Clear Corners Mod (w/ Pix)
#1
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Halifax, Canada 91SSE / 97SSEi
Posts: 5,857
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Clear Corners Mod (w/ Pix)
Hey all, I took some pix when I did my clear corners in the hope that it might help others.
First remove the headlight assembly... it slides out to the side once the bolts are removed. Becareful not to scratch your bumper while doing this... I found it really tricky to do, and in the end I used a screw driver to "unclip" the corners while the headlight assembly was still attached to the car. You do not need to remove the screw that looks like it goes into the corners, or at least I didn't. It'* merely for tension, not actually locking it in place.
Once you've got them off, now you can decide how-to go about seperating the plastic.
At first I tried to soak mine in really hot water for like 45mins and then tried to pry them apart w/ a screw driver, no luck. The glue would not give, and actually the plastic started to crack.
Besure to give yourself a lot of time w/ this mod, otherwise you might have to drive around a bit w/o the corners on.... as I had to do. BTW, notice that screw with the white square where the corners go... like I said before I didn't have to remove it. I just used some ZIP ties to ensure the blub/wiring did not flop around too much or fall into the car.
Ok... after the hot water and hair dryer failed, I decided to dremel. I put a glove in the vice to ensure I didn't scratch the corners and then dremelled away. Take your time.
Once I had them apart, it was just a quick "pop" with a screw driver to remove the amber lense. Then I used a file to get ride of the rough edges produced by the dremel. You can see in the next pic, that the top lense in clean, but the bottom is still rough from the dremel.
I noticed that the housing for the corners were actually quite faded, so I used some Plastikote Bumper Chrome (same stuff I used on my grill) to refinish them.
I then used "Automotive Goop" along with Silicon Adhensive to reseal the corners, I brought them inside from the garage and left them overnight to dry and seal.
In the morning I reattached them to the car, and replaced the clear blubs with amber ones... I would have prefered to leave the clears ones in, but prov laws state turn signal/parking lights must be amber. blah
There, clear corners done... and they look great!!
First remove the headlight assembly... it slides out to the side once the bolts are removed. Becareful not to scratch your bumper while doing this... I found it really tricky to do, and in the end I used a screw driver to "unclip" the corners while the headlight assembly was still attached to the car. You do not need to remove the screw that looks like it goes into the corners, or at least I didn't. It'* merely for tension, not actually locking it in place.
Once you've got them off, now you can decide how-to go about seperating the plastic.
At first I tried to soak mine in really hot water for like 45mins and then tried to pry them apart w/ a screw driver, no luck. The glue would not give, and actually the plastic started to crack.
Besure to give yourself a lot of time w/ this mod, otherwise you might have to drive around a bit w/o the corners on.... as I had to do. BTW, notice that screw with the white square where the corners go... like I said before I didn't have to remove it. I just used some ZIP ties to ensure the blub/wiring did not flop around too much or fall into the car.
Ok... after the hot water and hair dryer failed, I decided to dremel. I put a glove in the vice to ensure I didn't scratch the corners and then dremelled away. Take your time.
Once I had them apart, it was just a quick "pop" with a screw driver to remove the amber lense. Then I used a file to get ride of the rough edges produced by the dremel. You can see in the next pic, that the top lense in clean, but the bottom is still rough from the dremel.
I noticed that the housing for the corners were actually quite faded, so I used some Plastikote Bumper Chrome (same stuff I used on my grill) to refinish them.
I then used "Automotive Goop" along with Silicon Adhensive to reseal the corners, I brought them inside from the garage and left them overnight to dry and seal.
In the morning I reattached them to the car, and replaced the clear blubs with amber ones... I would have prefered to leave the clears ones in, but prov laws state turn signal/parking lights must be amber. blah
There, clear corners done... and they look great!!
#2
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Robbinsdale, MN
Posts: 15,408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looks good! The one things I would add are:
Be carefule with the rubber "gasket". Once bent out of shape, it'* kinda tricky to get it back to the proper shape/
And a hacksaw can also be used to cut them open. Wehn I did mine, I cut about 2 inches or so with a hacksaw. From there I could carefully pry them apart with the widest flat tip screwdriver I have.
Excellent job recording the procedure, though.
PS Mist the Amber bulbs lightly with silver paint. It allows the amber light through, but prevents the amber reflection. Check out my center bulbs...
Be carefule with the rubber "gasket". Once bent out of shape, it'* kinda tricky to get it back to the proper shape/
And a hacksaw can also be used to cut them open. Wehn I did mine, I cut about 2 inches or so with a hacksaw. From there I could carefully pry them apart with the widest flat tip screwdriver I have.
Excellent job recording the procedure, though.
PS Mist the Amber bulbs lightly with silver paint. It allows the amber light through, but prevents the amber reflection. Check out my center bulbs...
#4
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Halifax, Canada 91SSE / 97SSEi
Posts: 5,857
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by MOS95B
PS Mist the Amber bulbs lightly with silver paint. It allows the amber light through, but prevents the amber reflection. Check out my center bulbs...
What kind of paint did you use?
#5
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Robbinsdale, MN
Posts: 15,408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
DupliKolor Bumper Chrome. Very light mist, just barely enough to cover the color. Then let it dry for 24 hours or so, or the paint will burn and fog the inside of the lens.
mremer did this too on my advice, and seems very happy with the results.
mremer did this too on my advice, and seems very happy with the results.
#6
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, _______Canada._______ West Coast Bonneville Fest ___05,06,07 Survivor___
Posts: 8,135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The bulbs in my cleared corners are the ones that were originally in there, they are more yellow than anything, i want blue ones though, im curious as to if its legal in Alberta.
#7
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Robbinsdale, MN
Posts: 15,408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I left mine stock as well and noone has said anything yet.
And blue lights are illegal in the US, and I've heard Canada is even pickier!!
And blue lights are illegal in the US, and I've heard Canada is even pickier!!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gonzo4191
Your Ride: GM Pictures & Videos
3
03-29-2008 08:09 PM