FAQ: Headlamp Lens Modifications (Headlights, Projectors)

wee-one wrote:

So... I am dead set on projector Headlamps with either ccfl or led halos....

So... my issue is this stock lens.... if anyone knows how to grind out the inside of the lens and smooth it out I would retrofit the grand prix kit into it and seal it up nice... but I think it would still look too weird and ricey for a Buick.. especially the rounded classic body style of the Riviera.

So.... I'm thinking of TRYING to dig up a set of lenses at the junkyard... doesn't matter how beat up... gel coat them and throw some fiberglass over them for a shell kindof thing... I know I've seen them stock on a couple cars... maybe aftermarket.. I just can't remember what cars... I think it was mainly taillights... like an impala maybe... but anyways... bondo it.. paint it my car color.. Pearl white... after I cut a few holes in it and fit some integra projectors in it with a small projector for the cornering light...

The other option would be to get the projectors seperate as fog lamps Wich have lenses on them already like the integrals and just mount them in the gutted out stock headlights... if I decide to go the integra route I'm pretty sure I would have to cut the two lights apart since the are both more forward and the Rivieras kindof curves over the front fender more.... andseal them up with some black silicone..

I wish I could Photoshop something but it would look pretty good... it would retain the factory shape but would look as if it had individual lights...

Kindof dabbling with the idea of getting clear sidemarkers and rewiring it to be little fog projectors for the cornering lights and making the cornering light the blinker but might not face forward enough and be illegal due to visibility.... or maybe throw some.little tiny fog lights wired to the brights in the corners of the grill... or in the bottom area of sqrivi bumpers if I can still get them......

I would just paint my lenses the same code as my car and cut out a couple holes and mount the integra to stick out a half inch or so but I'm planning on trying to get ahold of a couple sqrivi bumpers when I sell my Malibu and it wont look good at all since they are so sleek...

Kindof also dabbling with the idea of doing the same sort of thing with the taillight which would be super easy... maybe throw led bulbs in and do the round holes at each bulb and probably have to just paint and clearcoat itwith a little tint over where the light holes are....

Like I said... I'm dead set on halo projectors.. this would look especially good on a black Riviera... but I'd say white would be a close 2nd... I wish I could even load up some.pics of examples... but being on my phone and all.... I was also thinking since I have sequential taillights.that it would look especially good if I did smaller "holes" on the outside gradually(sequentially) getting larger toward the middle...

What do u guys think? Any thoughts... questions.. advice?

you have an incredible imagination. dont let it go to waste. but youre ideas to work. make it happen.

So... I saw a 95-99 regal today and the headlights looked oddly similar to the Rivieras... I know they are are like sisters or something but they looked to be the same shape besides the seperate cornering lights....

My question... are the lenses the same size and shape as the Rivieras? I don't care about the mounts or where the bulbs are (it looked like it had a low beam.high beam.cornering.and signal) I just need the headlight lens to be the same size and shape and dies it possibly mount to the Rivieras? Are the housings the same? I plan only heavily moding it for projectors and possibly cutting holes... that's why I need to know.. thanks.

I would say no, regal headlights are more straight compared to the rivs that look like they get wider. I would say if anything the park ave headlights would be closer.

The only thing that is interchangeable on the exterior of the Riv with another car are the door handles and side view mirrors, which may be used from the Oldsmobile Aurora. Although I don't know if there are any model years differences.

Anything can be made to fit lol. Just take one and try it on at the junkyard prolly like 30 bucks if that wouldnt hurt! The one piece would look way better.

Thanks... I just basically need to make a little mold of it out of steel... and it would be better since it doesn't have a seperate cornering lense... I plan on basically making a mettal lenses if that sounds weird... got big ideas for actually not that much money that will make the Riviera look really nice...

God the regals light looked the exact same... I even pulled up a pic of my car when I was looking at it and the shape is dead on... I know it won't be interchangeable because of the cornering light... but I'm not really gonna use it.... are the curves of the light the same.... anybody know that has had one or has both a Riviera and a regal...



