[shanec]

I'd be curious to see pics from people who have painted their headlight buckets - that area that is behind the flat clear headlight panel and surrounding the actual headlight.

Sorta like this....



That's a Foose Stallion with different front facia, obviously.

But paint-matched headlight buckets would look might retro, which is cool I think.



I'd try it if my car wasn't the only color that already comes from the factory with matching buckets. Wonder what it would look like in a different color.

[07 Boss]

I just purchased a set of used headlights from a guy on the S197 forum. I decided to do mine a while ago. I really want to get rid of the plastic lens in front also. I got the extra pair so that I could fool around with trying to get them to look good without the lens in front. There is going to be a gap between the bucket and the bumper without the lens on there. I have to figure out a way to fill the gap without looking ghetto. I know you have to have the lens on there but I was going to cut it down and put it behind the bucket in front of the headlight reflector. I'm supposed to get them on Wednesday so it will be a week or two before I have an answer. But either way the buckets are going to get painted. I've seen them done before (don't ask where) and it looks awesome because you can actually see the little louvers in there.

[Emay]

Those guys that 07 mentions are using the bucket, no front glass and fabbing in a round housing.

In order to do it and make it look factory, it's going to require some skills that most of us don't have.

[unlicensed to drive]

Here's a few painted headlight bucket pics.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0023Medium.jpg

http://www.beauchampengineering.net/...sandgrille.jpg

http://www.beauchampengineering.net/.../newlook09.jpg

[07 Boss]

Originally Posted by Emay Those guys that 07 mentions are using the bucket, no front glass and fabbing in a round housing. In order to do it and make it look factory, it's going to require some skills that most of us don't have.

I'm more worried about the fugly gap between the bumper and the bucket. What have you seen done to this gap? I don't think moving the lens is going to be my issue. I've even thought of installing a sealed beam in there to alleviate the need for the plastic lens.

[unlicensed to drive]

Originally Posted by 07 Boss I'm more worried about the fugly gap between the bumper and the bucket. What have you seen done to this gap? I don't think moving the lens is going to be my issue. I've even thought of installing a sealed beam in there to alleviate the need for the plastic lens.

I was thinking bondo(then obviously painting on top of it) to make a seamless fit of the headlight bucket/bumper together, but I'm not sure what else you could do, it's just a thought.

[07 Boss]

Originally Posted by mustangfan123 I was thinking bondo(then obviously painting on top of it) to make a seamless fit of the headlight bucket/bumper together, but I'm not sure what else you could do, it's just a thought.

The bumper is flexible and there is nothing there for it to adhere to, bondo will not work and I wouldn't use it anyways. I'm thinking the bucket needs to be extended to fill the gap. I will see what can be done after I get my extra set to play around with. If they are stamped sheet metal there will probably be some kind of flange that might be able to be straightened out and smoothed to make it work. I will know in a couple of days.

[07 Boss]

I just got my used headlights that I'm going to play around with and had a quick question. These are off of an '06 and there is a little cap like thing hanging from the reflector in front of the bulb. What the heck is that and why doesn't my '07 have one? Just curious.

[Goldcomet]

You may want to try door edge guard to close the gap. I think I've seen it in black, but I'm not positive.

[Emay]

They made a change in the buckets. That cap deflects more light to the reflector for the 05-06 housing. They change some of the reflector angle in 07 and some wise guy @ Ford decided the deflector was now unecessary.

[unlicensed to drive]

Originally Posted by 07 Boss The bumper is flexible and there is nothing there for it to adhere to, bondo will not work and I wouldn't use it anyways. I'm thinking the bucket needs to be extended to fill the gap. I will see what can be done after I get my extra set to play around with. If they are stamped sheet metal there will probably be some kind of flange that might be able to be straightened out and smoothed to make it work. I will know in a couple of days.

That makes sense, good luck getting the headlight bucket to sit flush against the bumper. I'm sure there will still be a small line, but not nearly as noticable as the gap that is apparent right now.

[07 Boss]

Originally Posted by mustangfan123 That makes sense, good luck getting the headlight bucket to sit flush against the bumper. I'm sure there will still be a small line, but not nearly as noticable as the gap that is apparent right now.

The more I look at it I think I'm going to leave the cover on. I will paint the inside edge of the cover though too because there is still that line between the bumper and the bucket. I've also been toying with the idea of painting the black plastic trim around the door windows, but it might make the windows look too small. Maybe you could locate some pics of anyone who has done it already or maybe photochop it. The two black rails on the roof are going to get done too. I actually saw a site somewhere that sold the roof rails painted but I didin't book mark it and can't remember where I saw it.

[unlicensed to drive]

Originally Posted by 07 Boss The more I look at it I think I'm going to leave the cover on. I will paint the inside edge of the cover though too because there is still that line between the bumper and the bucket. I've also been toying with the idea of painting the black plastic trim around the door windows, but it might make the windows look too small. Maybe you could locate some pics of anyone who has done it already or maybe photochop it. The two black rails on the roof are going to get done too. I actually saw a site somewhere that sold the roof rails painted but I didin't book mark it and can't remember where I saw it.

The roof trim idea sounds nice, I'm not sure either about the door trim though. I searched on google and I couldn't find any pictures of the door trim painted, so I may attempt a photoshop later on.

[Ace417]

sure looks sexy

[07 Boss]

Originally Posted by mustangfan123 The roof trim idea sounds nice, I'm not sure either about the door trim though. I searched on google and I couldn't find any pictures of the door trim painted, so I may attempt a photoshop later on.

I agree, but I was just kinda curious on how it would look. I would do my mirrors too but I think I'm going with the Agent 47 ones eventually.

[mustangmallory]

[unlicensed to drive]

That looks really nice besides the headlight splitters. The headlight splitters aren't "terrible", but they just aren't my thing.

[mustangmallory]

lol, I go back and forth about them....here's a better photo of the car

[unlicensed to drive]

Nice, with those painted headlight buckets no foglights would look better, kind of a more classic look.

[mustangmallory]

I've always thought about doing some kind of mesh grill with the fogs behind it. Kind of hide them a little bit. I have 6k hid's in mine, so I'm definitely not worried about losing brightness. Have you ever seen anything like that anywhere?