First big modification on my car

[agp423]

Can you tell the difference?! What do you think?

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[BrianPow84]

Re: First big modification on my car

you changed the front liscence plate good for you ????

[Megafast13]

Re: First big modification on my car

Clear reflectors look great!

How does it look lit up? I know those are the DRL's on Cadillac

[agp423]

Re: First big modification on my car

Clear reflectors look great!

How does it look lit up? I know those are the DRL's on Cadillac

DRL and blinkers use the same bulb. DRL/blinkers are on top half, fogs are on the bottom half. And I hated the look of DRL (stupid orange on top of fog lights) so I disabled it. I wanted to hook the DRL wire to the foglight wire so I can use the fogs as DRL, but I think that the car looks better with all the lights off than with the fogs on with the clear lens. It looks great lit up as well, but you just can't tell that it's different from the rest. I will take some more pictures when the weather gets better.

you changed the front liscence plate good for you ????

Sir, I want that car in your avatar.
And my plate frame cost more than changing the lens...

[Eddie6th]

Re: First big modification on my car

Looks better AGP.

The days of the orange lenses should be long gone.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: First big modification on my car

Great mod- one of the first things I do with all of my vehicles. It's the subtle stuff that makes the difference when it is all said and done.

[page2171]

Re: First big modification on my car

Great mod! It really cleans up the look of the front end and does so in a nice subtle way. Love it!

[dope92cc]

Re: First big modification on my car

Awww. I was expecting to see the CTS painted black, or even a CTS-V hood.

And Brian's 68 tempest is for sale.

Cool after pic. Your projectors look like cat eyes.

[CieraSL]

Re: First big modification on my car

How much did that cost? I think changing my yellow lights would look a lot better. I guess I never thought about it until you pointed it out, then it was like, Wow! That does look better!

[dope92cc]

Re: First big modification on my car

Shane, are those light lenses or reflectors?

[dope92cc]

Re: First big modification on my car

Shane, are those light lenses or reflectors?

I've got a better idea! Smoke 'em!!! Color matching them might look cool but you can't go wrong with black.

Go to Oreilly's, get a little rubber sanding pad, some wet/dry sand paper (1500 & 2000), wax & grease remover, what ever paint you want to color the lenses, and a can of clear lacquer.

Take out your lights, use wax and grease remover, cover the socket holes with duct tape (or any other tape that won't leak), sand them, wipe them down again with the solvent, spray a few very light coats of color(or black), then plenty of clear.

[CieraSL]

Re: First big modification on my car

Shane, are those light lenses or reflectors?

They're actually for my turn signals, so I'm not sure smoking them is my best option. Cool idea though!

[dope92cc]

Re: First big modification on my car

Actually, smoking lenses (when done right) doesn't cut very much light. Even with regular bulbs. When my brother did his 3rd breaklight, he held the can 12-14" from the lens. It looked pretty dark, but we saw how much light passed through with a drill battery. when lit, it looked pretty much the same as it did pre-smoked, but actually looked good.

It's your call. Don't feel pressured.
Edit.
You could probably get an extra pair of lenses at a junk yard or eBay.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: First big modification on my car

Subtle change. But very effective. Looks great.

[agp423]

Re: First big modification on my car

How much did that cost? I think changing my yellow lights would look a lot better. I guess I never thought about it until you pointed it out, then it was like, Wow! That does look better!

Well... long story. I read some guides on how to do this on the Cadillac forums, and they all said to use 8 by 8in 1/4in think lexan lens, so I bought a set of those, but I also bought a set of 0.08in lexan lens, although I don't know why I did at the time. The lexan costs no more than $15 total, and I bought 3 packs of epoxy glue, which also cost around $15. I bought 8 big clamps for $4 each, but I returned them at the end of the project. So I guess a total of $30 or so.

First I pried off the factory lens, which was a pain in the neck. Then putting on the quarter inch think lens was even harder. It takes a lot of baking to make thsoe lens change shape, and after it changes shape it doesn't stay that way. The quarter inch lens popped off twice, and just as I was getting hopeless, I thought I should use the 0.08in lens. So I did, and it bends and forms the new shape so easily given a little amount of heat (despite popular belief, the original lens is no where near flat). Then I glued it, clamped it together for a few hours. Then sealed the edges with those silicone sealant things you use for your shower, which cost about $5.

So total less than $35, but it took a lot of time because I was just exploring how to do this project, nobody gave me a step by step guide on how to do this. I started Thursday morning and finished Friday afternoon.