A&Q about 350Z
Q:
Does anyone have a pic of a Z with the headlight casings in a black or graphite color instead of chrome? I was trying to decide if this is even possible, as it seems most of the casing is for functionality and "smoked out" casings may inhibit the performance of the light. I am thinking about doing this to my Z, but I want to know what it looks like and it will it affect the lumiscence?
Who can help me? I tried searching on google but to no avail...plus, thats what this forum is for, right (advice)?
Previously owned: 2005 Z Enthusiast, Super Black, 6 spd.
Currently lease: 2006 Pathfinder S, Silver, Auto
"She is (and always will be) my little deuce coupe, you don't know what I got!"
A:
Damn I'm good :)
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REMOVING THE FRONT BUMPER
1. Open up your hood and remove 6 clips on top of your bumper with a flat head screwdriver.
2. Under your car has (8)10mm screws that need to be remove with a 10mm socket wrench
3. Where you fender and bumper touch, on each side has a 10mm screws. Remove them.
4. From inside, under the headlight should have (2)10mm screws. Remove them
5. The front bumper should come right off, if not please double check for any left over screws that may have not come off.
REMOVING THE HEADLIGHTS AND WIRE (HID)
1. There are (4) 10mm screws that need to be remove with 10mm socket wrench.
2. Once you pull out the headlights, remove the wire clip that hold it and everything should be completely out.
3. Behind the headlights has a weather seal to protect the bulbs. Remove that by turning counter-clock wise
4. Since my Z has HID, on the bottom should be the ballast that need to be remove using a phillip screwdriver (3 screws each side)
5. Unclip the ballast and remove the wire from it.
6. Remove all turns/parking light bulbs.
7. Remove the HID bulbs and wire using a screwdriver. Including the wire clip that hold down the bulb. BEWARE!!! REMEBER HOW IT IS PLACE. Putting it back is a pain for me.
OPENING UP THE HEADLIGHT (Emeril Style BAMM)
1. On your headlight should have small phillip screws around them that need to be remove (forgot how many)
2. Preheat your cooking oven @ 250 degree for 5 minutes.
3. 5 min is up, sit a piece of WET cardboard on top of the plate.
4. Place your headlight on top of the WET cardboard. (make sure no wires or bulbs are attached
5. Bake your headlight for 7 minutes.
6. After 7 minutes, remove it from the oven. The silicone should be
melted. With your bare hand, try to open it up by tugging and pulling. If you are not the Incredible Hulk like me, you may need a 2nd person to help you or use a flat head to pry it open.
7. While opening, make sure no silicone stick inside your housing. If yes try to clean it off.
* In case you can't open it. re-wet the cardboard and throw it back in for about 3 minute should be good.
BLACK HOUSING (Whatever you do from here is your choice)
1. The other housing is held by (2)phillip screwdriver that need to be remove. Everything else should be out.
2. The orange strip is easy to remove so I'am sure anyone can do this.
3. Paint the outer housing with primer.
4. Once primer you paint the other housing with flat black paint.
5. I paint only a small portion of the inner housing but you'll need masking tape to cover the part where you don't want paint.
6. You need to let the paint dry first before putting everything back together.
* However you want to do is your black housing is up to you
BACK TO THE OVER!!!
1. Push your headlight back together as much as you can.
2. re-wet the cardboard.
3. @ 250 degree place the headlight on top of the cardboard for3 min. (not nesscary to pre-heat)
4. Remove it and push your headlight back together as much as your can. Try your best not to have any opening.
5. Once together, have some silicone (can pick one up @ your local auto store) and spread it along the housing. this will cover any open holes.
6. Let it dry before re-installing them.
* Those tiny phillip on step 1 of OPENING UP THE HEADLIGHT, I don't think you can put them back on, but I may be wrong.
TADA!!!
Once the silicone is dry, just go backward on removing everything. Here is some personal tips.
1. Begin this project early, in case you do things wrong you still have sunlight.
2. A helping hand is always A+. Be thankful and treat them out of lunch.
3. Please have all the nessacary tools ready
4. Organize all the screws your remove.
5. Re-installing the HID is a pain IMO. Please remeber how they're place so you know how to install them.
6. Make sure everything is properly seal. You don't want water or moisture in there. Because the ballast is on the bottom. I'am afraid that water gets in and sink to the bottom it will damage your ballast.
7. Like all DIY projects do at your own risk and please don't blame me if you don't like it.
I hope that this information really help you guys. All I ask in return is just credits or a twin turbo kit . If there is any questions feel free to ask or email me @ LaoSiFu@Aol.com.
with clear signal strips
this car is orgasmic...some guy form hawaii i think
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
Post Edited (May 8, 1:10pm)
A:
how about body colored?
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
A:
That looks incredible... I just stare at it like I am in a trance.
