Hey, Im thinking about blacking out the inside of my headlights, anyone ever done this to a 96-00 civic? I think a high gloss black would look alright... but wondered if they make a black chrome paint..? Any ideas or how to's on this ?

Other thing.. I have a dx, the gauge cluster is without a tach. Can I get and 96-00 civic EX or Si gauge cluster? Would this plug right in? Or is it complicated?

- lou

 

I just posted this last week on another board. I will have to find it cause I don't feel like typing it again

 

i remmeber on another thread that the EX cluster plugs right in. cuz it is already wired for a tach

 

yes the ex cluster will work and all you gotta do is plug it in b/c it is pretty much done for you already

 

ask fuji or H-A stud on the blacking out of the headlights, they did it =P

 

Well I tried finding it to no avail:

You will need high temperature primer, your favorite spray paint color, masking tape, screw drivers, razor, windshield or rubber resealant (make sure it's black), oven tray to fit headlight, newspapers, a windyless area, oven to fit one headlight, and about 14 hours.

1. Take off the bumper to gain access to the headlight bolts.
2. Undo the 4 headlight bolts and disconnect the wiring harness from the headlights.
3. Turn on oven to less than 200 degrees.
4. Place headlight on tray and put into oven for 12-15 minutes.
5. Pull headlight out and make sure using gloves start prying headlight apart - might help to have a second person
6. use razor to cut away at the glue and use flat head screw drivers to pry apart
7. Once you get one apart, stick 2nd headlight in oven for same amount of time
8. Once you get both headlights apart take out insert by unscrewing the philips head screw
9. mask over the orange reflector (or clear if you bought aftermarket) - also mask off section where the blinker bulb is to get a better reflection
10. Cover the floor with newspapers and clean the housing with some windex
11. Let it dry and spray 2-3 very light coats of primer on. Should be light enough to dust the housing - NOT DRENCH IT which causes running. Let about 15 minutes between each coat to dry
12. Let the final coat dry for about 30 minutes to one hour.
13. Spray 2-3 light coats of your color with 15 minutes drying time in bewteen each spray.
14. Let whole thing dry overnight (about 8-12 hours)
15. Clean the inside of the lens with windex and press everything back together
16. Stick the headlights back in oven at same temp and time.
17. Press everything back together.
18. Using liberal amounts of resealant reseal around the WHOLE headlight
19. Do same thing for other headlight.
Put everything back together and stand back and admire your work.

Personally I would buy some aftermarket headlights for $150 and spray those and keep your stockers stock.

 

The Ex cluster plugs right in on your DX. I've done it. You'll have to swap the speedometer gauge on the two clusters. Take the speedo gauge out of your DX cluster and put it in your EX cluster. That way your mileage will still be accurate.