Restoring headlights

[Lilybet74]

Hi all!

I've just been watching how to restore Zed headlights. Mine are a bit cloudy. I thought I'd just ask if anyone else has had this problem and gone ahead and cleaned them. It says to use acrylic werks.... Is there a UK version?

Advice and top tips greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Lisa

 

[andyglym]

Hi all!

I've just been watching how to restore Zed headlights. Mine are a bit cloudy. I thought I'd just ask if anyone else has had this problem and gone ahead and cleaned them. It says to use acrylic werks.... Is there a UK version?

Advice and top tips greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Lisa

@Lilybet74

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&s...oQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNEZrJBGDqXdrUXNFOrKBVt1eCKf-A

Not done it myself but used it on my rear screen and works a treat. If it's good enough for aircraft canopies .........
Hope this helps?

Andy

 

[MartinN]

I

@Lilybet74

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&s...oQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNEZrJBGDqXdrUXNFOrKBVt1eCKf-A

Not done it myself but used it on my rear screen and works a treat. If it's good enough for aircraft canopies .........
Hope this helps?

Andy

I used Brasso on my older car when it failed mot for dim lights.the tester thought I put higher wattage bulbs in at the retest. A good polish with a soft cloth worked fine.

 

[Brian4]

I used T cut scratch remover (in a tube) then normal T cut and then a good polish.

There are some headlight restoration kits around but not used them

 

[ZTec]

Hi all!

I've just been watching how to restore Zed headlights. Mine are a bit cloudy. I thought I'd just ask if anyone else has had this problem and gone ahead and cleaned them. It says to use acrylic werks.... Is there a UK version?

Advice and top tips greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Lisa

I've used this, works well.

 

[GazHyde]

This is what we used a while back...

https://zroadster.org/threads/meguiars-headlight-restoration-kit.5934/

 

[t-tony]

I use the Greygate Polish. Excellent product available on eBay and Amazon. Also very good on the rear screen too.

Tony.

 

[Cooper]

Go to youtube and search headlight restoration. There is so much information it is unreal. The basic concept is mild abrasion to get rid of the cloudyness then seal with a uv stabalized sealer. Should come up like new.

 

[Brian4]

Just started to clean @Millhouse headlights tonight but left him to finish them off.

T cut scratch remover, then normal t cut then polish. Started a small area on the top right of the light and now you can see the bulbs at least.

 

[Mint]

Hi @Lilybet74, I did mine a couple of years ago with a '3m headlight restoration kit'. I got it from Amazon IIRC it was about £15. You basically sand the headlight with different grades of paper using an electric drill. Brilliant results.

I did not take a before picture but this was after the first sanding on the passengers side:

Finished passengers side:

Finished drivers side:

Just another option without much elbow grease.

 

[Lilybet74]

So it can be done then. Thanks Chaps. I'll give it a go. Good to know you can use the same technique on the rear windscreen too.

I'll have to get cracking once I get back from holiday

 

[oldcarman]

Wh

So it can be done then. Thanks Chaps. I'll give it a go. Good to know you can use the same technique on the rear windscreen too.

I'll have to get cracking once I get back from holiday

Where are you holidaying @Lilybet74? Did I miss it? Enjoy!! JIM

 

[DaveB]

Plastic lenses were a problem on my Toyota Supra, the MK4 supra owners club have excellent write ups and even a guy who will do the job for you if you post him the lenses.

 

[Lilybet74]

Wh

Where are you holidaying @Lilybet74? Did I miss it? Enjoy!! JIM

We just got back from Cuba Jim. Have to say it was a bit warmer than here. We'd have no problem getting the top down there. Didn't see any Zed's but there's plenty of classics! Fantastic place!!

 

[oldcarman]

Glad you had a good time!! Yes lots of old American cars still running around Cuba. No Zeds ever would have made it in as they were Born in the USA!! Don't know where they get the parts to keep all those oldies running though with the embargoes in place. JIM

 

[Triang]

Well you can spend a pretty penny on special compounds and cleaners with impressive names or... you can do as I did with the same results for next to nowt...or approximately £0.00.5p!!!

Here's your secret - go into your bathroom for one of the magic ingredients...toothpaste! (Colgate preferred)

Then rummage around the house for the second... any car wax!


Then follow this short and helpful video for advice - always works with me!

View: https://youtu.be/4QwzHOO-3lk

 

[Lilybet74]

Glad you had a good time!! Yes lots of old American cars still running around Cuba. No Zeds ever would have made it in as they were Born in the USA!! Don't know where they get the parts to keep all those oldies running though with the embargoes in place. JIM

They seem to have stripped the engines and replaced them with diesel ones, much to John's horror! There were still a few with the original engines though. All great fun

 

[Lilybet74]

Well you can spend a pretty penny on special compounds and cleaners with impressive names or... you can do as I did with the same results for next to nowt...or approximately £0.00.5p!!!

Here's your secret - go into your bathroom for one of the magic ingredients...toothpaste! (Colgate preferred)

Then rummage around the house for the second... any car wax!


Then follow this short and helpful video for advice - always works with me!

View: https://youtu.be/4QwzHOO-3lk

I'll let you know how it works. I'm about to give it a go!

Thank you!

 

[t-tony]

They seem to have stripped the engines and replaced them with diesel ones, much to John's horror! There were still a few with the original engines though. All great fun

I saw on one TV programme that the Cubans also used the plentiful Lada engines in the old yank tanks to keep them moving!

Tony.

 

[Jack Ratt]

I saw on one TV programme that the Cubans also used the plentiful Lada engines in the old yank tanks to keep them moving!

Tony.

I saw a similar programme showing how these guys kept the old classic cars on the road. The main thing that has stuck in my mind was the way they took panels from one car and just "panel beat" it into a different shape to fit another car. They showed 2 guys cutting the roof and boot lit off an old huge cruiser and because the "doner" steel sheet was relatively flat they said they could make anything for anything from it.

All they had to work with were leather pads, wooden mallets and only their own hand made panel beating tools.

It was amazing to see. I'm sure it must be somewhere on Youtube now