I had my `96 Hightowered before I chopped the headlights to pieces for parts for a different project. I dont think I have any pics of it since it was done in like `02 or `03.
Anyway, with the headlamp in front of me, I made some marks (x preferably) on the seam between the black/clear plastic with a sharpie, then used a fine cut-off wheel and went around the lamp. After it was apart, I lightly sanded the ribbed chrome and painted that. DO NOT paint the reflector bowls. After the paint had dried I hooked it back together with the silicone taking up the space that the cut-off wheel had removed. Thats what the Xs were for, with like five of them on the lamp, I just had to make sure they were all perfect.
I didnt know much about lighting at the time so I didnt know about the acids the silicone could release when heated, the same with the paint. If I were to repeat the project today, I would bake the lamps without the lenses for a little while to let the paint release its fumes before I put the lenses back on. Would have used a different product to hook the lenses back on as well.
It didnt turn out half bad, I polished up the lenses while they were off and that really made the black show off.
The sidemarkers are the same, just be careful not to cut through the clear lens. Heat is not as much of an issue here so you can get away without baking them.
I lucked out with the Contour and its lighting didnt degrade over time when the paint heated. I did the same project with my V70R and the paint attacked the reflector bowls. Its headlamps are practically useless now.
