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H4 headlight restoration

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Old 01-12-2018, 02:45 PM
  #16  
davek9
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Just wondering what all this re-plating and time cost compared to buying new, new lamps are about $450.00 each right?
New units also come with all the plastic and metal bits behind the reflector, never purchased one so I'm asking

Thanks for sharing as I have at least one or two with broken glass boxed up laying around,
Kristine wanted me to toss them as "they as broken, what good are they.."
Can't wait until she sees them in her oven

Dave
Old 01-12-2018, 03:08 PM
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Eplebnista
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FYI, I replaced a shattered lens on one of mine with Roger's lens. Roger's lens is plastic. I assume its polycarbonate, which would be plus. It's pretty painless if you have a wife who will let you use her oven. The morimoto butyl rope needs to be pulled to reduce it's diameter and you need to heat it some to do that or it will pull back because it has memory if not heated. Once you lay the thinned strip on the reflector, put the whole assembly into the oven and push the lens on after the appropriate bake time. There's a ton of you tube videos on this and info at http://www.theretrofitsource.com
Old 01-12-2018, 03:15 PM
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davek9
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Thanks Otto, great winter project too!

Dave
Old 01-12-2018, 03:49 PM
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Imo000
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Nice work, well done!
Old 01-12-2018, 03:50 PM
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Imo000
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Originally Posted by hessank
I did this rehab too but am going a different path.
I had purchased a pair of the plastic lens from Roger more than a year ago. I also purchased a mini D2S morimoto projector to use instead of the bulb.
I cheaped out and didn't buy their LED version. Doh!



How did the optics turn out when it was back in the car? Normally a projector would have a smooth lens not an optical one.
Old 01-13-2018, 02:22 PM
  #21  
Koenig-Specials 928
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The projectors lit up beautifully, not as much scatter as I thought.
It was also not blinding to incoming traffic because the projectors concentrated the lights where aimed.
Personally, I prefer it over the plain bulbs.

As I said earlier, I am pursuing getting clear lenses. Was even trying to grind/polish down the plastic one from Roger.
Work in progress
Old 01-13-2018, 08:00 PM
  #22  
Ghosteh
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Originally Posted by davek9
Just wondering what all this re-plating and time cost compared to buying new, new lamps are about $450.00 each right?
New units also come with all the plastic and metal bits behind the reflector, never purchased one so I'm asking

Thanks for sharing as I have at least one or two with broken glass boxed up laying around,
Kristine wanted me to toss them as "they as broken, what good are they.."
Can't wait until she sees them in her oven

Dave
Nickle plate was $80, and the VDA coating is the same. Glass beading & labor is free. Metal work on the buckets probably would have cost me ~$100.
I'll have about $200 into the project, and they should look like new.

I'm not so sure you can buy new H4s for $450. Seems even harder to find early ones without the "pip"
Old 02-01-2018, 12:24 AM
  #23  
Ghosteh
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Aluminized done (is that even a word?) and the lens is back on with the adhesive suggested above. I sure hope that stuff holds!
I do have some glass polishing compound that I'll use on the outside of them, which should also help. They're not as bad as they look in the photo.

Can't wait for it to warm up a bit so I can try installing these in the car! I need to research the hydraulic adjusters and see what I'm lacking to get that operational.
Old 02-01-2018, 05:57 PM
  #24  
Wisconsin Joe
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There is a writeup in the DIY forum.

https://rennlist.com/forums/928/7793...-overhaul.html

Pics were in photobucket, so they've gone away.

Many (including me) have tried without success to fix this.

I strongly suspect that the hose in mine is compromised somewhere and will have to be completely replaced.

Not even on the 'back burner' anymore.
Old 02-01-2018, 07:41 PM
  #25  
Rob Edwards
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How does the diameter in the opening of the reflector compare to the OD of the base of the projector unit? ie- how are you mounting the projector?
Old 02-01-2018, 09:17 PM
  #26  
Ghosteh
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Originally Posted by Rob Edwards
How does the diameter in the opening of the reflector compare to the OD of the base of the projector unit? ie- how are you mounting the projector?
100% stock. Not changing a thing.



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