PDA

View Full Version : Lincoln Headlight Restoration Walkthrough


Pages : [1] 2
Wills.WindowsAndWheels
04-21-2011, 02:04 PM
Whats up guys. So i bought the 3M headlight restoration set up a week or so ago and wanted to give it a try over the weekend on a lincoln town car. This was a 96' and the head lights wern't HORRIBLE to the untrained eye lol...but to me...i just couldn't take it anymore!

So i took a few pictures of the process...heres a look at what i started with

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1101/Passenger_Before_2_.JPG

Hazy and the UV protectant was spotting in areas...heres a close up

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1101/Passenger_Before_Closeup.JPG

You see that stupid little freakin nub on the bottom of the light? well there were 3 of them on each light...talk about a PAIN in the ass to sand around...it was super time consuming...WHY do they even put those on there anyway?

Ok back to the write up lol. I tried starting with 500 grit on the 3m set up...quick note..the glue for the drill mounted backing plate...isnt that strong...and the hook and loop part is SUPER strong...that being said...you have to take off your sanding discs very easily and hold down the backing pad as you pull off the disc...or else it will separate...

So back to the 500 grit...it wasn't cuttin it...well it was but...if left a lottt of spots that waas still pretty thick with the UV protectant...so it looked like a leopard. So i broke out the 320 sheet of paper...and an old sanding sponge to wrap it around and got to workin it by hand...heres how it looked:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1101/3201.JPG

took some heavy cut but i got rid of the old protectant on it. Note to wipe the surface clean when it gets real dusty (i used some water mixed with ONR and a MF cloth) and knock the dust out of your paper as well...or else you'll just be spreading dust around...

So then i went back to the 500 on the drill and got this:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1101/500.JPG

Not a lot clearer but it did refine the scratches for me and get it ready for the 800 (note all this was dry sanding so far)

after 800:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1101/800.JPG

Starting to clear up now..just a little.

Now the 3m set up goes straight to 3000 after this...but thanks to my buddy Paul (2old2change) who sent me some megs sanding discs...i went to 1500...then 3000...3000 was wet...heres how it looked after those 2:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1101/3000.JPG

Almost thereeeeeee. Finally i hooked up the orange cutting pad and used the included 3m compound and polished it out.

Now after that i put on a sealant ...50/50 mix of mineral spirits and high gloss Helmsman Spar Urethane. It lasts a good long time...easy to mix up and apply (only need like an oz to do both lights) and isnt super expensive. You first prep the area by wiping with Scotts blue shop towls dipped in mineral spirits...then get a fresh towel and apply the sealant..very simple....here is how it looked when i was finished:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1101/Passenger_Finished.JPG

I apply the sealant in the shade...then let the sun hit it to help them cure faster.

Here is a quick before and after of the drivers side too:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1101/D500_2_.JPG

Thats it after 320 and 500 sanding.......

and this is after
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1101/Driver_Finished2.JPG

It took about an hour and a half...maybe a little longer cause i was screwin around with the 500 grit too long before i went to the 320..then it sped up. After you get the initial sanding done with your roughest paper...the rest is all downhill and much quicker.

Hope you enjoyed and hope it helps someone out:dblthumb2:
DaHen
04-21-2011, 02:29 PM
Looks great.
And with the 50/50 mix of mineral spirits and high gloss Helmsman Spar Urethane, it will stay they way for a long time.
:xyxthumbs:
Wills.WindowsAndWheels
04-21-2011, 02:32 PM
Looks great.
And with the 50/50 mix of mineral spirits and high gloss Helmsman Spar Urethane, it will stay they way for a long time.
:xyxthumbs:

Yup yup...thats the idea :)
Rewind97
04-21-2011, 02:39 PM
Looks good Wills!!!!
2old2change
04-21-2011, 06:13 PM
Great results ! I bet the Lincoln owner was very happy. As for those three nubs on each of the lamps , they are for aligning and attaching the tool used for aiming the head lights. I have always just put a car up near a garage door or wall and adjusted them by sight. I guess its the redneck in me.
Wills.WindowsAndWheels
04-22-2011, 03:02 AM
Great results ! I bet the Lincoln owner was very happy. As for those three nubs on each of the lamps , they are for aligning and attaching the tool used for aiming the head lights. I have always just put a car up near a garage door or wall and adjusted them by sight. I guess its the redneck in me.


lol thats how i've always heard/read about how to do it...redneck or not if it works it works. Stupid nubs *mumbles* So what about for headlights that DON'T have the nubs? Is the 'redneck' way the only way to set them?
2old2change
04-22-2011, 09:47 AM
lol thats how i've always heard/read about how to do it...redneck or not if it works it works. Stupid nubs *mumbles* So what about for headlights that DON'T have the nubs? Is the 'redneck' way the only way to set them?
The headlight manufactures make equipment for aiming their products and many cars now have bubble gauges on board to assist in doing the job. On some of my own personal rides I have removed those nubs but would think twice before doing that to a customers car. :props:
Wills.WindowsAndWheels
04-22-2011, 11:23 AM
The headlight manufactures make equipment for aiming their products and many cars now have bubble gauges on board to assist in doing the job. On some of my own personal rides I have removed those nubs but would think twice before doing that to a customers car. :props:

Yeah i resisted hooking up the diehard grinder lol
mchant
04-22-2011, 11:50 AM
The bottom half of the passenger side light still looks a bit hazy on the bottom half. Is that condensation coming from inside the head light?
oldmodman
04-22-2011, 01:58 PM
Regarding the "nubs"

I used a Dremo Mototool to cut the off one of my cars. Then just used the sanding pads to smooth them out. made it a lot easier to polish the rest of the lamp housing without tearing up the expensive sanding pads.
Wills.WindowsAndWheels
04-22-2011, 10:26 PM
The bottom half of the passenger side light still looks a bit hazy on the bottom half. Is that condensation coming from inside the head light?

I think it may have been an odd reflection from the angle the sun was hitting it at because they're totally clear (just checked them again to make sure lol). Could have even been from the fact that i JUST applied the sealant and then snapped the pic...the inside looked clear to me.
mchant
04-23-2011, 02:40 AM
I think it may have been an odd reflection from the angle the sun was hitting it at because they're totally clear (just checked them again to make sure lol). Could have even been from the fact that i JUST applied the sealant and then snapped the pic...the inside looked clear to me.

Oh, must be the angle. Regardless, great job. :props:
john b
04-23-2011, 04:07 AM
looks great,was there enough material in the kit for 2 headlights?
Wills.WindowsAndWheels
04-23-2011, 01:04 PM
looks great,was there enough material in the kit for 2 headlights?


I used 2 500's, 1 800 and the 3000.....one of the 500's is shot, but the 800 n 3000 should be good for another restoration. There was plenty of compound left but it was in a little plastic pack that you just tear open...i didnt wanna hassle with trying to save it so i just tossed it...ive got goomgobs of other compouds i can use lol
WRAPT C5Z06
04-23-2011, 01:59 PM
I thought you're supposed to sand up to 1500, then apply a urethane sealant, no polishing???