Stealth Headlight clear coat peeling away

[Donikrdave]

Hello,was looking here but didn't seem to find the exact problem I'm having.My '95 Stealth's projection lights have the misfortune of the clear coat on them peeeling,chipped away,can they be re-clear coated?or do I need to find different ones?One person mentioned sanding them down but the risk of fogging comes up.Any suggestions would be helpful as I'm restoring this car...Dave

[Girly VR-4]

Wet sanding is your best, and cheapest fix.

go to autozone, get 600 grit sandpaper, and go to town on your headlights. Straight lines, up and down, left and right, until the headlight is "smooth" and the clearcoat is gone. CONTINUALLY DIPPING THE SAND PAPER IN THE WATER. drench it. you want a LOT of water the entire time your sanding. it keeps the sandpaper "smoothing", instead of roughing everything up.

Change to 800 grit sandpaper, and repeat until the headlights feel smoother.

change to 1200 grit sandpaper, and again, sand until yet again, it's even smoother.

then get an orbital buffer, some buffing compound (I use 3M, can be found at any automotive paint store, fairly expensive, ~$30 a bottle, but it's a BIIIG bottle). Squeeze some compound on the headlight, and turn the buffer on to a medium speed, and just move it back and forth, up and down, until the headlight is clear again.

You may have fogging again in the future, but just buff them up again, and they'll shine like new. You'll never have to worry about peeling clearcoat again. Just a buffing every so often.

Also, WAX your headlights!!! It will keep them clear and shiny.

For everyone else, it will also prevent the clearcoat from peeling... same as it does for the paint on your car.

[Donikrdave]

Thank you,I will make it so :-) It saves a lot of $$ in the long run...Dave

[Girly VR-4]

Originally Posted by Donikrdave

Thank you,I will make it so :-) It saves a lot of $$ in the long run...Dave

yup I've done a few sets of headlights, and they look like a brand new set once they're done.

It cures "yellowing" headlights as well.

Post some before and after pictures too!!

[Donikrdave]

I will,and I appreciate the help/info you've given me.I've done a ground up resto on a '74 Plymouth Satellite/Roadrunner but that was much more simple to me than my Stealth,for some reason.My car will seem very plain compared to the others here as with the exception of my Plymouth,all my vehicles have been stock,and this one is basically that way also.It's a great car just the way it is. :-)