Retrofitting headlights with real glass lenses?

[Begle1]

Anybody ever replace the plastic lenses with real glass lenses on their KJ, or have insight on how it could be done?

To me the headlights look so flat and round that it seems like it'd be easily doable somehow.

I hate plastic lenses.

 

[JasonJ]

Only if you could find lenses that were identical in size. Where would those come from? We don't share headlight housings with any other vehicle. Why would any be made aftermarket?

I think you've got a good conceptual idea here... just not likely to see fruition.

Is the reason why you hate plastic lenses because of the UV degradation and yellowing/hazing? I don't know of any other reason why one would dislike them. There are a number of reasons why the glass sealed beams and glass housing lenses went away...

 

[Begle1]

Yellow and hazing about covers it.

I'm not expecting a drop-in solution, but since the KJ headlights are rather flat and circular, my initial plan is to remove the plastic lenses and press a 7" round sealed beam up against or through the sheet metal.

A company made glass conversions for my 2000 Jetta, looked like goofy casserole dishes, best modification ever.

 

[tommudd]

First they are not exactly round
Second would look really stupid with a flat piece of glass covering it
Third, new housings are cheap just buy new ones and be done

 

[4.7liberty]

4th, they're not exactly flat either.

Ive cleaned the headlights on my daughter's jeep liberty fairly easy.
I used the McGuire's headlight restoration kit. Here are the results

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[4.7liberty]

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[JasonJ]

Yellow and hazing about covers it.

I'm not expecting a drop-in solution, but since the KJ headlights are rather flat and circular, my initial plan is to remove the plastic lenses and press a 7" round sealed beam up against or through the sheet metal.

A company made glass conversions for my 2000 Jetta, looked like goofy casserole dishes, best modification ever.

First they are not exactly round
Second would look really stupid with a flat piece of glass covering it
Third, new housings are cheap just buy new ones and be done

You must be registered for see images attach

All of that.. they are neither flat, nor actually round.

Also keep in mind that if you ever are in an accident and these retrofitted glass lenses shatter (they will) and injure someone (another reason why they were eliminated from cars), the liability on you is going to be astronomical. And insurance is not going to cover you.

For what you're going to pay for anything to fit on there... and all the hassle and labor to do so, for $80 A PAIR, just get new housings/lenses. Buy a small amount of 3M clear paint protective film and apply it to the lenses. It is UV resistant and will last the remaining life of the vehicle in preventing any future yellowing and hazing.

I like 1A Auto for lots of stuff, but even these here... there are vendors selling pairs of housings for as low as $50.

https://www.1aauto.com/2002-04-jeep...YDSWZEH5pi74Jj10L8tdgsVuzIjNFltkaAsakEALw_wcB

 

[Begle1]

Good catch, I didn't realize how nobody ever puts aftermarket lights on their vehicles due to liability concerns.



The stock headlights look to be around 8" diameters and at least mostly circular. I'll probably play around with putting 7" round sealed beams (or a real glass conversion kit for a 7" sealed beam) in there at some point over the next couple years. I think there'd be a 1/4" or 1/2" gap. With some black shrouding between the sealed beams and the sheetmetal I don't think it'd look too bad.

 

[tommudd]

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[JasonJ]

Good catch, I didn't realize how nobody ever puts aftermarket lights on their vehicles due to liability concerns.



The stock headlights look to be around 8" diameters and at least mostly circular. I'll probably play around with putting 7" round sealed beams (or a real glass conversion kit for a 7" sealed beam) in there at some point over the next couple years. I think there'd be a 1/4" or 1/2" gap. With some black shrouding between the sealed beams and the sheetmetal I don't think it'd look too bad.

Do whatever you want, but you don't need to be a D**K about it. Also, most aftermarket accessory lighting uses plastic or ABS impact resistant lenses. Those with glass typically state for off-road use only.