T-Series Headlights

[ST]

Does anybody know where I can get some of the T-series headlights like these?


Cheers.

[superroo]

You can take the headlight apart and paint the bezel.
On base au's they were gray, on fairmonts the were chrome, on T series they were either black or body coloured.

The tutorial was on the old aufalcon.com, but not yet on the new one (casper has the tut), so here it is
I did mine this was and they've turned out quite well

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Disassemble AU headlights

This tech guide will assist you in disassembling the standard AU headlights. Why would you want to do this? Most people do it so that they can paint the bezel, but it may be because you get moisture in yours and you want to fix it.

AU headlight lenses are stuck in with a heat affected Silastic so you can put them in an oven to heat the Silastic to enable the lens section to be pulled from the casing.

It is assumed that you have already removed the headlight from the vehicle, and removed all globes and wiring from the headlight, except for the parker globe and wiring which is integrated into the headlight unit and is not easy (and also is not necessary) to remove.

Disassembly of AU Headlights

1. Preheat oven to 100 degrees Celsius.

2. Place one headlight on greaseproof paper on an oven tray and place in oven for 5 minutes

3. Remove headlight from oven and try prising the lens away from the casing. Dont try to pull the lens and the insert together - the insert is screwed in by 1 screw behind the indicator

Note: If the lens will not pull away easily from the casing, put the light back in the oven for an additional 2 minutes and Repeat step 3. Continue to do this until the lens pulls away easily from the casing. I do not recommend having the lights in the oven for any more than 15 minutes, as this may lead to melting of the casing.

4. Remove the indicator lens by releasing the 3 little tags that hold it in place. You get to these from behind - use a small flat screwdriver to lift each tab while pulling slightly on the indicator lens. If you break a tab, just superglue it back on

5. Undo the screw holding the chrome/silver insert (the screw is located behind the indicator lens that you just removed).

Preparing & Painting the Insert/Bezel

1. Clean the chrome from the bezel using a scourer, sandpaper, or use Wax & Grease Remover and a rag & rub hard

2. Wash the insert with warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.

3. Prime the insert well using a quality acrylic primer (MotorPro, Holts, Power Plus and Series 500 are all reasonably good brands)

Note 1: Plastic Primer is not required.

Note 2: If you use engine enamel or brake/calliper paint, there is no need to prime at all.

4. Once the primer has dried, use whatever colour topcoat you want. Matt or gloss colours are fine, though Matt finish tends to look better. There is no need to spray a clear-coat on top of the colour-coat.

Cleaning/drying water from the lens

1. Let the lens cool after you get them apart

2. Use a mist type spray bottle (something like the armour-all bottles filled with clean water) and spray the reflector and the inside of the lens.

3. Using some really soft tissues, gently wipe the lens and/or reflector in straight lines. Do NOT rub or you will scratch the lens.

(Kleenex is a suitable brand - make sure to get the plain ones as the Aloe Vera ones leave an oily smear on the lens).

4. Before you re-assemble the light put the lens and the body/reflector in the oven again for about 5 minutes to make sure to completely dry them out.

Re-assembly of AU Headlights

1. Refit the (painted) insert and secure it in position with the screw.

2. Refit the indicator lens by pushing it slowly and carefully into position (you don?t want to scratch your new paint)

3. Squirt a little black Silastic in the channel so the light doesn?t leak and carefully fit the lens on

Note: If you use too much Silastic you will end up with a black mess. If you don?t use enough, the light will not seal properly.

4. Put the light in the oven on the same temp and wait bout 5 minutes (ish) for the Silastic to heat

5. Press the lens on fully and get some cloth or masking tape and tape the lens on "tightly" from front to back. This will ensure the lens doesn?t pop out while setting

6. Wait around 30 minutes for the Silastic to set, then remove the tape holding the lens to the casing.

7. Re-install the light globes etc and install the headlight assembly back in the car.



Thanks to MADNC_8 for the original method as posted on http://www.fordforums.com/ .

[JC]

I recognise that article, and especially the photo of my headlight on the back table. But yes, without MADNC_8, the article would not exist.

[LUXO_8]

Originally Posted by JC

I recognise that article, and especially the photo of my headlight on the back table. But yes, without MADNC_8, the article would not exist.

i feel honoured.... :

[GlennBA]

They look good body colour like au1/2 T series as well. Tibbo and myself did it to my old car.

[ST]

I don't know if I can be bothered doing it! Plus my old lights have had it.

So there is no way to buy them these days?

[JC]

Originally Posted by RTSW

I don't know if I can be bothered doing it! Plus my old lights have had it.

So there is no way to buy them these days?

You can probably get a set, but even a few years ago, they were in excess of $400 each from Ford.

