KatsCam

OK, so I'm about to put my third pair of headlight blackouts (GTS) on my Camaro. Anyone know of a better way to mount them so they don't just fly off one day? Seems those brackets are made of the cheapest plastic on Earth. They break and you lose one. Gets expensive after a while...

FireChicken2.8

iTrader: (1)

are you looking for a semi perminant install? or something that will be removed on a daily basis?

1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

I actually found some on ebay a while back an i like the way the look bettr than the gts ones. they fit UNDER the hood and flat on the lights with two sided tape and velcro. send me your email and ill send you a picture of what i got and where i bought them. i think they were like 20 bucks or something. Let me know.

KatsCam

Semipermanent would be great. I hate taking them on and off.

FireChicken2.8

iTrader: (1)

hmm I have never actually dealt with them on a third gen.. But I assume they are just like the fourth gen ones. That has velcro brackets up at the top and the L ish shaped one that slides into the flat bracket on the bumper? If so, and you weren't opposed to drilling your bumper, you could put a small hole in the L and in the bumper and fish a little bolt through the hole... I'm sure someone else may have a better idea, in the mean time I will keep thinkin for ya!

KatsCam

No, the third gens are flat, and are held in between two cheap-a** plastic brackets that double-sided tape onto the inside of the headlight well. So, it's just tensioned in there, and when a bracket cracks, it flies off the car and disappears.

(I think they get eaten by gnomes or something, because I never have actually seen one leave. Just get somewhere and find I have only one instead of two.)

Yes, I could just pull them every time I'm going to get on the interstate, but that puts stress on the brackets, because you have to flex them a bit to get them in. Argh!

tony_cogliandro

iTrader: (3)

hey cats how is it going? are you talking about headlight covers that are vented? got a link to one? would like to see it.
thanks

Ca[maro]88

iTrader: (2)

i drilled two holes in each and took some self tapping screws and screwed the bracket into the car. then just slide the covers in from the bottom. it leaves 2 holes in each side of the headlight pocket, but they dont go anywhere. in fact one of my plastic clip things is cracked but it still holds. ill show some pics of it later.

FireChicken2.8

iTrader: (1)

Is it this type you are talking about? I like 88's idea with the self tapping screws, wouldn't look bad and they wouldn't go anywhere. Maybe give that a shot.

Irocz28NCHS

sorry kat not to steal ur thread but fire chicken where would i be able to purchase those headlight covers?

1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

here is pictures of what i bought for my 86 iroc. the look great and are hidden under the hood when closed and they wont fly off. got them on ebay i think i paid about 20 or 30 bucks

1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

i found them on ebay. i looked at the person that sold them to me. and he doesnt have them anymore. im not sure if he made tham himself or what. theres no brand name on them. do a search online thtas how i found them in the first place. good luck

FireChicken2.8

iTrader: (1)

He was looking for the other kind that cover up the pockets. Yours almost look like they were a home made style. They are cool, they take the universal covers to another step doin them in one piece! any pics from far back on the car?

Irocz28NCHS

thnx iroc350 but just lookin for the ones that cover the pocket

1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

i will take some pics tomm and post. too dark outside to do anything now. Ive blacked out ALL of my lights. I used Model paint called window tint on my fog lights/tail lights and side markers and parking lights. Everything is blacked out. Havent been pulled over for it yet. In florida its supposedly illegal. But i was told by a Seminole County sheriff sargent that as long as they are visible from at least 300 feet in the day or nite then i shouldnt have any problems. Unless of course you get that one cop that has a stick up his A$$ and try and bust me for anything he can. Although im pushing the limits with my 5% Limo tint all the way around as well.

WillSpeedy

can't you just get some metal brackets made like the plastic ones and screw them on.

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL.....

This thread makes me laugh I started one awhile back about this...

Here's what I'm going to do to get my 4TH set to STAY.

