Celica Hobby - Lights, Headlights - How To Paint the Inside

Okay, folks, I've solved our perplexing problem regarding the disassembly of the headlight casing so you can get the inside painted to match your car - or tint the inside of the lights to make them "legal"

Here's how:

1) Get the parents out of the house as you don't want them to know what you are putting in the oven;
2) Remove the headlight casing from your car (I don't have specific instructions - sorry - but it should be easy to do). Be sure to remove the bulb!!;
3) Preheat your oven to 250 degrees after placing tin foil on the bottom rack (the rack should be located at the very bottom slot);
4) Remove any nuts, bolts, and screws from the border of the casing;
5) Place your headlight casing inside the oven and set the timer for 10 minutes
6) After the timer goes off, remove the casing using garden gloves (it'll be a little warm...);
7) Take a flat tipped screwdriver and pry up the little plastic "clips", sliding your screwdriver beyond that clip into the joint between the casing and the lens. The adhesive will be very soft and pliable
8) Pry and slide your screwdriver a little bit down, continue until you see it starting to come apart.
9) Then, increase your angle of prying to drive the two pieces apart;
10) When you see enough to get your fingers in the opening, use your hands to seperate the pieces. You may hear a "pop". That may be the yellow reflector coming off, or it could be a tab that wasn't opened. Nevertheless, the pieces won't be damaged. After the lens cools down, you might want to take the opportunity to clean and polish the inside;
11) IF YOU ENCOUNTER ANY STRONG RESISTANCE, check to see that there aren't any nuts or bolts still connected;
12) To get the reflector out of the black plastic base, pry off the plastic cylindrical cover for the headlight adjustment screw. Loosen both nuts to take off the reflector.

To reassemble:

1) Do everything backward, including the oven part - you need to get that adhesive pliable again. Make sure you ask your body shop if 250 degrees will harm the paint (I doubt it). YOU CAN PUT THE TWO PIECES TOGETHER AS BEST YOU CAN AND THEN MERGE THEM TOGETHER AFTER THEY COME OUT;
2) I would seriously consider using clear adhesive like Liquid Nails Clear Seal to make sure you have an airtight seal all around.
3) Reinstall, and be sure to re-aim your headlights.
4) Check the oven for any residual damage (there should be none!!) and cook your parents a nice meal - never telling them what you did...

.....
[EDIT] Added the folloing info [Smile]

use Tester's Brand "SMOKE"/"WINDOW TINT" Spray Paint - found at most hobby shops for around $4

Transparent Black (WINDOW TINT)
[testors.com]

Transparent Candy Apple (RED) - also used for red-out tails
[testors.com]

Transparent Hot Rod Red (DARKER SHADE OF RED)
[testors.com]

Transparent Candy Lime (GREEN)
[testors.com]

Transparent Blueberry (BLUE)
[testors.com]

Transparent Candy Grape (PURPLE)
[testors.com]

ALL OF THE SPRAY COLOURS.....
[testors.com]

....

If you want to paint some areas and not the other, just use masking tape over that area, then CAREFULLY use a razor blade to cut a circle outline and peel off the edges (leaving the masking tape circle over the space where you do NOT want paint to be sprayd)

The dificuly on this painting task is probably an 8 (out of 10... 10 being the hardest).... but if you take your time and think about what you need to do next - that comes dropped down to a 4.

[ 07-17-2002, 10:53 AM: Message edited by: isaac ]