If cardomain ever drops these pics email me direct and i will be happy to send them .

Rice it your self!
Project #1 Colored Corner marker/headlight mod



Intro: This mod will give your headlights or corner markers a more aggressive custom look. This process can be used to open headlights, fog lights, corner markers, turn signals, and taillights.
In this mod I will be demonstrating on a 2000 Subaru Impreza, note the headlights have already been modded and I am demonstrating how to perform this mod on aftermarket clear corner markers to match.


Supplies: Quick shopping list (all pictured above); Oven, cookie sheet, aluminum foil, sandpaper (220 grit for this demo), masking tape, 2 small flat tipped screwdrivers, penknife (exacto, proedge ect…), and paint (some thing that will adhere well to plastic I use model paint).

Disassembly: First things first remove any soft rubber parts or metal clips holding the lenses to the cases.

Wrap the cookie sheet in aluminum foil and place the light onto the sheet in the oven. I tend to bake it a little hotter than is necessary (350°F). Place in oven and wait.
Take light out of oven, if it is to hot to handle with your bare hands it is too hot to work with!! You will end up warping the lens, case, or in some cases the soft rubber ring around it (in the case of our Impreza).
Once out of the oven and cool enough to start working pick and edge to start prying off. I chose the bottom corner of my marker light to start. Use one of your screw drivers to pry in-between the lens and the case next to where there is a retaining tab(below).


Once first screw driver is in place use second to ‘find’ the bottom edge of the lens retainer tab (below).


Once you locate the bottom of the mounting tab pry up on it. Lens should start to lift with some resistance, keep firm even pressure on the tab. The lens should lift high enough to slide the screwdriver that you are prying up with into the casing to hold upward pressure on the lens. Take your first screw driver and start working your way around the lens gently scraping between the lens and casing and very gently prying up on the lens..

If this gets too hard to do don’t be afraid to put it in the oven some more to loosen up the glue. Your goal at this phase should be to get one corner loose.
Once you have a corner loose I like to slide a screwdriver between the lenses and case and put it in the oven more. This will keep upward pressure on the lenses while the glue is being loosened (below).


Eventually you will have enough of the lenses loose to pull it apart by hand. I don’t need to say it but I will for all the dumb A$$es out there but DON’T PRY TOO HARD THE LENSE WILL BREAK!!! Firm even pressure is key, if its not coming apart bake more.. It will loosen up, the glue will loosen at a lower temperature than the casing will melt trust me!.
Now that’s out of the way, work slowly and it will turn out fine.


Prep and paint: This right up will demonstrate how to paint the ‘chromed’ Plastic inside the light casing.
First take your masking tape and mask off the aria you want to still be chrome, this will act as a barrier from scratching because of sanding as well as a paint mask. Make sure you put some masking tape over the glue used to originally seal the light (try not to actually put the tape on the glue. It makes it impossible to remove the tape witch will keep it from re-sealing properly.) (pictured below).


Use your sandpaper to sand off as much of the ‘chrome’ as you can . This is possibly the most important step. The paint will flake off when dry if you don’t remove the chrome. Don’t kill your self to get it out of every corner but do your best to get it all off (below).


If you did not damage your masking tape too much just wipe down with a damp paper towel. If your masking tape is damaged remove it and re-tape the area. Paint with your choice of paints, I personally use Tamiya spray paint for these project because it dries quick, adheres well, and hides runs. In this I used TS-40 metallic black. Picture of lights after paint with masks still attached below.


When paint is dry carefully remove mask and admire your work!


I have used this process before to remove lenses to be painted body color by professionals. This process does not have to be just for internal painting.



Reassembly: Place lenses onto the casings in there original position and press them together. Place the casings and lenses into the oven still reassembled (below).


After letting them heat up a bit take them out of the oven and start pressing them together all the way around the perimeter, be careful not to warp any rubber ring around the light. Again remember if it’s too hot to handle with bare hands it’s too hot to be working with. Take your time and make sure they seal all the way around.
Take lots of pictures and enjoy!!



Project specs:
Materials:
Tamiya spray paint $3.99
Masking tape $5.00
Sand paper $1.15
Time:
This project took me 1 ½ hours to complete including paint drying time.
Difficulty rating: *scale* air filter change = 1 beer; engine overhaul = 12 pack.
2 beers

 

Here is what the diamond clear side markers look like with the mod done.. I like this look way better than the beveled plastic lense!!.