New H4's --- paint the rings?

[Hawks911]

Just rec'd new set of H4's from our host for our '78 SC. Came painted black and our car is black. Was heading out the door to pick up a couple of cans of Duplicolor Gloss Black and Clear Coat but thought I should check with the experts. Is that the right approach? Prepainted rings look a bit flatter black than the current gloss black finish the PO had applied to the car. I also thought a few extra coats of paint would help protect the rings for the years ahead. Your thoughts?

Thanks

Mike

[KTL]

Don't bother painting them since your car is black. But also don't get any wax on them, because it doesn't like satin paint- doesn't come off.

I thought they looked cool in black against my red car. Now i've tired of them and will paint them red. All the black trim and rubber and what not on a non-black car is just too much clutter.

[john walker's workshop]

the adjusting screws make it hard to do a decent, long lasting paint job. the usual solution is to use the thin, slip over trim rings painted car color. a set of piggyback retaining screws is needed also.

[Nine9six]

Originally Posted by KTL

Don't bother painting them since your car is black. But also don't get any wax on them, because it doesn't like satin paint- doesn't come off.

I learned the hard way...I got wax on mine. So in retrospect, why do the job twice?
Proof positive that painting them is a plus. I masked the mount holes with vaseline and a Q-tip, so the fasteners would not break the paint upon installation.

[Zeke]

If you do paint them so that they are shiny and match your car better, be sure to clean (degrease) and sand them with some 400 before shooting them. I don't know that you need the clear coat, but that's up to you. I don't know why the screws would be such a problem if you don't put a ton of paint on there. However, JW knows more than I. Just be sure that area is really clean before painting. I wouldn't hurt to have the lights properly adjusted beforehand and just loosen the retainers leaving the screws in place as much as possible. This should allow some tape between the lens and the ring.

It's been awhile since I've had some of these on my bench, so I hope I know what I'm talking about.

[JFairman]

I completely disassemble them to paint them. The rings are made of brass so they will never rust.
The adjusting screws have the same thread as bosch spark plug connectors so if you have any of them around you can use those on the backside instead of the crimped on thing.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by JFairman

I completely disassemble them to paint them. The rings are made of brass so they will never rust.
The adjusting screws have the same thread as bosch spark plug connectors so if you have any of them around you can use those on the backside instead of the crimped on thing.

Wow! Tip of the year. I've struggled with those things and even tried to save them. Now, where does one get the long. long screw? I brazed two together.

[kilodawg]

Do what you like but the folks at John Walker's shop are right. If you want it done right get the trim rings and have them painted. They go over the black part you have. You need the screws as well.

[the]

Originally Posted by kilodawg

Do what you like but the folks at John Walker's shop are right. If you want it done right get the trim rings and have them painted. They go over the black part you have. You need the screws as well.

+1. Anything less is half-azzed.

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by the

+1. Anything less is half-azzed.

+1

JW said it - what's left to discuss?

Seriously, it's what I did when I switched from H5's to H4's, and paint/appearance is way down on my priority list...

[fly4val]

The long screws are available seperately from our host.....

[SCWDP911]

+1 on the rings, but you might be able to paint yourself using "matched" paint from somewhere like www.paintscratch.com. That is what I just did and the rings look pretty dang close - not perfect, but almost.My car is Ruby Red. It will be a difference of about $65 for the paintscratch, vs. about $250-300 here locally at a paint shop.

As a sidenote, I had to have the paint mixed twice from paintscratch, but it seems to be a common occurrence where the 2nd batch is spot on....

I attached some pics for you to get an idea of the paint match. Keep in mind I have not buffed it out yet. Also, the first pic is with the ring in satin black from factory. Not the best pic for comparison, but maybe it will give you some idea.

[MBAtarga]

Just last week I bought replacements (originals were lost by my "friend" that had the parts to paint) for the long screws at a local Ace hw store. I'm pretty certain they were 4mm x 70mm. I bought 4mm flat washers and just crimped them against the screws to retain them in the ring.

[snbush67]

-1 on the trim ring covers they are bulky looking (ghetto). And don't strip the factory finish, scuff the black with 400 grit (wet) wipe clean and paint direct you wont even need primer. If you see the trim ring covers vs. the clean look of the factory ring you will see why. Dissassemble the light but don't take out the screws just cover them with a small piece of trimmed painters tape or vasaline.

[ianc]

Have them stripped and powder coated if you can find a shop that has a color that's a pretty close match.

The powder coating is much more durable than paint; believe me, you'll need it when you go to mount them...

ianc

[khamul02]

+1 on disassembly and paint. I used copper barrels as a crimp on mine when I dissembled and painted them. Got them at a local hardware store. God only know what they are for.

That's been a year ago and they still look brand new after 10K miles and everything is still tight.

[Scooter]

Originally Posted by kilodawg

Do what you like but the folks at John Walker's shop are right.

John, you got some folks hiding out down there?

[kilodawg]

Yo yo yo ......Ghetto is in Da' house

[khamul02]

kilodawg, I thought about these to avoid future disassembles. Do they go on with just one screw? How secure are they? Are they easy to get on and off? They look pretty good to me.

A friend of mine has some removable covers that have these 2 black knobby things on them. I really like them but they only work with the trim rings you have.

[john walker's workshop]

ghetto be havin those ugly lookin phillips screws peekin out.