BTW I'm writing a thread with questions from me and y'all... ill do a writeup and take pics when I do it... but I'm going to fabricate a steel lens the exact shape... make three holes bigger to smaller... inside to outside. And a steel taillight lenses to fit over the factory ones with four holes bigger to smaller.. inside to outside... minus the reverse light and one small light in the corners of the grill to match the smaller reverse light..... gonna put projectors in the headlight holes with the semicircle barely poking out.... I really wish I was better with Photoshop....

I own 2 Rivs and a Regal GS. They are not interchangeable. Besides, Buick paid for anti-oxidant in the Riv headlights but not the Regals. All Rivs that I have seen are clear but the headlights on the Regal are cloudy.

Hmmm I must have gotten shorted then cause my driver side headlight is actually more yellowed and cloudy than the cornering lights. Not sure how that happened as I bought it that way.

Derek wrote:

Hmmm I must have gotten shorted then cause my driver side headlight is actually more yellowed and cloudy than the cornering lights. Not sure how that happened as I bought it that way.

could be anything, including that one or the other headlight was replaced, or both corners were replaced... I wouldn't fret.

BMD wrote:

The only thing that is interchangeable on the exterior of the Riv with another car are the door handles and side view mirrors, which may be used from the Oldsmobile Aurora. Although I don't know if there are any model years differences.

The side mirrors are interchangeable with the shelby series 1 as well

series 1
riviera

Does anyone know of any replacement housings to give our cars more of the euro look. I plan on putting led driving lights across the bottom of my headlights, kind of like on audis, but I don't know how it would look with the current lights. I figure, that if I can find some nice looking euro replacements, I can replace everything in one shebang.

I am waiting for the day someone molds and seals their own. Can't wait to see that write up!

Rebuilding the headlights is one of the things on my list to do. I want to do a true HID system. I also want to build turn signals into the headlight. I will tackle this once I finish the interior. With my current pace that will probably be about five years.

Haha! no kidding! cool!

If the Regal headlight fit, you'd still have to fab up brackets for the back of it. Having played with both assemblies, the Regal's lights are far easier to work with. They come out in less than 10 seconds. Wish I could say that about the Riv.

I already did mine. The headlights come apart quite easily as they are held together with glue. The corner lights are a bitch though. I had to dremel them apart because they are plastic welded. You can see pics of the headlights in my showroom thread.

DEMonte1997 wrote:

I already did mine. The headlights come apart quite easily as they are held together with glue. The corner lights are a bitch though. I had to dremel them apart because they are plastic welded. You can see pics of the headlights in my showroom thread.

Do you have any documentation/pictures/write up on this?

Video tutorials are on page 4 of this thread.

Just to clarify on my end: I did not retrofit projectors into my housings. I took the lamps apart and painted the insides of the housings to give the car the "euro" look. If you have any questions on how to do it, post up here.

OMG Smush these in my Riv!

Spec-D 98-02 Honda Accord Angel Eye Halo LED Projector Headlights

Wow, those would look so nice. How close are they to the riv size?!? I might have to pic some up and do a little modification to the hood and fenders to make them fit...I hope they're the same width so that i can get away with not messing with the grill

ya know,if one were so inclined and had a extra headlight to mess around with,modding one would be super easy.just find a diameter of aftermarket led light ,cut a hole in the back of the oem headlamp and instal.you would have to cut the hole perfectly and have the aftermarket lamp held at the back end by its own bracket.some fabbing required.

robotennis61 wrote:

ya know,if one were so inclined and had a extra headlight to mess around with,modding one would be super easy.just find a diameter of aftermarket led light ,cut a hole in the back of the oem headlamp and instal.you would have to cut the hole perfectly and have the aftermarket lamp held at the back end by its own bracket.some fabbing required.

Robo, I fully expect to see your Riv with some sweet ass headlights. PICTURES, MAN. PICTURES!!! I NEED PICTURES!

ima woikin on it!

2003 LeSabre

This is the closest match I have found thus far.