Headlight lens

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

After 116,000 miles my headlight lens look like they've been in front of a sandblaster for a while. Are there any ways of restoring them?

Note to those of you with low mile Vipers, you might wanna try some 3M clear bra stuff for the headlights and fog lamp covers (pre 99). That should preserve them without affecting anything cosmetically.

 

[Warfang]

After 116,000 miles my headlight lens look like they've been in front of a sandblaster for a while. Are there any ways of restoring them?

Note to those of you with low mile Vipers, you might wanna try some 3M clear bra stuff for the headlights and fog lamp covers (pre 99). That should preserve them without affecting anything cosmetically.

....but do they make the Viper faster?

(just bustin ur chops)

 

[treesnake]

When I tinted my lenses with clear paint it "fixed" a lot of the small nicks and scratches etc. I used a couple drops of dark brown to tint the lacquer but you could leave it clear.

 

[xlrashn]

3M makes some products for polishing out headlight lenses. We have used it here in the shop on customer cars and it works well.

 

[viperman303]

Chuck: I'm back in Florida. Just repaired those lenses on my motor coach. Wet sand with 600. Wet sand with 1000 or 1500. Then buff out with a good compound and then polish. Sure cleared these lenses. Depending on how bad they are, you might try SoftScrup first and then go to all the wet sanding.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

SoftScrub the kitchen/tile cleaner?

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

....but do they make the Viper faster?

Of course. The rough surface of the sandblasted lens creates an aerodynamic drag coefficient of 2.543.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Chuck: I'm back in Florida. Just repaired those lenses on my motor coach. Wet sand with 600. Wet sand with 1000 or 1500. Then buff out with a good compound and then polish. Sure cleared these lenses. Depending on how bad they are, you might try SoftScrup first and then go to all the wet sanding.

Thanks. I never thought of sanding and polishing. It's just plastic. Duh.

 

[dave6666]

Sounds like you're doing a poser mod there Chuck. Our little secret OK?

 

[GTSnake]

Isn't there anything that they make to fill deep scratches? I have a few pretty deep ones that you can catch a fingernail in.

 

[ViperTony]

Chuck, Eastwood sells a headlight refinishing/polishing kit for $19.99 and it works great. I've used on my daily drivers with much success. This stuff got rid of the yellowish tint that formed on the lens. i think if you used a harsher buff it will definitely get rid of nicks and scratches.
Eastwood Co. - Headlight Refinishing Kit

 

[dave6666]

I have buffed lenses before using a loose cotton wheel with a white stick compound. It worked very well, as long as you work slowly to manage heat buildup etc.

That Eastwood kit looks like it would be the way to go.

 

[treesnake]

Isn't there anything that they make to fill deep scratches? I have a few pretty deep ones that you can catch a fingernail in.

Yes, clear lacquer

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Sounds like you're doing a poser mod there Chuck. Our little secret OK?

Believe it or not, I actually wash my RT/10 too.

 

[99 R/T 10]

You could always get those smoked headlight covers. Covering them up will make it as good as new......................

 

[Newport Viper]

After 116,000 miles my headlight lens look like they've been in front of a sandblaster for a while. Are there any ways of restoring them?

Lots of info and before and after photo's here


Clear Plastic Detailing - Car Care Forums: Meguiar's Online

Good thread here

How To: PlastX Headlight Restoration (Step by w/ Pics) - Car Care Forums: Meguiar's Online

 

[eucharistos]

wal-mart automotive will do it for you while you wait







really



&



jk

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Of course. The rough surface of the sandblasted lens creates an aerodynamic drag coefficient of 2.543.

No, Chuck, no, no, no. A dimpled golf ball with a rough surface travels farther and faster than a smooth golf ball. This is the reason I almost never wash my Viper - it's an old tired '94 that still beats all the waxed and polished Vipers at local autocross events. There, I had to let out my secret, but I'm doing it for you Chuck. Godspeed!

 

[Dom426h]

Shop 3M: 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System, 39008

You must be registered for see images

 

[GBS]

If they are bad I usually wet sand the with 1000, 1500 2000 grit paper. I then buff them out with a cutting pad, polish and polisher. If they not real bad I'll go right to the polish. Polsihes and pads also have levels of cutting abilty to you have a not of variation to work with. It's really very easy to buff them out. It just takes more or less time depending on their condition.

 

[viperman303]

Well there u r Chuck...back to wet sanding and polishing. dan

 

[dave6666]

There's a lot of good info/links here. Maybe move this to the detailing section where it will be easier to find later?

 

[GTSnake]

Yes, clear lacquer

You mean the same clear coat that goes on top of paint? How thick can it fill?

 

[dave6666]

You mean the same clear coat that goes on top of paint? How thick can it fill?

The clear coat on top of paint is usually a urethane not a lacquer. I would imagine that multiple coats would be OK to build up to fill a scratch given adequate dry time between those coats.

 

[treesnake]

The clear coat on top of paint is usually a urethane not a lacquer. I would imagine that multiple coats would be OK to build up to fill a scratch given adequate dry time between those coats.

You mean the same clear coat that goes on top of paint? How thick can it fill?

"lacquer"... hmmm, not sure where that came from. That's a term from the old days...

We used clear urethane with 20% flex and a little brown for tint. We sprayed several different proportions to get the right shade. I know it works on scratches because we had to scuff the existing lens for paint ...

I am going to try and spray the rear window in my SS. There are a couple of areas on my rear window that need "attention" from the buffer that accidently happened during body install.. By spraying a similar solution on the rear window, I hope to;
1. tint the window
2. fill the scratches
3. Hide the orange defroster element in the glass

This photo shows the degree of tint I chose to use. . The tinted lense in photo is from other side of same car. You can see some of the dullness was removed after the "painting" of the lense.

The Urethane is tough. It polishes and shines a lot better than the plastic lense too. You can see the difference in the shine between the two lenses. The difference is evident in this photo

 

[GTSnake]

Where can I get some clear urethane? Do the auto part stores carry it in a spray can?

 

[treesnake]

Where can I get some clear urethane? Do the auto part stores carry it in a spray can?

Wish it was that easy...

Not sure about the spray can I don't know how you would mix in the color though. The tinting was done and sprayed by the painter that does the bodywork on my cars. I did all the lenses on the car.

 

[Glen97]

Chuck: I'm back in Florida. Just repaired those lenses on my motor coach. Wet sand with 600. Wet sand with 1000 or 1500. Then buff out with a good compound and then polish. Sure cleared these lenses. Depending on how bad they are, you might try SoftScrup first and then go to all the wet sanding.

I did the wet sand on my 97 gts as viperman303 then buffed then finished off with meguiars clear plastic polish. Turned out good. When you buff with a wheel keep it moving over the whole area to long in one area will make a lot of heat and will mess up the lense. I removed my head lights from the car when I did mine.