Hey guy i was talking with Jeff @ Evolution and he wanted me to get together a list of people who would be interested in clearing out there headlights (by removing the stock amber reflector), getting them painted, and/or replacing the stock reflector with ares's clear headlight reflector strips. He can also replace the bulbs inside the headlamp if u all want, just bring the bulb. So i got in contact with Dave, who i met at the 2004 East Coast Z and G meet, we got talking and we are looking for someone who can host the event at there house pending the amount of people who want to clear out their headlights in the area, who knows if its 3-4 people who want to get their headlights done we can caravan down to Richmond where he lives and he can do our headlights there. But if not we are looking for a host in the MD/VA/DC area who can allow him to come up stay for night and work on the headlights for multiple people at a time. I have no idea on what kind of prices we are looking at but im sure they will be good. BTW we plan on hosting this event in July sometime, because we want everyone to get there headlight reflector strips from ares. Because i know most of you guys wanna replace that hole in the headlamp. But let me know if you are interested i will set up a date eventually but once again were looking at July for this to happen..

Ben

 

Thanks Ben! Just so interested folks understand, I'm in the process of scheduling to perform a clear corners conversion for folks that show "committed interest" in such a conversion .

While I'm not known on these boards, I own an S2000 and have converted nearly 200 Honda S2000s. I've also performed conversions on late model Acura TLs and CLs. Jeff has asked me to expand my hand into the 350Z arena for the local Mid-A area and I could not be happier to do so . And Ben has been gracious enough to fire up a thread of interest .

At 38 years old, and with a "real job" managing 3 support/help desks at my company's corporate office here in Richmond, VA, clearing corners is a side-business for me. It pays for my toys ...and I love just how nice my customers' cars look after the conversions. Just passing some of this info on so you can appreciate that I pursue this side-business with a professional interest... Anyway...just wanted to offer a pre-emptive shout out to the owners in my [local] Mid-A area that you will have a qualified alternative to perform your conversions in person. So definitely be sure to take a gander at drew's ride during Jeff's upcoming meet.

I'm setting my sights for a July date. And as Ben indicates, July gives folks time to place orders for replacement stripes from Ares if they are interested, committing/re-arranging schedules so that the weekend in question works for them, etc. I just wanted to make my introductions now and let interested folks get stoked on the idea of a conversion service option available to them locally . So, let's consider a date of Saturday July 17th [& maybe the 18th as well if interest is large enough]. I still need a willing host to make my trip possible. And in the event that more than 3 folks want their headlamps cleared, then perhaps that host would consider putting me up on a sofa for the evening and we could schedule clearings for Sunday the 18th as well (but that might be getting ahead of ourselves...for now, just July 17th). Obviously, the host should be somewhat of a car-nut and be interested in having folks mill about while I clear corners. I'm a machine once I get started. Each conversion takes 4+ hours to complete, then I'd move to the next one, etc. I've done as many as 4 conversions in a day, and 7 total in a weekend...but you can imagine its constant nose to the grindstone for me. Everyone else tends to have a kick-butt social time. Usually those participating work out a bar-b-que or order food, etc. and just split costs...so as not to impose on the host. The host is there to provide a central location, an available 3-feet or so of counterspace in the kitchen, access to their kitchen oven (all of which I make no mess), and most preferably the host also can offer a garage with at least one bay for me to work on each car without weather becoming a factor. It would thoroughly suck for all of us if we did all kinds of planning...and then it pours . So I always prefer a host have a garage or covered area as well.