I am going to get some kind of black adhesive sealant and seal it all the way around the cover so that it's air tight and won't move (hopefully)... I'm thinking that this should work FINALLY..

Anybody know of a product that is sort of like a caulking that doesnt screw up paint?

Thanks!
-MArc

BigKeg

When you get ready to put them on take the new brakits and put them on the bottom lip of the covers. I did that with my iroc, and now I have 4 of the brakits holding on to the cover and it hasnt come off yet. One on each side and 2 along the bottom, You have to cut some of the rubber but it works.

tony_cogliandro

iTrader: (3)

hey 1986 do they move up and down? can you get them in clear? i might want to give them a color that matches my paint.

1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

Heres Pix of my iroc during the day with the blackouts on it. mine are tucked under the hood.

1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

No they do not move up and down. And i think they only come in smoke. Not sure the guy still makes them anymore. do a search. on google or wherever. thtas how i found them

KatsCam

Those that go under the hood are cool as hell! I have never seen them. I have searched until I could turn blue, but to no avail. If someone can find them, let me know, OK?
Using a heat gun to get those busted brackets off today. And showing my car on the 21st, so need the new ones before then.
I have blackouts on the back and they rock. I have never been pulled over for them.
Thanks, everyone, for the help.
Hey Logan, you didn't hijack my thread. We're all in this together, as far as I can see it. The more the merrier!

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

Thanks! YOu know what i actually thought about doing that.. I still have more brackets from an old set that I had! Hmm... Where can I find more of those plastic brackets, and more of those black "L" brackets that come with it? I would like to put a support along the bottom of these as well like you stated...

THanks!!

BigKeg

I dont know where you can get more of them. The guy that had the Iroc before me had said he bought 3 pair. There was a set on and 4 of the L brakits in the center. I want to buy a new pair thay are all scartched up, and look just nasty. However did you see the new car show on speed it was called KIT ( KIT CARS ) not knight rider. Any way thay showed how to make your owne covers. You need to have a pair, to make a mold but after that you can make all that you need.

iroc a 86 berli

if anyone wants a set of these, i could make them in clear or tinted to your tastes.
pm me and ill see what it will cost.

KatsCam

Well, I've just spent part of my day designing my own darned covers. I made a template that covers the pocket. Went to a plastic place and chose the darkness and thickness. Had them cut. Made my own brackets tonight and just finished painting them. Mounting tomorrow. I'll post a pic after they're on the car. Going with three brackets, sides and bottom, and they'll slide in tight with the hood raised. I think they're going to rock!

FireChicken2.8

iTrader: (1)

Awesome Kat! Love to see custom stuff!

Irocz28NCHS

nice kat i gotta see this. my ankle is still broken but once its healed up im getting back out there on my car and im going to try and figure something out for my healights and tail covers. but i would love to see how urs look

1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

I would love to see what you come up with as well. Although i REALLY like the ones i have that fit flush to my headlights.

KatsCam

OK, since several of you said you wanted to see them, here's a pic of the covers I made. I even put a tiny Chevy bow tie on each one. I loooooove the bow tie!

These are not for driving, though. I didn't want to put holes or screws into Cam's sno cone, so I put them on with velcro. Made the brackets out of door molding that I bought in a long strip at a hardware store, then cut and painted.

I'd be interested in a way to mount them for driving, if anyone has any ideas, but for now, they're only for show.

Irocz28NCHS

wow those look amazing kat you will have to get in detail at how u made them for me. love em though. great job.

KatsCam

Man, I love that cowl of yours! And the color! Me-ow!

OK, so here's the details:

1. Find a plastic place that will cut Plexiglas.

2. Draw, on big a** paper, an outline of your headlight pocket. (Use body tape to "mold" and fit the paper around it, so it's right.)

3. Take that to plastic place.

4. Choose Plexiglas strength and color. (I went for an unbreakable kind, which cost a few bucks more, and a dark smoke color.)

