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Best fade resistant plastic headlight housing? #1383489
02/08/13 09:41 AM
02/08/13 09:41 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162
USA
3
360view Offline OP
Moparts resident spammer
360view  Offline OP
Moparts resident spammer
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162
USA
Does any particular maker of Chrysler headlight housings use a plastic that is more resistant to fading yellow?

What brand name?

I need a pair for a 1995 Ram 1500.

The OEM housings have now been polished twice,
but the passenger side
now also has broken
at an adjustment mounting boss,
so I am going to replace both and hoping to buy ones that will stay clear the longest.

Does anyone make one out of glass?

Re: Best fade resistant plastic headlight housing? [Re: 360view] #1383490
02/08/13 02:11 PM
02/08/13 02:11 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
cjskotni Offline
pro stock
cjskotni  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
I don't know of a specific brand to go with that wouldn't turn yellow but I wanted to point out that it is sunlight that does that. The UV rays in sunlight cause the plastic to discolor so, if possible, maybe try parking out of the sun when you can?

Maybe you already knew this but I have seen cars that parked regularly in such a way that half the car was shaded half was in sunlight, and the difference over time in the two headlights was night and day as far as to how badly (or not) they yellowed.

I know your pain as that yellowing drives me crazy as well....

Good luck!

Re: Best fade resistant plastic headlight housing? [Re: 360view] #1383491
02/08/13 08:28 PM
02/08/13 08:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162
USA
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360view Offline OP
Moparts resident spammer
360view  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162
USA
I sure wish someone would make one out of glass,
the brake and signal housings beside the headlight have stayed clear.

If i have to buy plastic headlights again i will try to wipe them with 303 Protectant.
303 spray maybe once a year seems to have lengthened the life of my factory plastic dashboard to 15 years but it did eventually crack apart.

Re: Best fade resistant plastic headlight housing? [Re: 360view] #1383492
02/08/13 10:31 PM
02/08/13 10:31 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 821
NW Ohio
6
6pkaar Offline
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6pkaar  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 821
NW Ohio
I'd just get the cheap ones from Ebay and replace if needed in 3 years or so. Thet're selling for $70.00 a pair, $73.00 if you want new bulbs with them.... that even includes shipping. I bought a set off Ebay for my Town and Country a couple of years back for $60.00 a pair including bulbs and they still look like new.

Re: Best fade resistant plastic headlight housing? [Re: 6pkaar] #1383493
02/09/13 05:17 PM
02/09/13 05:17 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,305
Lakewood, Colorado
herkamer Offline
pro stock
herkamer  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,305
Lakewood, Colorado
Best bet is to get a new pair, wet sand them with 1200 grit sandpaper and shoot a couple coats of clear urethane over it. Will stop all of that.


Matt
69 Dart Swinger 340
83 W350, Megasquirted with 46RH
Old news: 72 Demon street/race mobile
Latest: 70 Duster backhalf car
and even more
Re: Best fade resistant plastic headlight housing? [Re: 360view] #1383494
02/09/13 05:20 PM
02/09/13 05:20 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 624
Modesto CA
B
BFASTER Offline
mopar
BFASTER  Offline
mopar
B

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 624
Modesto CA
So, from the factory the plastic lens' are clearcoated with some crappy clear that deteriorates due to sunlight and heat from the light bulbs, leaving you with bare plastic that hazes rather quickly even if you polish them. Your best bet is to have them re-cleared...in other words, take it to a reputable bodyshop and ask them how much to reclear your headlights. They should do it for under $100 bucks and the clearcoat will not fade in your trucks' lifetime! I just did a 1996 Ram P/U with some professional grade spraycan clear that I get at my bodyshop supplier and they came out looking like new, so imagine how durable they'll be if they use a good 2 part urethane clear.


1969 Dodge Super Bee Hardtop 2007 Nissan Altima 3.5SE






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