clear front plastic parker casing-BEFORE & AFTER pics up

Body, Paint, Interior and Trim questions and answers

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atomic
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Postby atomic » Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:02 pm

can someone share some tips on how to remove the lens housing?

I've tried the hairdryer and also soaking in boiling water but it's just not coming off

:frown:

Moggy
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Postby Moggy » Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:58 pm

When I have taken mine apart in the past I put them in the oven on about 100deg (whatever the lowest setting is) for a minute or so...

That normally softens them up nicely! (I take no responsibility for baked indicators... :shock: :P )

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Uncle Arthur
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Re:

Postby Uncle Arthur » Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:07 am

MonSqueek wrote:Ohhh Ive been thinking I want to get this to my NA and now I realise its possible ! :) Yay ! Now I just have to beg someone to do it for me. I wish I knew which end of a screwdriver was what.


MonSqueek - are you in Brisbane (southside)??? Your car looks familiar (it's the wheels) and if it is you - you never wave back :(

You do know it's a MX5 rule don't you???
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Uncle Arthur
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Re:

Postby Uncle Arthur » Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:23 pm

Moggy wrote:When I have taken mine apart in the past I put them in the oven on about 100deg (whatever the lowest setting is) for a minute or so...

That normally softens them up nicely! (I take no responsibility for baked indicators... :shock: :P )


Looks like I have a job to do this weekend.....
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Re:

Postby MonSqueek » Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:29 pm

Uncle Arthur wrote:MonSqueek - are you in Brisbane (southside)??? Your car looks familiar (it's the wheels) and if it is you - you never wave back :(

You do know it's a MX5 rule don't you???


I work in Underwood so you might see me about there... I have no idea if thats south side though. Does the car you see have Victorian Number plates?

If so, then guilty as charged... only becuase I didnt notice, not cauz Im too rude to wave! I will keep more of an eye out in the future! 8)

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rodent
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Postby rodent » Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:17 pm

Atomic - just point the hairdryer at the spots where the plastic tabs for the front lens clips in and scrape away the silly putty from them.

Then pick a tab and start prying apart, switching between hairdryer and screwdriver every so often to keep the putty soft. Tip: Don't scrape away the putty once the lens is removed! Or else condensation will get in there pretty easily...

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kitkat
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Postby kitkat » Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:53 pm

i did this mod the other night...
i pre-heated the oven to 100 deg celsius.
Baked the light casing for 15mins.
Then took 1 out and pryed it apart (turned the oven off but left the other one in)

When you put them back together put the clean cover on then put it back into the oven for 5 mins to re-melt the glue and gain a good seal again.

I also found it easier to pry it apart at the tabs with a butter knife...

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STV
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Postby STV » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:53 pm

I tried doing this with my GF's hairdryer... it didnt work :cry:

I then borrowed an actual hot air gun from work (or you could buy on for $40) and did both lights in about an hourish. 8)

I LOVE the end result!

And all i actually spent was $2.95 for amber globes from a Wollies Servo and re-used the original indicator globe as a 'driving light'.

Has anyone actually put any higher wattage globes in there?

What diff did it make, and are they melting yet?

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JSE
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Postby JSE » Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:06 pm

If you are using a hairdryer the key is patience. Note: it will take about 5mins per casing to heat it up before you should start prying the lens off. If you start prying it off before the glue/sealant is hot enough then the end result will be a cracked and snapped lens casing...

PATIENCE young grasshoppers...
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rodent
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Re:

Postby rodent » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:52 pm

happi_steve wrote:And all i actually spent was $2.95 for amber globes from a Wollies Servo and re-used the original indicator globe as a 'driving light'.

Has anyone actually put any higher wattage globes in there?

What diff did it make, and are they melting yet?

I don't think it's a good idea to make them any brighter, as it's already pretty distracting to other drivers because of their glare (I know I at least annoyed STM and EGG80X with my lights at the last fish & chips run :mrgreen:)

Besides, it'd still be illegal to drive at night using those lights alone, so there's no point in making them brighter really...

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