Headlight conversion

[DUK13Y]

Can someone please tell me how to do the SS/Calias/HSV headlight conversion for a VY berlina. I gave it a stab today and got nowhere. I didn't use the oven so I don't know how soft the glue is meant to be but I used a hairdryer for ages and when I used the flat blade screwdriver, it just bent the back half of the light surrounding the front half and didn't seem to remove the glue at all. I know a few people have done this so any help is great.

For those who don't know the conversion, here's what I'm talking about.
StreetWagons.com - View topic - DIY VX "SS" mod for lights

[Lumps of cheese]

I looked into doing this when i had my vy, ended up buying calais lights in the end. I got a quote off a guy in melb. to do them and he charged $150, something to think about if you have trouble.

[DUK13Y]

Thanks for the quick reply. I think I might just give the oven option a go as I'm sick of sitting there with a hair dryer. Just gotta make sure I don't end up cooking them.

[Lumps of cheese]

Thanks for the quick reply. I think I might just give the oven option a go as I'm sick of sitting there with a hair dryer. Just gotta make sure I don't end up cooking them.

Pre heat and just slip them in for a minute at a time. Shouldn't take too long for them to get tacky.

[DUK13Y]

Thats my plan. Don't want to screw them up. Not cheap to replace.

[jesse3.8]

what temperatrure is reccomended?

[DUK13Y]

100 degrees from what i've read.

[jesse3.8]

Howd ya go duk13y?

[DUK13Y]

Haven't had time to do it yet. Might give it a go tomorrow. The weather isn't the greatest either so I don't know if I want to paint in these conditions.

[jesse3.8]

so do they just come apart when heated enough or is still mission?

iv'e already broken two clips and not getting easier

has any1 else done this?

[DUK13Y]

Just did it today. Will get pics when I can as the ones I have are way to dark. Does look good though .

[jesse3.8]

ah shit are you serious mine were absuloute pricks to get apart

God Dam It

[DUK13Y]

lol.. yeah it takes ages to get them apart. I heated in a fan forced oven at ~100 degrees for about 3 mins, used a wide flat blade screwdriver to get under the corners then slowly, and i mean slowly, start to remove the glue.

After about 2 mins the glue is soft again and put back in oven for about 2 mins. Then just keep repeating that until you can pry the screwdriver between both the back and front halves, then i used a chisel to act as a plough, pushing both halves apart. You'll need to make sure that all the clips are off before you can plough through. Took me about half an hour to an hour per light.

If you make another effort and get them apart. Make sure you keep both the lens and back half in a very dust free zone as it's a bitch to clean them properly when stuff get in them. Also make sure you mask properly too.

End result = Calais/HSV lights

[DUK13Y]

Pics.

Before:


After:


Thoughts? I'll get some more better quality pics when I can.

[one_and_only2004]

very well done duk13y, that looks perfect.

[DUK13Y]

Cheers mate. I think it's a heaps better option than paying the ~$650 for genuine ones.

[one_and_only2004]

indeed, and now you're roughly $630 in front!

[Calaber]

I have a problem with converting my Berlina lights to the Calais style.

I like the Calais set up with the black outs, but I also like the Berlina style as they are now. I've converted everything else externally to make my Berlina look like a Calais Series 2 (except for the Calais badges - the Berlina one is still on the boot and I don't like the de-badged look).

Every time I clean the car, I contemplate doing the headlights, but have withheld up to this point from doing so.

Maybe I'll do it one day when I'm bored.

[Fishman88]

Hey Dat looks pretty gud! looks like the genuine ones!! couldnt tell . Well done!!

[DUK13Y]

lol.. I too liked the berlina style but imo soon as you're done, it looks so much better.

This is no small and easy job for a day of boredom. You'll want to be pretty committed because there is no reverse for this.

[Calaber]

Yep I realise the job takes a fair bit of time - that's another reason why I haven't bothered so far.

Also, I'm reluctant to put $600 worth of lights in the oven (and my missus is never away from the house without the car long enough for me to do it - I don't think I could ever explain what the headlights were doing in the oven if she came home half way through the job.)

[Jbird]

man i recommend u buy the calais lights, i was lucky at the time and picked them of a wrecked calais for 30 bucks each. They look so much better then the chrome ones

[DUK13Y]

Yep I realise the job takes a fair bit of time - that's another reason why I haven't bothered so far.

Also, I'm reluctant to put $600 worth of lights in the oven (and my missus is never away from the house without the car long enough for me to do it - I don't think I could ever explain what the headlights were doing in the oven if she came home half way through the job.)

lol yeah I was a bot worried about sticking them in the oven too but at 2 mins each time there isn't a great deal of risk. The way I did it, the lights were still cool enough to hold and did not bend or twist like soft plastic does. Just softened the glue enough to get a screwdriver between the halves.

It would suck if you were doing the mod with the missus out, she comes back to find you with the headlights in the oven, starts to have a debate on what the hells going on, you forget about the lights and cook em to a nice headlight stew.

man i recommend u buy the calais lights, i was lucky at the time and picked them of a wrecked calais for 30 bucks each. They look so much better then the chrome ones

hmm.. I would have rather bought them, but there are no cheap ones out there. You just got extremely lucky. I will agree to them being heaps better than chrome.

[Jbird]

yeh man good work they came out mint. Looks like originals