Chrome my headlights?

[xjoegtix]

Hey guys I just got a set of headlights cheap for my car. One is in good shape and the other is rough and needs glass. Have any of you ever taken them apart and chromed them?

This is what I'm working with.
They're also still dusty and this pic was taken at night in a car.
I wanted to know if any of you ever chromed the inside of them.

Another thing i was thinking about was getting yellow glass. My car is red tho. What do you guys think? this is my car. Just painted it so im still assembling it.

This is what it would look like red and yellow

But Ill be painting the trim rings red.

[xjoegtix]

Guys

[Rich Gas]

Hey... Well first off 99% on this board are wondering why you resprayed in red. Number two, 98.5% think you are a vain A$$ for putting yellow front lenses on a red car... And C, the fogs should be yellow lenses, the fronts should be clear...

[allaircooled]

^^^That wasn't really necessary.

I'm not an expert but those lights in the first pic look like H1's. Those seem to fetch good money and would be best restored correctly with chrome rings not painted I would think.

You might want to check but I don't think yellow lenses are legal on public roads.

[xjoegtix]

Originally Posted by Rich Gas

Hey... Well first off 99% on this board are wondering why you resprayed in red. Number two, 98.5% think you are a vain A$$ for putting yellow front lenses on a red car... And C, the fogs should be yellow lenses, the fronts should be clear...

Not sure what you mean by questioning the respray in red. that was the factory color for my car. I havant painted the rings yet, I thought it might look nice to paint the trim rings red is all. 2. I wasn't sure about the yellow that's why I asked what you Guys thought. The red car with yellow lights isn't mine. And in numerical order 3. I know what colors they should be just questioning the yellow because it was different and kind of cool in my eyes. Hope I didn't ruin your day by asking some questions.

[xjoegtix]

Originally Posted by allaircooled

^^^That wasn't really necessary.

I'm not an expert but those lights in the first pic look like H1's. Those seem to fetch good money and would be best restored correctly with chrome rings not painted I would think.

You might want to check but I don't think yellow lenses are legal on public roads.

Thanks for being considerate and answering with a respectful opinion. I love the h1s! Can't believe I got a set! Have any of you guys re chromed the insides so the light will reflect better? Ill most likely leave the rings chrome. I'm not sure if this is true but I heard you could get covers for the chrome rings and paint those? Also ill most likely do clear glass. Thanks

[allaircooled]

Originally Posted by xjoegtix

Thanks for being considerate and answering with a respectful opinion. I love the h1s! Can't believe I got a set! Have any of you guys re chromed the insides so the light will reflect better? Ill most likely leave the rings chrome. I'm not sure if this is true but I heard you could get covers for the chrome rings and paint those? Also ill most likely do clear glass. Thanks

They make trim rings or covers like you said for H4s. Don't know if they would work for your H1s. I have seen H1s that people have restored on the classified section. Do some searching and maybe you can dig up who those guys were and ask them how they restored them.

[Arne2]

The reflectors need to be re-mirrored, not chromed. Search for that term.

[Rodsrsr]

Originally Posted by Arne2

The reflectors need to be re-mirrored, not chromed. Search for that term.

Ahh Jeez. Why point out a technicality and then fail to explain yourself. xjoegtix, your car looks great and whats wrong with Red? I would say this is a tough crowd, but its more like an angry crowd. lighten up people.

[allaircooled]

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

Ahh Jeez. Why point out a technicality and then fail to explain yourself. xjoegtix, your car looks great and whats wrong with Red? I would say this is a tough crowd, but its more like an angry crowd. lighten up people.

It looked to me he was helping by giving him the correct term to search for. ???

[Rodsrsr]

Usually when someone is trying to help they tend to give a little more information instead of giving you a tid-bit and directing you to perform a search. If you know the difference between re-mirror and re-chrome just explain it. Im sure most people dont know, but that said, I may be wrong in his intent.

[allaircooled]

I understand your point.

You are right, I don't know the difference either.

[timmy2]

Are the reflectors mirror finished in the H1's ?
My H4's appear to have a silver coating that is not quite a mirror surface.
More of a silver color.

[Arne2]

Sorry to offend with the brief reply above. I had just started my reply when my wife popped in and said, "Get off the computer, it's time to leave." Knowing who butters my bread, I cut the reply short.

Headlight reflectors are mirrored, not chromed. Unlike a glass mirror where the whiff of aluminum is on the back side of the glass, a reflector is generally a metal of some sort, polished totally smooth and the aluminum whiff is on the actual reflecting surface.

The aluminum can get dull (oxidized) over time, and if the base is a metal that is subject to corrosion, that can occur also. To restore those H1 reflectors (which look to be nice candidates for restoration), they will need to be re-polished and then re-mirrored. I've never had it done, but there are shops that can do it. That would be a good topic for a search.

Dennis, the reflectors in my H4s are very definitely mirrored. The interior surround piece appears to be silver paint.

[Rich Gas]

My car is red and I love the color...just busting the guys balls...sensitive Sunday.

[Arne2]

Also, I am pretty certain that the primered trim covers for H4s will fit the H1s as well. That way you could retain the chrome rings (which don't accept paint all that well anyway), but still have matching red trim.

[timmy2]

Originally Posted by Arne2

Dennis, the reflectors in my H4s are very definitely mirrored. The interior surround piece appears to be silver paint.

Took another look, yes, mirrored with the rest of the surround silver painted. I was looking down from above, not directly into the headlamp assembly. Sometimes it is hard to see things so low when you are 6'2"...

[LJ851]

This place resilvers headlights, not sure of any other options. I have a set of amplilux i need done so this is relevant to me.

Steve's Auto Restorations | Headlight Resilvering

[bavaria911]

I had my chrome H4s rechromed at Metro Plating just inside the washington area between Baltimore and DC. Both cost $60.

[xjoegtix]

How do you like the chrome?