Installing False Headlight Covers

[Tspringer]

I have these really cool looking carbon fiber false headlight covers designed to install to the fender in place of the actual headlights. They weight practically nothing, they look really cool and they are all but impossible to install as far as I can tell.

These pieces are basically a shallow dished out piece of carbon fiber in the shape of the outer headlight. They are hollow on the back side, no mounting brackets, holes or any other detectable means of mounting evident. They apparently are meant to mount via osmosis or something.

Simply drilling a hole and using a screw would look terrible and not likely work well anyhow since any screw would be going through at an angle to the headlight cover and the cover itself is very thin.

I have tried fiberglassing tabs to the back side of the covers but the effort did not work out very well. There is no good way to make the tabs line up well nor to have them match up to any decent bolt length. The result of the effort (several days) has me angry and posting here.

I am to the point now of taping the covers in place on the fenders and simply permanently glassing them to the fenders. I honestly see no other means that would work well.

[911 in SC]

Obviously, I'm just guessing, but could they mount using the factory trim rings?

[kach22i]

Black silicone adhesive?

[ZOA NOM]

what about industrial velcro strips?

[jester911]

I have not used them but I would think you would need the paintable trim rings to go over them.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I have fiberglass "false headlight covers," but they in fact aren't false at all: they cover very real headlights, not substitute for headlights, and I suspect that's what yours are meant to do. I mount mine to the headlight glass with a couple of small squares of industrial-strength Velcro on each side. They stay in place just fine--I normally use my car on the track--and can be easily removed if I need the lights at night. Or, more likely, during early-morning trips to Lime Rock.

Could it be that your problem is you're trying to fit the covers to the headlight bowls without the lamps in place? That won't work.

[Cory M]

There are several ways to attach them without the headlights in place.

You can attach to the fender by using the lower screw and riveting on a small piece of bent sheetmetal to the top to grab the fender lip. If you want it to be really smooth with no rivets or screws you can bond or glass a long bolt or all-thread to the backside of the cover, then drill a corresponding hole in the back of the headlight bucket and fasten w/ a washer and nut. I use the first method.

With the headlights in place you can use velcro or 3M double sided tape.

By the way, I make these headlight covers and have a few sets for sale if anyone is looking for them. They cost $75 shipped. Send me an email at muscatcory@yahoo.com if you're interested (I take Paypal using the same address).

There are some pictures in my classified ad but the new ones have a white gelcoat on them:

Fiberglass Headlight Covers