"The headlight mod"

Here is my step by step instructions with pics. These are written for an 02-03 Impreza, but you can do this to just about any car, Subaru or not. I've personally done this to a Talon TSi, IS300, and a Civic. All came out great, it's a super mod considering it's almost free. You could do different variations by taping off areas you don't want painted, or designs, or painting with different colors.

These pics were taken a looong time ago, that's what my car used to look like!

Before pic:

http://www.arimport.com/jastuff/before.JPG

Step 1. Remove the headlights. Open the hood. 1st to come out is the grill, it is held in place by clips. You will need a screwdriver or other fairly pointy object to reach in and push the clips while you pull and it will come out. next are the "cheeks", those little pieces in between the grill and lights. There are little black clip thing, you have to pry up the middle part of them away from the outer part, then you can pull the out and the cheeks slide out. Now the lights, There are 3 bolts on each light, IIRC they're 10mm. 2 on the front edge facing forward and 1 on the top facing up. Dont forget to unplug the wiring harnesses, there is a harness for the headlight bulb and another for the blinker.

When you get it apart it should look something like this

http://www.arimport.com/jastuff/strippedcar.JPG

Now put the headlights in the oven and cook them. Really. 'Bout 250 degrees for around 5-7 minutes. This is to make the goo gooey again. If you take them out and it's still not gooey enough to pull apart, cook it longer. Don't worry about the wires on there, it's not hot enough to melt them.

http://www.arimport.com/jastuff/inoven.JPG

Once it's gooey enough, pull the clear cover away from the main housing. There are little clips around the edge, I had a friend pull it apart while I undid the clips with a screwdriver.

It's hot, but not too bad. Gloves are a good idea, but not necessary

http://www.arimport.com/jastuff/pullapart.JPG

Then take all the separate pieces apart

http://www.arimport.com/jastuff/apartontable.JPG

Tape off anything you don't want painted. Lay some newspaper or something down you don't mind getting painted, and lay your chrome trim pieces on there. Here's what the pieces look like

http://www.arimport.com/jastuff/readytopaint

Paint away! I used "high temp engine enamel" in flat black from Wal Mart

http://www.arimport.com/jastuff/beingpainted.JPG

After you get a good solid color, give them plenty of time to dry. I put a hot spotlight on them to help them dry

http://www.arimport.com/jastuff/donepainting.JPG

Wipe out all the headlight housing so you hopefully won't get any condensation, then put it back together the way you took it apart. I chose to not put the orange piece from the blinker back in, the effect is clear blinkers. You probably won't be able to push it back together enough to clip the clips yet, but that's okay.

http://www.arimport.com/jastuff/reassembled.JPG

Now cook it again, same time as before. After it's cooked you should be able to push the clips together. Push it together as much as you absolutely possibly can, this will help prevent condensation. You want a perfect air tight seal. Then cook it for another mintue or 2 and push it together a little more. They sell a sealant at Autozone type stores you can use for extra seal, or I don't see any reason why silicone caulk wouldn't work. I didn't use anything, and 1.5-2 years later I still have no condensation.

http://www.arimport.com/jastuff/cookagain.JPG

Now just put the car back together. Headlights 1st. It's easiest if you slide the bottom of the light in place 1st, then wiglle it around till the bolt holes line up. Then the cheeks and grill clip in. Done!

After (after a few other things as well :p )

http://www.arimport.com/L-S/L/lblacklabellfrontside2.JPG

Yes, once you do this, you'll have really hot Mitsubishi employees and decent looking Hot Import Nights models rubbing all up on your car too :bigthumb:

http://www.arimport.com/L-S/L/lblacklabellmodel.JPG
http://archives.12volt.com/12volt/2003/hindallas/images/DSC00576.jpg
http://archives.12volt.com/12volt/2003/hindallas/images/DSC00578.jpg

Only the last few images load for me... did you use a different server for the first ones?

i cant see any images!!

cool idea. i like the way that turned out dude i may just consider doing it for the sake of another bit of customisation.

They all work for me... give me a second I'll move them to my own server

i can see the images and dude that is pimp-tastic :smokin:

Thats a great idea man. I like how it turned out.

Thats a great idea man. I like how it turned out.

Same here.