayed it with clear Tamiya model paint and they are now crystal clear and look brand new.

WJChris · 12-10-2007, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandman

when i did mine on my zj it was foggy as hell from the sanding so i sprayed it with clear Tamiya model paint and they are now crystal clear and look brand new.

You have to polish after sanding.

I went away from clear coat because its just another coating that can fail.

Polish the plastic itself, and the only potential problem I see is no more UV coating (which, I feel, is what failed in the first place). The lights may yellow after a while and if so, another polish will clean that up fast.

blovingier · 12-10-2007, 10:55 AM

nashmd454, the oven temp was 350 Fahrenheit, and I found everything at Autozone. It's just three blocks away and my other option is Wal-Mart which is about two miles away. I don't remember how much the Spray 'n Seal was, but it was right next to all the RTV and gasket stuff. I'm also doing an experiment to see if that is worth it. I used Spray 'n Seal on one headlight and didn't on the other, so we'll see if either one leaks.

WJChris, I did use PlastX and Blue magic afterwards. Read back by post #15 or in that vecinity.

As far as all you Ebay guys go, that was my original plan or at least buy some '04 lenses from a junkyard, but this was really cheap and I haven't been able to do anything with my Jeep for the past 15 months and needed a quick project to lift the spirits. This needed to be done and fit the bill of inexpensive, fun and worth it. Thanks for all the comments guys.

blovingier · 12-27-2007, 08:17 AM

I'm doing a little update on this thread as to the results of my experiment of whether the Spray 'N Seal was worth it. It is! I now have moisture inside my passenger's side headlight. This was the side without the Spray 'N Seal. The driver's side, however, is still moisture free. Hope this helps.

**EisBlade** · 12-27-2007, 09:48 AM

I've seen rock shields or similar that you can buy. They are basically just clear plastic (rubberized?) sheets that adhere to the headlights, or in some expensive applications the front of the hood area, that protect from road debris (rocks, sand, anything abrasive or that might crack, sand away, or otherwise damage the vehicle. Most also doubleduty and slow UV damage. Has anyone found a company that sells them for WJ's?

**Double E** · 12-27-2007, 12:34 PM

For another vehicle ('97 I30), I grabbed a set of these after replacing both front headlights. The headlights I used are for what is called a "Cefiro" in Japan and have clear coverings for the headlights, like our WJ's.

They went on easily by carefully following their instructions and still look great 4 years later. When mine get bad enough I'll get a new set from flea bay & add a set of these protectors to them. I can see where a few dings from rocks and stuff have hit the protectors ...and most certainly they would have smashed the lenses.
http://www.autotrimdesign.net/items_6743.html

erocksnow · 12-27-2007, 02:23 PM

Careful not to sand too much of the plastic off. I did and ruined the structural integrity of the plastic, went to put the light back in and the damn lense cracked....Oh well, gave me an excuse to buy my hid retrofitted housings....yay!

BurtonRyder · 11-20-2008, 02:20 PM

ya, definately broke the headlight mounting panel trying to take the headlights out. i bought all the stuff i needed for the project and now not only are they still dirty but now they wobble around in there too. lol i suck

**xJoshxx** · 11-20-2008, 03:11 PM

nice mod but im lazy and no time to do this

but you can buy entire new sets of lights of ebay for like 130shipped and they look like that no polishing or sanding

my wj lights we all fogged and screwed up $100 shipped got new ones with bulbs way worth the time and ease