LittleGrayBook

Hey guys, new to the forum.

So I had a lot of problems with my 07 base Corvette headlights. The previous owner had yellow gunk inside and my friends and I broke the seal and successfully cleaned them out. However, the lens themselves were beyond repair due to the sun and the scratches. So we cut out the frontal lens part and left the lens below the neoprene resealed to the unit (kind of confusing, refer to the pictures). My friends and I think they look absolutely awesome.

Here's the problem. The units are pretty much water tight around the edges except silver light parts. I drove it while it rained pretty hard last night and my lights still work (phew), but I do not intend to keep it like this. Any idea/suggestion on how to seal them? I was thinking of buying flashlight lens replacements and seal them infront of the HID crystals. It's tough to find one that fits perfectly though. For now, I'll just keep the car dry as much as I can. Let me know what you guys think!

sdk

I think they will be harder to keep clean than with the lenses on. Just my 2 cents worth.

Steve_R

I don't like that at all. Not gonna help the aerodynamics and fuel mileage any either.

Red08

it looks like you were working on the car, and still had some things to do to finish up.

joec

That looks like a recipe for disaster.. I'm sure your gonna lose your lights at the worst possible time... they're on there for a reason.... you car and your call tho...

4thC4at60

Recipe for disaster.... Navy Chief, with 125,000 miles in an '07 C6, to Marine Corporal "newbie" to Corvettes...

noz34me

Have to agree that for me, this wouldn't work. Besides the aerodynamics there's just the unfinished look to them. Maybe that's because all I've seen have the outside lenses.

In any case, your car, your call. If you like 'em, that's all that matters.

Jeff-Ford

Looks unfinished.

CSixDude

You can buy replacement lenses for about $150. There is someone on this forum that sells them. I replaced one of mine and it worked great.

N2TU

It is just a matter of time before the light connectors are rusted through...

pokerpro

Just wait till the first rock comes up and smashes the **** out of it.

But I do applaud you for thinking outside the box.

VET4LES

I agree with all of the above.

hawkandersonjr

Look like you are waiting for the cover to arrive. If you find out who sells them let me know. My car lens are pitted and they are beginning to look bad. I saw the whole light assembly today (black) on the forum where a member was selling for about $800. I would like to buy the lens only and replace them myself.

Reggied

The low beam ballast is located in a compartment below your headlight assemble. The opening to the compartment is in the bottom of your headlight assemble behind the black plastic housing. The compartment can fill up with water and submerge the ballast.
Also behind each low beam and high beam power plug connection is a rubber boot which might retain water.

Here are my sugguestion if you plan to keep the lens removed.

a) Remove the rubber boots behind the low beam and high beam light. Remove front wheel. Open small compartment rubber flap behind headlight housing via the plastic wheel well and remove the boots.
The wire connections are water proof. I am not real sure about the low beam bulb because it has some electronics in the base and works off of 1Kv (high voltage, low current)

b) Remove the underbody plastic water guards under the front bumper to expose the bottom of each headlight assemble. You will see a square compartment held to car by 4 screws. In that compartment is the ballast. Remove the 4 screw, drop the compartment, Drill a couple of holes in the compartment to prevent it from holding water.

In my opinion purchase the new Len covers. ...Good Luck

Reggied

I just checked the forum for ballast issues. Some corvettes have the ballast compartment and some don't. In both cases the ballast is located under the headlight assemble. Since you did drive in rain, make sure you check for trapped water to prevent future damage to the ballast and the low beam light base . I just changed the ballast in my car. My car has the ballast compartments, this is why I know it can hold water...Used ballast on ebay $200.

PS. Cover your car with plastic, Get the lens

LittleGrayBook

Thank you all for your comments. I went ahead and bought Lexan Polycarbonate UV-protected sheets and crafted lenses for the silver part of the headlights. The lenses fit the silver opening quite nicely and are virtually invisible until you get your face a foot from the lights. The units are *pretty much* weatherproof now. We've sealed every possible opening.



I personally still like the look. It's kind like the C5 European look vs the traditional up and down look. I received a lot of compliments (and one or two criticisms) from people that've seen it in real life.

With that being said, replacing the lenses is still a possibility in the future. I might grow tired of them or (God-forbid) something goes bad. From what I've seen, lenses are $300 for the pair... ouch.

And thanks Navy Chief 4thC4at60 for reminding me of my newb-ness

LittleGrayBook

And yes, I took the headlight units out of the car (God, what a pain in the butt) and uninstalled the ballasts a few times. I made sure they were dried before we placed the lenses on. Thanks for the written instructions though.

Reggied

Oh, I am sorry. I went back and re-read your earilier post. I misread it. You did sealed the edges of the black housing. You do have a pretty good idea. Cool look.

LittleGrayBook

Thank you! Yes we did seal everything in.

Johnathon59

The covers are there for a reason, I'm betting you'll be putting them back on sooner than later...