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360 Open Light Surgery

Discussion in '360/430' started by Scott SMC, Aug 8, 2012.

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  1. Scott SMC

    Scott SMC Karting

    Mar 14, 2011
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    #1 Scott SMC, Aug 8, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    My 1st technical post here on F-Chat.....but to give you some background, my friend who owns a Nero Daytona Black Euro 360 which was Federalized some time ago was experiencing the all too often and dreaded "headlight fog" which is inside the front headlights and not easily remedied. Since his mechanic was not will to perform the job, and the thought of breaking his only set of headlight and possibly putting his car out of commission until new ones were sourced.....he opted for a "new" set of lights to be installed and rather than leaving the "fogged ones" at the shop that performed the new install....I picked them up and have begun the process of restoring them.

    Below are some photos which illustrate my progress to date....which I will be updating as I complete the project over the next week or so.

    Enjoy....

    Scott

    Photo #1 - Headlight secured in a work bench
    Photo #2 - Carefully Cutting the Seal
    Photo #3 & 4 - Carefully Releasing the Seal
    Photo #5 - Success !!!!!!!!
    Photo # 6 - Cleaning old sealant off of the Lens
    Photo #7 - After Wet Sanding the Lens (inside and outside)1st hand polish to see results
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  2. djastral69

    djastral69 Formula 3
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    #2 djastral69, Aug 8, 2012
    More please :)
     
  3. Andrew360

    Andrew360 Rookie

    Jul 23, 2012
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    #3 Andrew360, Aug 8, 2012
    This is exactly what I need to do this winter. Please post more pics when you have the chance!

    Best,

    A
     
  4. zippyslug31

    zippyslug31 Formula 3

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    #4 zippyslug31, Aug 8, 2012
    Meanwhile, one slip with one of those sharp knives........

    Why not use plastic scrapers or the like?
     
  5. FTA

    FTA Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2011
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    #5 FTA, Aug 8, 2012
    I would guess you need something made of steel to work into that seam -- its probably quite rigid. Maybe a thin metal paint scraper woudl be a little safer due to no sharpened edge (but probably still dangerous if slipped).

    Nice job Scott. I especially like the use of the 100 dollar bill in the image :)
     
  6. mr_bock

    mr_bock Formula 3

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    #6 mr_bock, Aug 8, 2012
    +1
    Nice work!!!
     
  7. Philcat

    Philcat Karting

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    #7 Philcat, Aug 8, 2012
    What are you going to do with those Nero lights after you're done with them?
     
  8. Scott SMC

    Scott SMC Karting

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    #8 Scott SMC, Aug 8, 2012
    Sharp Knive - Patience and two hands on the blades hadles at all times...also I am left handed so I rotate the light so I am always cutting to the left and away from myself....it takes more time this way but I'm not up for a trip to the ER.

    Plastic Scraper - won't work....I am dealing with 12 year old epoxy and in some spots it has hardened...I have found that a thin blade serrated steak knife really comes in handy and works really well (don't tell my wife
     
  9. Scott SMC

    Scott SMC Karting

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    #9 Scott SMC, Aug 8, 2012
    more photos tommorrow (8/10) as I am going to start polishing the lens mechanically tommorrow.....just have a few touch ups to do with the wet sanding.

    Also I am doing one at a time.....so I'll have a real before and after.
     
  10. Scott SMC

    Scott SMC Karting

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    #10 Scott SMC, Aug 8, 2012
    Probably will sell them as my buddy has new OEM Ferrari lights in his 360 now, so he doesn't need......and they won't fit on my Porsche.
     
  11. hangarsixco

    hangarsixco Formula Junior

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    #11 hangarsixco, Aug 8, 2012
    Scott,

    The tricky part is keeping them static free after you polish the plastic lens. It is very tricky to keep dust particles out of the fixture and off the lens during the reseal process. My recommendation is to pick up a feather duster or something like that to brush off the dust particles. I recommend working in a dark room with an LED light when dusting them as this will help you see all the fine particles that stick to the lens and fixture. Work in the cleanest environment possible during the reseal process. Also do not over load the silicone channel or it will ooze into the fixture.

    Nice job on the separation, it's not an easy task.

    Chris.
     
  12. Scott SMC

    Scott SMC Karting

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    #12 Scott SMC, Aug 9, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I made some real progress today....I finished the wet sanding and polished the lens using a headlight restoration polish and a wool buffer on an electric drill.

    I am quite pleased with the results...enjoy the photos.