5. Have them cut a template. (They need to anyway, so they can cut the shape. The place I went to, the guy gave me mine when he was done, so I can have them cut over and over for the life of Cam. It's a hard plastic cut of her pocket. And you only need one, since it fits on both sides - just turn it over!)

6. Make sure they shave to fit before you leave there. (This guy, Mike, came out to the parking lot four times to trim them precisely, but you can see how they look.)

7. Purchase finishing trim/molding at plastic place, if they have it. (I went with high gloss black. Get extra, and have it cut into one long piece that you can cut at home.)

8. Wander around hardware stores to try to figure out mounting hardware. (Or, after reading these instructions, just skip this step by going to the lumber section of one store, like Mclendon's, and buy a long a** strip of door molding. You'll have leftovers for the next set.)

9. Cut door molding into 3-inch "brackets."

10. Paint brackets with high gloss black auto paint. (Let dry overnight.)

11. Cut Velcro strips to fit brackets.

12. "Finish" your covers with molding from the plastic place. (The kind I bought is press-on type that has adhesive up in the molding, so it stays on once you put it on.

13. Put sweet covers on the car.

14. Grin, because you spent less than $40 and you'll be able to make your next pair for half that price or less. Yay!

15. Go on TGO and thank Kat for teaching you how to do this, after her trial and error-filled excursion.

** Remember that these are only for show. I still haven't figured out a way to keep a set on at 105 mph without making holes in the sno cone!

1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

KATSCAM I like them but im sorry to say i like mine better. I just like the way mine are hidden under the hood. DONT GET ME WRONG!! YOU DID A GREAT JOB!! Just like mine better. plus noone has any like mine to my knowledge. Peace.......

KatsCam

No offense taken. I like yours, but I have blackouts on the tails, and I knew I wanted them to match.

BigKeg

I have a set of the ones, that go under the hood. A friend of mine that works with fiberglass and gels is makeing me a mold. But we are doing something about the 105 mph fly off. ( ok mine fly off at about 60 ) Anyway the part that gos under the hood , well that will go all the way back to the lights. Put some self tapping scews and done. As for the lower it to will have a lip like the top, but it will go in abouit 4 in. So if this gos as plain, you would put them in like this.

1st....Clean the inside of the buckits, with something to remove wax and dirt.

2nd.... Take 3m two siddid tape and put across the lower lip of the buckit..

3rd....(make sure hood is up) Set headlight cover on tape and press..

4th.... Put self tapping screws in

These are not done yet, but when I do I will post pics

FireChicken2.8

iTrader: (1)

Those look BEAUTIFUL kat! You did a wonderful job! I love your maro btw!

1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

I have blackouts on my tails as well. Its called Model paint- window tint made by testors. took the lights off the car and sprayed them with a light coat of paint and they look awesome!! I also sprayed the fog lights and the parking/side markers.

Irocz28NCHS

thanks for the intructions kat they look great again. looking at doing this myself now.

KatsCam

Explain these screws to me? I don't want holes anywhere Cam doesn't already have some.

KatsCam

Thanks for the compliments! I couldn't find what I wanted, so I just decided to try to make them, and they came out well.
I like your Bird, too!

KatsCam

Thanks, Logan. Eliminate the aggravation of three hardware stores and idiots who couldn't grasp what I was talking about, even when I took them out and showed them the car, OK? Rofl!

Your car will look smokin' with these.

KatsCam

Thanks for the compliment! I kind of love her, too. OK, that kind of is B.S. I am totally in love with Cam!

FireChicken2.8

iTrader: (1)

Well she deserves the love! Mine isn't near as nice, but I still love it!

1986iroc350

iTrader: (1)

Mine are better!! and i can do 157mph with them and they arent goin anywhere. LOL. Kat!! im j/k except the 157mph part.

HarmonyCamaro

i bought the wade ones and when i opend them up i was missing a bracket!!! and they were not sitting right at all.. they were sticking out and i wish they made them were there flush to the headlight buckets....