ip w/blackhousing ( real thing )
#32
05-01-2007 | 09:03 AM
Originally Posted by prelude555
thanx everybody
seriously its not that hard man, very time consuming thats for sure.
if you would have been there and watch me take it off you'll be amaze how easy it is ( not as easy as replacing a bulb but its not as hard as what people think )
seriously its not that hard man, very time consuming thats for sure.
if you would have been there and watch me take it off you'll be amaze how easy it is ( not as easy as replacing a bulb but its not as hard as what people think )
#34
05-01-2007 | 01:33 PM
Originally Posted by Audiophile
I was initially concerned about that when I did mine, but there is PLENTY of sealer in there from the factory to ensure a reseal will be fine. In addition there are a number of small screws holding the front lens/chrome trim piece to the light assembly, they really suck the lens into the sealer.
Worse case scenario, I have to take them back apart and be more careful with sealing them, while not something I want to do, it wouldn't be a big deal. I also painted my grill while everything was off and it looks great, I've already received a number of comments on it - it looks very aggressive now.
I had done this to a VW GTI I had a number of years ago and that was a piece of cake compared to this, but it was the same principle.
I was really surprised how easily the bumper came off the car.
Like the OP stated this is not a hard job, its very basic, but it takes time and patience. Mine took about 4 hours as well, I was on and off it all afternoon, and next time I could probably trim an hour off my time. If you've ever changed a set of springs or done your own brakes your qualified to do this.
Worse case scenario, I have to take them back apart and be more careful with sealing them, while not something I want to do, it wouldn't be a big deal. I also painted my grill while everything was off and it looks great, I've already received a number of comments on it - it looks very aggressive now.
I had done this to a VW GTI I had a number of years ago and that was a piece of cake compared to this, but it was the same principle.
I was really surprised how easily the bumper came off the car.
Like the OP stated this is not a hard job, its very basic, but it takes time and patience. Mine took about 4 hours as well, I was on and off it all afternoon, and next time I could probably trim an hour off my time. If you've ever changed a set of springs or done your own brakes your qualified to do this.
#35
05-01-2007 | 03:47 PM
Registered User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,022
Likes: 0
From: VA
Originally Posted by Audiophile
I was initially concerned about that when I did mine, but there is PLENTY of sealer in there from the factory to ensure a reseal will be fine. In addition there are a number of small screws holding the front lens/chrome trim piece to the light assembly, they really suck the lens into the sealer.
Worse case scenario, I have to take them back apart and be more careful with sealing them, while not something I want to do, it wouldn't be a big deal. I also painted my grill while everything was off and it looks great, I've already received a number of comments on it - it looks very aggressive now.
I had done this to a VW GTI I had a number of years ago and that was a piece of cake compared to this, but it was the same principle.
I was really surprised how easily the bumper came off the car.
Like the OP stated this is not a hard job, its very basic, but it takes time and patience. Mine took about 4 hours as well, I was on and off it all afternoon, and next time I could probably trim an hour off my time. If you've ever changed a set of springs or done your own brakes your qualified to do this.
Worse case scenario, I have to take them back apart and be more careful with sealing them, while not something I want to do, it wouldn't be a big deal. I also painted my grill while everything was off and it looks great, I've already received a number of comments on it - it looks very aggressive now.
I had done this to a VW GTI I had a number of years ago and that was a piece of cake compared to this, but it was the same principle.
I was really surprised how easily the bumper came off the car.
Like the OP stated this is not a hard job, its very basic, but it takes time and patience. Mine took about 4 hours as well, I was on and off it all afternoon, and next time I could probably trim an hour off my time. If you've ever changed a set of springs or done your own brakes your qualified to do this.
Yeah, PICS?? You painted your grill? What color? How? Look good? Still chip? STOP WITHHOLDING VALUABLE INFO!
#36
05-01-2007 | 03:57 PM
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Albany, NY
Originally Posted by hokiesean24
Yeah, PICS?? You painted your grill? What color? How? Look good? Still chip? STOP WITHHOLDING VALUABLE INFO!
I painted the grill the same color as the headlights and rest of the front trim, which is flat black.
My justification for doing the grill is that it was only 5 more 10mm nuts(I had already removed like what seemed like one hundred 10mm bolts, so what's 5 more. I also had a feeling it was going to look very aggressive and I was right, and like others my chrome was chipping and a little sanding and 10 minutes of painting seemed easier then going to the dealership. And in the future if it chips, I can remove the grill, sand it quickly and respray and be going back together quicker then I could get the dealership.
I've received a lot of compliments already, a few people asked what I did, which in my mind makes me think it still looks sort of factory to the untrained eye. I did NOT paint the emblem, I left that chrome so now it really jumps out of the grill and seems to have more depth... go figure.
I promise I will post pics as soon as I have them, I broke my digital camera a few months ago and just haven't got around to replacing it - but I am going to borrow my fathers tonight and snap some pics.
#37
05-01-2007 | 04:03 PM
Registered User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,022
Likes: 0
From: VA
Thank you good sir...
I would like to stick with the chrome look on mine, as I think it looks good/best on the Lakeshore Slate. Maybe I could chrome paint it and seal it or something?!?!
Again, waiting on the pics! haha Thanks!
I would like to stick with the chrome look on mine, as I think it looks good/best on the Lakeshore Slate. Maybe I could chrome paint it and seal it or something?!?!
Again, waiting on the pics! haha Thanks!
Originally Posted by Audiophile
Pics will be up later tonight or early tomorrow.
I painted the grill the same color as the headlights and rest of the front trim, which is flat black.