Look at my pic in my profile and tell me that would not look sweet on my car in black.
Previously owned: 2005 Z Enthusiast, Super Black, 6 spd.
Currently lease: 2006 Pathfinder S, Silver, Auto
"She is (and always will be) my little deuce coupe, you don't know what I got!"
A:
BTW...thanks for the response it was incredibly helpful...
I do have one question. Why does he back the headlight in the oven?
Previously owned: 2005 Z Enthusiast, Super Black, 6 spd.
Currently lease: 2006 Pathfinder S, Silver, Auto
"She is (and always will be) my little deuce coupe, you don't know what I got!"
A:
*back = bake...sorry
Previously owned: 2005 Z Enthusiast, Super Black, 6 spd.
Currently lease: 2006 Pathfinder S, Silver, Auto
"She is (and always will be) my little deuce coupe, you don't know what I got!"
A:
it would defintly look badass...just the black out would be really sweet, but if you cleared the orange turn signal strips in the headlight(you can buy the strips they're like $50 i think) and then buy clear side reflectors(i got mine for 40 but they sell them on ebay for like $10 nowadays) for the bumper that would be ideal.
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
A:
check this pic...you need to heat it to warm up the glue used to stick the two peices of the headlight together. you can see the two seperate parts in the pic. i think you can use a heat gun too but most people bake it.
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
A:
I guess with a twist of time and generations these guys would be laying smoked film on E-Type Jag glass headlight covers because it "looked cool."
Urf. Maybe it's time to leave this forum to the aftermarket fans.
Post Edited (May 8, 7:31pm)
A:
maybe it is. i love aftermarket shiz. it might just be me, but i think stock Zs don't look that great.
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
aww c'mon 72, you know im a pretty subtle mod proponent...i dont think the headlight mods i posted look really ridiculous or anything. Haven't done it to my car yet but i'd consider it. The old E type jags(which i love by the way) didnt have all that chrome in the housing(except for the ring around the light) and were a singular round headlight no orange reflectors or bulbs showing... the indentations were body colored as well. If anything i think this mod lends itself to a more simplistic headlight design like they had back in the day. It also looks a lot more badass IMO.
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
Post Edited (May 8, 8:02pm)
A:
It's your car.
Dicked up is as dicked up looks, though.
A:
by your logic, the Miura would look better with a CF wing on stilts and the Daytona would look better with ducted, tacked on side skirts.
Give me a break. The factory design teams worked for years and really earned their pay. Now you're ready to lay on some jack-leg stick-on design to simply to make a statement.
Go back to the E-Type. You're the sort that would tint the headlight covers simply to look different.
Dicked up is as dicked up looks.
A:
"it might just be me, but i think stock Zs don't look that great." - justinrhenry
you are banned ;) hehe
'04 Daytona Blue 350Z Enthusiast - B-Stock #34
Tanabe Sustec 36mm chromoly front sway bar
K&N drop in air filter
Hawk HPS brake pads
Pioneer Premier CD/MP3 head unit
18% tint rear and sides
A:
I think the reduction in headlight output will only happen if I paint the actual housing of the bulb. If I follow the style as pictured above, I don't think it will affect output at all...any thoughts from anyone?
Previously owned: 2005 Z Enthusiast, Super Black, 6 spd.
Currently lease: 2006 Pathfinder S, Silver, Auto
"She is (and always will be) my little deuce coupe, you don't know what I got!"
A:
call em ricers 72!! call em' ricers!!!
73' 240z: F54 4.2L, OS Giken LY DOHC Crossflow head, 17:3comp.ratio, N33, Tripple SU's, T10 Hybrid Draw-Through TT @ 47pds, Roots&Centrifugal Type supercharger, 3-2-1 headers, Centerforce 4 clutch, 6oz flywheel, R300 differential, Super-Hicas
A:
Not sure what his deal is? *cough* hypocrite *cough*
A:
I was a bit off target with my comments last night. Sorry to all.
Good luck with the mods, kids. To each his own, right?
A:
eric, i mostly mean the wheels. the 17s that came on my Z are just about as ugly as they get imo.
i just got the bluebatmobile overlays too. much nicer than the crap i got off ebay before. (twice as expensive though)
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
Hey, hey.....I love my 17's! The riding comfort is GREAT too!
My SB ZR still feels like HEAVEN....what a wild ride!
A:
yours look much better than mine did. ;}
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
72's inlays are installed on the rear turn signals, not on the headlights...
apples to oranges!
Mod to what ever makes you happy.
I love the car for what I saw before I bought it and still do!
-Zanioed '03 Le Mans Sunset Touring Coupe w/ Nav.
A:
he's conceded about his comment before so I think that part of the conversation is over, but I agree with the ending part of mod whatever makes you happy :)