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Cadillac Forums: Installing Foglights Writeup
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Old 09-22-06, 12:14 PM
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Installing Foglights Writeup

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Alright.....Sorry I dont have time right now to post pics, but this is what I recommend to do bases on my experience installing these fogs......

To remove the fogs:
Elevate the car or climb underneath the car and remove the entire plastic shield that us under there. Remove the clips and it comes right down. Turn the wheels on the car and remove some of the pins like you did when installing the sidemarkers so you will be able to move that shield out of the way when the time comes. After you have the big main shield out of the way, you will be able to see the fogs. There are 3 total bolts to take out. On at the bottom of the bumper, one up inside the bumper, and one on the exterior of the bumper. Remove all three of these and disconnect the light. Carefully remove the entire fog assembly. Repeat on the other side.

After that you will need to take the fog out of the housing, this is easy, just pop out the two clips that secure it and pull it out

Removing the lense:
Before we bake the lense, we need to prep it to take off. THis is just my theory. Drill holes thru the lense. One in each corner and one on each side. After baking we will use these holes to pull of the lense, not pry it off. You will need to get somekind of hook tool that is strong to pull the lense off after its heated. If you want to pry it off with a screwdriver, be my guest, I did that, but you WILL ruin the actual housing and possibly break it. You will still be able to use it, but it will be all nicked up from the prying.

Bake the fogs, on a towel, at 200 degrees for ten minutes. This time will vary(some say turn off oven and put them in at 200, I baked mine at 200 and even longer) I recommend doing one lense at a time.

When you remove the lense, use your tool and pull each lense out. I think a paint canlid remover might work well. Be creative and find a good tool to pull the lense out.

Installing the new lense:
I used a two part clear epoxy by JB weld. I got it at Home Depot for $2.75 per package. Its a 5minute epoxy that dries clear. Get about 8 packages. Also buy some small clips to hold the lense together they are about $1 each.
Sand the lense your get from WW on the sides only, and also sand the housing to roughen it up so it holds better. Starting at one side, put the epoxy on and quickly clip the two corners down so the glue can start to set. DO NOT DO BOTH SIDES YET. While the clips are holding the sides together, you may put another on in the middle, but take more glue and start to glue that side together and seal up the edges. Dont be afraid to use lots of glue here.....You will want a strong hold. Let this sit for no less than three hours. After that, you will then put glue on the reamining three sides and clip the other two corners. I recommend leaving the clips on the other side to help with the stress of bending the lense. Then clip the other two corners and do the same project of glueing the sides. LOTS OF GLUE!!!!!! Let it sit for at least three hours and then remove the clips, install your new fogs Any questions please PM me and TAKE YOUR TIME!!!! This will roughly take a weekend depending on how much time you can devote to this project. And DONT remove the clips without waiting at least 3 hours and having ALL of the edges smoothered in epoxy. If you do, the lense will pop right off and you will have to start over.......

I think I hit everything

GOODLUCK
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Old 09-22-06, 12:23 PM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

Nice write up flip! You covered everything
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Old 09-22-06, 12:42 PM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

u think you should let it sit a full 24 hours, i found this apoxi at sears hardware that is ment for plastic and vinal good up to like 160 degrees and water proof, and hold about 3500psi.....
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Old 09-22-06, 01:47 PM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

Depends on the epoxy.....I cant speak for how well anything works except what I used. The stuff I used sets in 5minutes and is fully hardened within 2-3 hours. If you want to try something else do it, I just cant guarantee it will work
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Old 09-22-06, 01:50 PM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

This is what I used
J-B Weld Mini 5 Minute Clear Epoxy

They got it at home depot
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Old 09-22-06, 03:09 PM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

I will begin bright and early tomorrow morning!!!
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Old 09-22-06, 03:50 PM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

i got my lenses off now all i need are my ww lenses. cant wait. i love the way these look
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Old 09-22-06, 03:52 PM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

Quote:
Originally Posted by 03cts9011 View Post
i got my lenses off now all i need are my ww lenses. cant wait. i love the way these look
A lil anxious How long do you intend to ride with out the fogs in???
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Old 09-22-06, 04:02 PM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

lol i have them in. i bought a spare set off of ebay and look the lenses off of those.
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Old 09-22-06, 04:04 PM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

I have no imagination Flip. I need pics to go with this write up. Then I can put it in the FAQ with my name on it.
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Old 09-22-06, 04:16 PM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

hey flip do you think it would be easier if you heated up the lenses and formed them over the fogs before you glued them? this might take some of the stress off the glue and help it hold better.
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Old 09-22-06, 04:58 PM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

Yep it would help, only problem with doin that is they dont bend.....On the first set of fogs he sent me, they were thicker and they bent pretty good....all was going well unitl they reached a certain point and the break.....this was probably due to the fast cooling speed of the plastic.....we tried using a thinner piece of plastic, andi tried and tried to get it to bend......NOTHING.....heated to 250 degrees for up to 7 minutes over and over and over and nothing........i started at 200 degrees and moved up.....the plastic gets hot, but just doesnt stay in the shaped form.....it curved slightly after numerous attempts, but not enough for it to be a big difference and me want to risk breaking another set......the lense is flexible enough to were you shouldnt have a problem......but try and bend em if you want, it just wasnt workin for me....and believe me I tried.......and burned a coulple towels, hands, and frustrated......if your going to try and bend them, use a football....it has almost the best curve for what you want to do....and do it slow and only for a couple minutes due to the plastic cooling and it will break if you try to bend when its cooled off......we have had a bit of rain lately and mine dont leak
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Old 09-22-06, 09:55 PM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

Alright, good input.

Here are some important facts to remember.

Acrylic does not even BEGIN to soften until about 280 degrees core temp. No heat = no heat set form.

Epoxies, by design, are stronger by slower cure. I've used many, many, many epoxies in my lifetime. The key to getting a good bond is a toothy (rough) surface. This isn't always practical. The new version of the lens I created today has a 1/4" perimeter roughened by laser engraving, hopefully this will help.

5 minute epoxy is extremely fast cure, and therefore, not all that strong. Better yet would be 24 hour bonding (laminating) epoxy with a bonding agent (ground carbon fiber, cotton flox, or ground fiberglass). It isn't pretty - but holds wing skins onto spars of common aircraft like 7 series Boeings. The epoxy itself has very little strength. The composite matrix it creates is incredibly strong. Hence the use of woven carbon fiber and glass fiber to create incredibly light and stiff structures.

My suggestion to those of you trying this out for your first shot, based on FF's experience above. Go to your local hobby shop. Buy 12, 15, 20 or 30 minute epoxy. This will give you enough time to glue and clamp in one shot. Also see if they have any of the ground fibers I suggest above. Remember, this will not dry clear - but given that the edges of the lens are hidden once installed, it shouldn't matter. Avoid "Micro Balloons" as they offer no additional stength. If you can't find anything - take a sanding block to a fiberglass arrow shaft or a PC board and make your own.

Next step.

Experiment.

I hope to this weekend. I have a very, very special epoxy on hand that I think is still good from West Systems and I bet it will be a forever bond once completed. Should take about 48 hours at >70 degrees to cure.

WW
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Old 09-23-06, 12:11 AM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

think poppen them in the oven at 300 for a few minutes would do anything?
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Old 09-23-06, 12:36 AM
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Re: Installing Foglights Writeup

I am no expert at forming acrylic, and have only been mildly successful when I've played with it. The key is to have a form to rest it on once it has softened, and to handle it gently so you don't dent or deform the surface.

Tons of information can be found here - look under the fabrication section.

Plaskolite, Inc. Industrial Products

Be careful.

WW
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