BTW...here's a few recent pics of The Bruised Banana (should anyone be interested in a ride other than Nissan's wonderous offerings ). Just showin' off my talents








As far as my services go, it is a 100% complete affair that I do for your automobile. I would pull your headlamp assemblies out of your car, go through a series of steps to open each headlamp assembly, remove the amber reflective strip from inside each assembly, [insert replacement aftermarket strip in each housing if you provide], and finally seal the puppy back up. Then reinsert the headlight housing into the car and reinstall the bumper. For this, I charge $150 per 350Z. Some have additionally expressed interest in having the greater part of their chrome inserts painted flat-black while the headlamp assembly is disassembled. I can do this for an additional $25 per 350Z. This adds time however...every bit of 1+ additional hour to apply spray paint, let dry, and then cure paint in oven before it can be handled safely for reinsertion into the headlamp assembly. So such a request would put such owner at 5+ total hours for conversion completion. Under such circumstances with past [S2000] "group" conversion schedules, I've tended to "stagger" conversions with participants. Open a set of headlamps, spray the chrome inserts,...then while awaiting its drying/curing...I'd begin another owner's disassembly, etc. You get the idea...making the best use of all our time .

Only clarification I would make, as Ben points out, is that I do not supply the available clear headlight reflector strips for the internal housing. If an owner so desires, they may purchase a set of clear stripes from => Ares <= (a member on your community boards here that offers an OEM replacement to the amber strips within your headlamp housing...but in clear ).

This is what the Z headlamp would look like after the conversion with only the amber strip removed:



[Above image is courtesy www.autocarparts.com]


Here is a pic of Ares clear headlamp replacement strip...



[Above image is courtesy Mike Wazowski...a board member. I will remove this pic if so requested]

A separate thing worth considering (shown also in the above pic)...but certainly something to see done while the bumper were off if you're looking for that "completely clean/clear front"...would be to replace the amber clear side/corner reflector marker located vertically in the front bumper as well . These seem to be available through various vendors/sites. Personally, I could imagine you doing this with the bumper removed while I clear your corners... I'm just bringing the idea up as, if it were me, I'd probably want to do it all at the same time.

Warning: As old_s13...a CA owner...posted on your boards, "The amber reflector on the Z is only needed because the law requires an amber "reflex reflector" PLUS an amber "side-marker." Since the lower side-markers from the factory are non-illuminated, they use the lens in the headlight to illuminate amber. However, you cannot have one without the other.. both are technically needed in order for the 350Z to be road-legal." You should check your own county/state provisions regarding any of these modifications and appreciate that you will assume the liability if this meets negatively with Johnny Law. With the Honda S2000s, I have cleared many a set now and oftentimes replaced the bulb behind the diffuser to that of an amber bulb (sometimes even "stealthed" it through a home-grown masking/painting process for owners). Then, when the turnsignal is actuated, it still results in an amber turning indicator...and seems to meet with acceptable inspections in the Mid-A area. But again, I will not assume legal liability for this mod. Please appreciate that right up front. All I assume liability of is my workmanship...and of that, I guarantee it for 3 months (which is plenty of time for anything "bad" to have happened). And I have had 100% success with each and every conversion I've performed to date .


Thanks again!

- Dave

 

Folks that have indicated committed interest in the July 17th/weekend clearing:

• Sins4u33 - Ben
• kbomb - khoi [cannot host...no garage]

 

btw dave i might be able to host this little event in my house, i have a very large drive way a garage u can work in and an oven and a bed if u need it...i will see whether or not this will be ok but my house is a possibility for now

Ben

 

Thanks Ben. I'll keep a watch on this thread every couple days to see how interest grows. Here's a ==> link <== from another local, Drew, who was my first 350Z clearing.

- Dave

 

Hey Dave, how ya been?

Just wanted to chime in, and reiterate the great job Dave did on my Z.

The headlights are looking great, I just cant wait for the pollen and cicadas to get out of the area! Then baby Z can get out and drive some more

-drew

 

i know its probably a stretch buuuuuuuuut wingman - if you ever wanted to pop up to the ny area to do this i have a garage, two drive ways, a bed, a bbq, and lots of beer. =) i'm sure the ny crew would like some love - if you ever wanted to make the trip up north

 

Love the offer... ...gotta say I'd hate the drive tho'. Again, I have to balance my "real career" with this side business. So I have to keep things very localized and do stuff typically on weekends. MD/VA/NC...that's about it. Folks outside of that area are welcome to inquire on shipping headlights to me. There I'd ask for shipping to be covered by the customer both ways...but my base fee for conversion of shipped 350Z headlamps would drop to $125 if anyone were interested. Obviously, such a thought impacts those whose Z is their "daily driver" most significantly. But depending on how they were to ship, the owner is pretty much in control of how long their car is down. I've done nearly 1/3rd of all my S2000 conversions as shipments (from Canada, Hawaii, Cali, Texas, Florida...and nearly every state back to Virginia). So it is an option that folks are welcome to consider.