My justification for doing the grill is that it was only 5 more 10mm nuts(I had already removed like what seemed like one hundred 10mm bolts, so what's 5 more. I also had a feeling it was going to look very aggressive and I was right, and like others my chrome was chipping and a little sanding and 10 minutes of painting seemed easier then going to the dealership. And in the future if it chips, I can remove the grill, sand it quickly and respray and be going back together quicker then I could get the dealership.
I've received a lot of compliments already, a few people asked what I did, which in my mind makes me think it still looks sort of factory to the untrained eye. I did NOT paint the emblem, I left that chrome so now it really jumps out of the grill and seems to have more depth... go figure.
I promise I will post pics as soon as I have them, I broke my digital camera a few months ago and just haven't got around to replacing it - but I am going to borrow my fathers tonight and snap some pics.
I painted the grill the same color as the headlights and rest of the front trim, which is flat black.
My justification for doing the grill is that it was only 5 more 10mm nuts(I had already removed like what seemed like one hundred 10mm bolts, so what's 5 more. I also had a feeling it was going to look very aggressive and I was right, and like others my chrome was chipping and a little sanding and 10 minutes of painting seemed easier then going to the dealership. And in the future if it chips, I can remove the grill, sand it quickly and respray and be going back together quicker then I could get the dealership.
I've received a lot of compliments already, a few people asked what I did, which in my mind makes me think it still looks sort of factory to the untrained eye. I did NOT paint the emblem, I left that chrome so now it really jumps out of the grill and seems to have more depth... go figure.
I promise I will post pics as soon as I have them, I broke my digital camera a few months ago and just haven't got around to replacing it - but I am going to borrow my fathers tonight and snap some pics.
#38
05-01-2007 | 04:19 PM
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,918
Likes: 9
From: Brooklyn, NYC
#39
05-01-2007 | 04:20 PM
Originally Posted by Audiophile
Pics will be up later tonight or early tomorrow.
I painted the grill the same color as the headlights and rest of the front trim, which is flat black.
My justification for doing the grill is that it was only 5 more 10mm nuts(I had already removed like what seemed like one hundred 10mm bolts, so what's 5 more. I also had a feeling it was going to look very aggressive and I was right, and like others my chrome was chipping and a little sanding and 10 minutes of painting seemed easier then going to the dealership. And in the future if it chips, I can remove the grill, sand it quickly and respray and be going back together quicker then I could get the dealership.
I've received a lot of compliments already, a few people asked what I did, which in my mind makes me think it still looks sort of factory to the untrained eye. I did NOT paint the emblem, I left that chrome so now it really jumps out of the grill and seems to have more depth... go figure.
I promise I will post pics as soon as I have them, I broke my digital camera a few months ago and just haven't got around to replacing it - but I am going to borrow my fathers tonight and snap some pics.
I painted the grill the same color as the headlights and rest of the front trim, which is flat black.
My justification for doing the grill is that it was only 5 more 10mm nuts(I had already removed like what seemed like one hundred 10mm bolts, so what's 5 more. I also had a feeling it was going to look very aggressive and I was right, and like others my chrome was chipping and a little sanding and 10 minutes of painting seemed easier then going to the dealership. And in the future if it chips, I can remove the grill, sand it quickly and respray and be going back together quicker then I could get the dealership.
I've received a lot of compliments already, a few people asked what I did, which in my mind makes me think it still looks sort of factory to the untrained eye. I did NOT paint the emblem, I left that chrome so now it really jumps out of the grill and seems to have more depth... go figure.
I promise I will post pics as soon as I have them, I broke my digital camera a few months ago and just haven't got around to replacing it - but I am going to borrow my fathers tonight and snap some pics.
#44
05-01-2007 | 06:18 PM
a few years back i had a prelude and i wasnt confident in myself doing so either.
i even paid someone to retrofit some projectors for me,forgot how i paid but he did a horrible job. i got my money back but i end up with a mess up headlight. after that i thought why not just mess with it myself, while doing so i had hidplanet.com to help me out. it wasnt that hard afterall.
my point is if your not confident in doing so either pay someone to do or buy a set of old headlights, any headlights for that matter. ebay has some cheap ones or even junk yards. try taking apart yourself and get a feel for it.
i even paid someone to retrofit some projectors for me,forgot how i paid but he did a horrible job. i got my money back but i end up with a mess up headlight. after that i thought why not just mess with it myself, while doing so i had hidplanet.com to help me out. it wasnt that hard afterall.
my point is if your not confident in doing so either pay someone to do or buy a set of old headlights, any headlights for that matter. ebay has some cheap ones or even junk yards. try taking apart yourself and get a feel for it.
#45
05-01-2007 | 06:43 PM
Originally Posted by prelude555
a few years back i had a prelude and i wasnt confident in myself doing so either.
i even paid someone to retrofit some projectors for me,forgot how i paid but he did a horrible job. i got my money back but i end up with a mess up headlight. after that i thought why not just mess with it myself, while doing so i had hidplanet.com to help me out. it wasnt that hard afterall.
my point is if your not confident in doing so either pay someone to do or buy a set of old headlights, any headlights for that matter. ebay has some cheap ones or even junk yards. try taking apart yourself and get a feel for it.
i even paid someone to retrofit some projectors for me,forgot how i paid but he did a horrible job. i got my money back but i end up with a mess up headlight. after that i thought why not just mess with it myself, while doing so i had hidplanet.com to help me out. it wasnt that hard afterall.
my point is if your not confident in doing so either pay someone to do or buy a set of old headlights, any headlights for that matter. ebay has some cheap ones or even junk yards. try taking apart yourself and get a feel for it.
After a few years, I'll prob have no problem tearing it down.