[AK]

Try here: http://theheadlighthospital.com.au/

[99VCTFairlane]

is that tute process the same for the LWB lights too to get the T series look?

[GlennBA]

Originally Posted by 99VCTFairlane

is that tute process the same for the LWB lights too to get the T series look?

I dare say it would be mate. Its obvious how they come apart once the lens is off the front.

[LUXO_8]

in a fassion yes........there are 2 screws at the grill end of the light.....
they're a PITA to get apart without getting sealant everywhere, though if you're painting the inserts it wont matter so much.... use some prepsol or similar to get the sealant off the trims, "only when they've cooled down"

be VERY careful removing the clear lenses on the indicators as they break rather easily.. there are 2 of them on the fairlanes..... there are 2 more screws under the seccond clear lens

you'll have to remove the glass lenses from the trim over the low and high beam lights.......be careful with the clinps as you'll need to re-use these, also again be careful not to break or scratch the glass.

they're a pain to reseal....use a little more sealant than you'd use on a falcon, when putting them together, tape is your best friend to make sure you get them to go together

they're a lot more involved than the falcon ones, but are still a nice touch on a modded car and are well worth doing

[LUXO_8]

^^was that of any help?^^

[ELEPHT_70]

Ugh I'm going to attempt this on my series 1 Fairlane Ghia.
Trouble is, my oven isn't big enough haha!!

[Dauphin]

This thread is 8 years old but I also plan to do it one day (colour code to grey).

[Uncle_Ken]

Originally Posted by ELEPHT_70

Ugh I'm going to attempt this on my series 1 Fairlane Ghia.
Trouble is, my oven isn't big enough haha!!

OK you can do two things.
1. Use you BBQ if its big enough or go to a mates place that has one (mine was only a 3 burner)
or
2. Use a hair dryer and flat head screw driver. Heat near a corner and work your way around levering out with the screw driver. Once you get it started use another one to keep the pressure on. Do it slowly so u dont wreak the plastic.

UK

[ELEPHT_70]

Thanks mate I like the hair-dryer idea. I was going to pinch a mate's heat gun. Our maybe his oven lol.
Cheers!

[ELEPHT_70]

Originally Posted by Dauphin

This thread is 8 years old but I also plan to do it one day (colour code to grey).

Love me a good thread dig!!

[JC]

Originally Posted by ELEPHT_70

Ugh I'm going to attempt this on my series 1 Fairlane Ghia.
Trouble is, my oven isn't big enough haha!!

Neither was mine. It doesn't really matter as you're only heating it to the oven's lowest temp anyway. Or use the heatgun/hair drier method.

[ELEPHT_70]

Yep. They're quite large when removed. Lucky wifey didn't catch me with car parts in the oven. She went sideways when I put bmx parts in the dishwasher haha ��!!!

[JC]

Just make sure they don't touch the sides or the door, back etc - the plastic will melt and it will stick to the oven. You need them on a tray on greaseproof paper.

[Uncle_Ken]

JC (as always) is correct be carffull
Here is the link to the How To I did (built on from that MADNC_8 and JC had done)

http://www.fordforums.com.au/vbporta...articleid=1250

UK

[mif73]

Hi guys,
UK's post is pretty good, but I will add my 2 cents...

I pulled apart my lights a couple of years ago using a paint strip gun and screw drivers to pry it apart.

Keep moving the gun on low around the seal joint to heat evenly on some carpet or non scratch surface while wearing gloves as the goo is messy .

Keep prep wash or similar handy to clean the goo up as it gets stringy like mozzarella cheese from a slice of hot pizza .

Don't re-seal with Silicon or Sika Flex as you may not be able to open it again,
I used Butyl rubber so I could heat it again to re-open and have not had any leaks or condensation.
You can get it in a cartridge at Bunnings.

The chrome on the bezel flakes off when touched, just fine sand or scotch bright it, engine enamel black works well as you don't need a primer. I also agree that matt or satin is best for this application.

For assembly, use a little even heat all round and elec tape to hold together until it all cools.

I am considering repainting mine from black to light or dark grey metallic and fitting DRL's in there somewhere in the future.

Good luck,
Andrew.

[Silver']

If you're oven is big enough, placing the assembly on wood is a good idea.

Heat gun works quite well, though I'm considering making a redneck oven out of a box and my heat gun (it is variable temp and goes down to 100 celcius) to see if that helps.

[meanfalcon]

I have contemplated replacing the headlights on my LTD but I am not sure they are still available. They have become a bit foggy and one of them has a brown tinge to it. makes the whole car look crappy. It has a list of problems that will cost as much as the car is worth to fix, but it is straight, comfortable and has a strong 302 that runs on LPG.

[Silver']

The headlight refurbishing kits might be a better bet for you? The results are always surprisingly good.