Again...thanks for the warm NY-welcome. Just think I'll stick to working around my turf for now. If ever I get laid off, tho' ...I'll give you a hollar for some quick work .

- Dave

 

haha you got it. as soon as my ares reflectors show up i'll be shipping you my headlights =)

 

Hmmm.. if it's in MD or Va.. i'd be interested in this And so would another friend of mine, Fall-Line.

 

I want in on this, except I dont want mine clear, I just want my headlights blacked out....you can do that right? I guess just a regular flat black high temp paint would work?

 

Ok heres a list i got working right now of people in the area who wants to get there headlights done,

Sins4u33 - Replace Strip with Ares strip
SirMikel1 - Interested
Alberto - Black out headlights (paint)

Let me know guys if u change your mind of what

Ben

 

Alberto... Just want to make sure we'd be understanding each other right up front . Either way...(with or without diffuser removal/replacement)...getting inside the headlights is $150. And then $25 more for painting the inserts [while I'm already inside]. Make sense?

Again, wouldn't want any misinterpretations is all. Thanks!

- Dave

 

Just because I've "been around the block" a few times with group clearing pre-orgs like this Ben...

To all that have posted interest, please appreciate that there is a biiiiiiiiiiiiiig difference between "I'm interested" and "Hell yeah! Count me in! I understand what Dave's fee is. I'd rather him be responsible for it than me. I have no conflict with the date at this time!"

See the difference? I have learned not to assume that "I'm interested" means that a person is a definite. A person saying "I'm a definite!"...that's a definite!

Thanks again all! I'm excited to see the community's interest so quickly. Now I'm just sorry to see that my date is soooo far off . But please, by all means, keep the momentum going. And again, if you're planning to do this, and you're actually wanting replacement strips for your amber ones...get in touch with that Ares fellow soon! Better to have them in your hands for the scheduled date...than to try to order them last minute and find that he's backordered, etc. .

Looking forward to clearing some more 350Zs!!!!!!!

- Dave

 

Yeah thats what I got out of your post just wanted to make sure...see you in July.

Edit: Im definetely in

 

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice! Now *that's* what I'm talkin' about! . Thanks Alberto & looking forward to meeting you!!!

 

I've sent PMs to pretty much everyone to keep July 17th focused for all that plan to pay for my clearing services, etc. I've stressed this before, but its always worth saying, if you have to prepare for time-off, ordering aftermarket diffusers from Ares (if you want the amber diffusers replaced with an actual clear or smoked diffuser)...now's the time to get things done -- to get our ducks in a row. I've also got to begin firming up a schedule as to when I want a particular participant to arrive for their scheduled clearing, etc. Better to get this stuff worked out now and be prepared .

With the folks that have indicated interest up to committments for my services...I should hope that within the next 2 weeks I'll be able to iron out exactly who will be converted when, etc. And you'll have time to place orders with Ares if you wish, etc. to have such replacement diffusers in your possession in time for the scheduled conversion date .

Thanks,
Dave

 

Dave, Could you please reserve a spot for me to get the clear headlight strips installed as well as the LED reflectors.
Thanks,
Aby

 

Dave,

Put me down as definite for taking out the amber strip.

Thanks
Khoi

 

I've received word this evening that the intended host will now likely be out of town for the weekend of July 17th. This leaves 2 choices.

• Someone needs to buck up and be willing to host this if you want me to travel up north, or
  
• Any folks planning to have their cars cleared will need to plan to drive to my home in Richmond, VA.