This DIY has been carried over from the old forum!

Time required:
If you have all the parts, and all your tools charged I would say less than 45 min, less than 30 if you don’t have to re-cut a lens

Tools:
Flat head screwdriver
Hobby knife or soldering Iron
(-OR-)
Dremel or Drill and a high speed cutting tool
Razor knife

Materials:
194’s, color of choice.
2ft x 4ft fluorescent light cover – found at home depot or light stores
Silicone sealant

Uninstall the OEM door light lenses using the flat head by prying around the edges. There are only a coupe pops and it should come off.

Trace the lens onto paper, or paperboard for a pattern. I found that making a pattern was easier than tracing the original lense



To cut the light cover I found this works best: since it is so large, if you take the razor knife and score it all the way across the 2 feet you can bend it there and I should break along the score. Dry wall and glass work the same way. I would give yourself about 8 in for the first break. You can use scissors for this cut, but it is messy as seen above.

Once you have it in a workable size. Take the pattern and a sharpe and trace the pattern. Flip the pattern for the other door. They are exact same size I did it both ways.

I found that if you put a notebook under the plastic and gently tighten the clamps it will keep it from moving pretty well.



If you have a dremel you’ll need a high speed cutting tool bit (I have no dremel and used a drill… was harder, but do-able)



You don’t have to cut all the way through the plastic, but you’ll find it easiest if you cut about halfway through. At this point you can bend it slightly around the edges and you new lens will pop out.



I took the razor knife around the edges to kind of smooth them out a little.

If you have a soldering iron or a hobby knife (soldering iron with different tips)
You can melt the edge and follow the same steps as above. You don’t have to melt all the way through, just about half way.

Go out and make sure they fit and look right. If not try again. I am estimating I can make about 20 or more lenses from the one sheet.

Place two silicone beads at either end, just enough to get it to stick. Probably bathroom silicone will work best since it is easy to remove. I used clear GE silicone3 from HomeDepot

If everything turns our right you should get this:



Thanks to Xyloft for a well presented DIY!

One additional point I found that GE silicone 2 clear is pretty awesome for attaching the lights, I removed my lenses once to change light bulbs and to make sure that the new ones i am making fit, it was really easy to clean up and reapply and you cannot see it. unless you are up on the lights.

if anyone is interested, I have been making these lenses for people for 12$ shipped. PM me or email me, it should be in my profile. I have posted these up in the for sale forum as well.

off topic: the new look for this site is awesome. other car forums dont even come close.

great idea. I have been wondering what to do about them for a while. I might try your idea or something slightly different.

wish i could take credit for this as my original Idea, but another member in an old forum told me he used that material for his odler tib. I just took the materials that he recommended and put this together for everyone.

i'd be interested to see what you come up with.

yeah I would like to say I'll show soon, but until the weather clears up I have sort of a hold on all my Tibby work.

Xlyoft, have you advertised what you are selling in the For Sale forum...if not, you should...what you are selling is a nice touch as a cheap price.

I am interested in buying a set of these!

Guys dumb question but my car is buried under snow right now so I can't just go look, but how are the stock lenses held on? and is there a way you think to get these to stay on that doesn't use glue. Also do you think maybe buying some clear lenses for some other vehicle or something might look a little more OEM?

the stock lense are attached using little tabs.

i have removed and reinstalled mine a couple times. the Silicone i mentioned above leaves no trace when you remove them. it pretty much acts like rubber cement. you pull off the lens and you have these to rubbery pieces that pull out. the stock lenses will pop back on if you change your mind.

here is a pic of the removed lenses. dont think any other lenses will fit unless you have one molded professionally. which i can't afford really and have no idea who would be able to mold it.



sorry about the cat hair and quality of pics. kind of rushed it.

I also played with puting tabs on the side of the clear lenses and was going to cut little slots into the door... but i didnt want to put my baby under the knife. the way that I posted is totaly reversable and does no damage.

cool thanks for all the info

Sweet good ideas!

Where can I pick up some GE silicone 2? Home Depot?

yea home depot is where i got it. its like $14 for a tube if you have an silicone/caulk gun.

or you can buy a smaller tube (like i did because I dont have a gun) for like 5ish. i am thinking it was either 7.99 or 3.99 cant remember

this is the stuff you can use to seal an MDF speaker box too. thats actually why i had it around. and i also used it on my clear corners to reseal it.

You know the white plastic piece behind the lense, well im going to paint that black then put a clear lense on it.. just an idea, and i might do a diff color bulb. Ill post pics when im done

i had thought about doing that as well. since the plastic is a grey color, i thought painting it super gloss white would make the light brighter and cleaner looking durring the day.

but i am no good at painting, and didnt want to mess with pulling the door apart. looking forward to seeing how it looks

recieved my lenses today...thanx...very professional finish!

guys i got a question about these. If you want to change the color from clear to blue what would be the best way to do it? Get a blue blud or get a blue candy type paint ( because what i understand that this type of paint is transparent ) and paint the lenses? Thanks for the help

i think someone painted theirs with. mettalix? lumnicolor? crap....i cant remember what the name of the paint is. its on the tip of my tongue. but yea, thats how other people have done it.

my advice would be to paint the inside where the ridges are.

use a candy color, i candied my map light and it looks great! It wil dim the light some tho.

not too shabby! im givin this a shot

Great DIY !!

Love this diy. Thanks!

great DIY thanks alot