Out with the Old, In with the New

[CoolMinivan.......Nobody]

Remember those cloudy/yellowed headlights the Rally Van used to have....
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Ya I don't either
Nice new clear Depo housings installed and aimed.

[WhoIsTheLeader]

@long_voyager94 Clear headlights give a car build clear direction. Very fine work!

[facw]

@long_voyager94 Are these clearer than OEM would have been originally? They certainly feel clearer than I remember for that era...

[CoolMinivan.......Nobody]

@facw said in Out with the Old, In with the New:

@long_voyager94 Are these clearer than OEM would have been originally? They certainly feel clearer than I remember for that era...

I don't think so.
These were original headlights in our 92, they're covered in body dust from sanding, but they still almost look as clear

[RallyDarkstrike]

@long_voyager94 Oh, those new housings look epic!

I replaced the driver's side headlight on Humdrum the other year for a crack, it still looks pretty good, but despite getting it buffed twice, my passenger side light has each time yellowed again and looks hideous....have to see if I can find a replacement for a decent price

[CoolMinivan.......Nobody]

@rallydarkstrike said in Out with the Old, In with the New:

@long_voyager94 Oh, those new housings look epic!

I replaced the driver's side headlight on Humdrum the other year for a crack, it still looks pretty good, but despite getting it buffed twice, my passenger side light has each time yellowed again and looks hideous....have to see if I can find a replacement for a decent price

I had wet-sanded, buffed, and cleared my old lights years ago. They held up quite well finally yellowing over the last year again.
The driver's light seals had finally gave up though, so it was collecting water.

[RallyDarkstrike]

@long_voyager94 I had my passenger light done by two separate shops and they both only lasted half a year before it was just as yellow as before

[facw]

@rallydarkstrike Sounds like they weren't doing the UV sealing properly? Sanding will remove any protection from the factory coating that was still around so things will go downhill quickly if the lights aren't given new UV protection.

[partypooper2012]

@long_voyager94 Symmetry!!!!

Where is the round fog light on the side of the brush guard?

[CoolMinivan.......Nobody]

@rallydarkstrike said in Out with the Old, In with the New:

@long_voyager94 I had my passenger light done by two separate shops and they both only lasted half a year before it was just as yellow as before

As @facw said, it sounds like they weren't recoating them after they got cleaned up.
Mine lasted for 5+ years after sanding/buffing/reclearing them.

[CoolMinivan.......Nobody]

@partypooper2012 said in Out with the Old, In with the New:

@long_voyager94 Symmetry!!!!

Where is the round fog light on the side of the brush guard?

It got broken during this excursion...

Lights and stumps don't mix. Although the light saved my bumper from being destroyed, so I'll call it a win.

[partypooper2012]

@long_voyager94 Lifehack - if you ONLY use your vehicle to go to supermarket and back to get milk and some such, you avoid broken lights and saved bumpers.

/S

Where did you find such a glorious swamp? I want in!

[Someoneatacura]

@rallydarkstrike said in Out with the Old, In with the New:

@long_voyager94 I had my passenger light done by two separate shops and they both only lasted half a year before it was just as yellow as before

You can't just buff and wax these, they need a full fat UV clear or Wrap to last as all. The UV protection they come with from factory is really stout, as the Bulb gives off UV from the inside as well (less than the sun, but it adds up).

Really, replacing the headlight is the "best" fix.

[Mazda616]

@long_voyager94 Looks amazing!

[CoolMinivan.......Nobody]

@partypooper2012 said in Out with the Old, In with the New:

@long_voyager94 Lifehack - if you ONLY use your vehicle to go to supermarket and back to get milk and some such, you avoid broken lights and saved bumpers.

/S

Where did you find such a glorious swamp? I want in!

https://opposite-lock.com/topic/21274/went-and-played-this-weekend
Was at a local event over the weekend.
I didn't build it to sit and look pretty

[RallyDarkstrike]

@someoneatacura I asked both shops 'did you put any UV protective coating on it?' - both said 'yes', but I am really doubting it with how long they lasted before they yellowed again...

[RallyDarkstrike]

@long_voyager94 I'd asked if they UV coated it and they said they had, but I really doubt they did with the length of time it lasted

[RallyDarkstrike]

@facw Yeah....if I can find a cheap new replacement or one in the salvage yard in good shape, I'll grab it.