    Photo #8 - on the bench being polished
    Photo #9 - my Son Tim holding polished lens
    Photo #10 - Lens after second polishing pass
    Photo #11 - Lens back on light (test fit not resealed)
    Photo #12 - before and after (fogged lens (right) is the matching one)
    Photo #13 - before and after in equal lighting you can really see the difference
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  13. FTA

    FTA Formula Junior

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    #13 FTA, Aug 9, 2012
    Nice job, Scott.

    If you want to hold off until the next C&C, I can bring some special plastic cleaner which is used in the pinball trade. Might make restoration of the other lens easier. The stuff is called Novus and I have all three 'grades' (1, 2, and 3).
     
  14. Bob in Texas

    Bob in Texas F1 Rookie

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    #14 Bob in Texas, Aug 9, 2012
    Excellent job!
    How long did it take for the polishing part? I bought a kit to restore the lights on my cayenne and it just didn't seem to reach the level you have obtained.
     
  15. Kevin Rev'n

    Kevin Rev'n Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #15 Kevin Rev'n, Aug 9, 2012
    That looks great.

    IWW: Has anyone tried to fill the housing up with a couple of handfuls of rice and a little water and then swirl it around to clean the fog up? I think the 308/328 guys were doing this to clean up their foggy yellow plastic turn signal lenses but was wondering if that might work here.

    Also when I was a lad we used to clean the coffee pots at work by putting chipped ice in them and some salt and swish it around. I am speaking from total ignorance on these light housings but wanted to mention it in case there is another solution out there somewhere that is less time consuming.
     
  16. Scott SMC

    Scott SMC Karting

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    #16 Scott SMC, Aug 9, 2012
    Tried that before I resorted to this......I actually used a vinegar and water solution.....and also a glass cleaner and water solution......unfortunately this seems to be the only fix....also once I opened them the fog/haze on the inside did not wipe off and required a wet sanding and polishing

    Scott
     
  17. Scott SMC

    Scott SMC Karting

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    #17 Scott SMC, Aug 9, 2012
    I used the McGuire's heavy duty kit which comes with polish and also a 1000 and 3000 grit wet sanding disks...it is available at pretty much any auto parts store for about $30-$40 dollars.
     
  18. Scott SMC

    Scott SMC Karting

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    #18 Scott SMC, Sep 16, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Thank you for everyones comments and feedback !!!! I am happy to say I finished up the second light today !!!! all in about 15 hours total ( I took my time) and not one trip to the hospital !!!!!!!!

    Here is a link to the for sale thread:

    http://ferrarichat.com/forum/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=10577

    Enjoy the photos and I'd rate the project on a scale of 1 to 10 a 3....and the only reason it isn't a 1 is you just need to take your time !!!!!

    Scott
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  19. RyanH

    RyanH Karting

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    #19 RyanH, Sep 16, 2012
    Nice job, looks so much better.
     
  20. Scott SMC

    Scott SMC Karting

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    #20 Scott SMC, Oct 2, 2012
    These lights have been sold.... Hope this thread helps one of you out in the future!!!!
     
  21. Ingpr

    Ingpr F1 Rookie

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    #21 Ingpr, Jan 3, 2013
    Hello,
    How did you reseal the lens???
    Thanks!
     
  22. Scott SMC

    Scott SMC Karting

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    #22 Scott SMC, Jan 4, 2013
    Ingpr,

    I didn't reseal them before I sold them as that would have limited the buyers to thise with a Nero Daytona Black 360.....but when I took them apart they appeared to have been sealed at the factory with a grey type sealer.

    I personally, would check out my local auto parts store and pick up some DIY windshield sealer or stop by the local safelite windshield shop and offer the tech a few $$'s to run a bead of the stuff they use when replacing windshields.

    Good Luck and glad to see this thread is inspiring and helping out as it was intended.

    Scott
     
  23. Ingpr

    Ingpr F1 Rookie

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    #23 Ingpr, Jan 4, 2013
    Thanks so much for the help!
    I will investigate in order to start this risky project!
     
  24. mike01606

    mike01606 Formula Junior

    Feb 21, 2012
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    #24 mike01606, Jan 4, 2013
    I've played around with different methods to clean out the headlight units with some success. It involves using a fabricated magnetic wiper placed inside the unit with it still in situ.
    It will never be as effective as splitting the lights but you also do not have to remove them or risk breaking them either.
    Mine look pretty perfect now whereas when I bought it there was quite a bit of staining on the lenses and fine dust inside the unit.

    I'll post some pics if interested..........M
     
  25. GWARREND

    GWARREND Formula Junior

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    #25 GWARREND, Jan 4, 2013
    Yes please...pics of the fabricated magnetic wiper.
     
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