So I was thinking about my black Runner after reading this thread and decided I'll see how easy it is to go nuts with this theme.

It's got the gray interior so I'll keep that; it's halfway to black, and I don't feel like finding all black interior parts; but I think I'm going to black the grill guard, take off the chrome wheel well strips, and maybe even do the bumper. Then I got to thinking about those bright shiny headlights.

Am I correct in remembering that there is such a thing as a "blackout" light that looks more or less black when turned off, and shines when on? Are these street legal? Is there a source? I tried Googling, and I'll try some more creative searches, but most of what I've found dealt with those lame covers that they used during blackouts in World War II.

If anybody knows this stuff it's the people at YotaTech.

 

I think I remember reading somewhere about a black housing as well.

But an easy way is to get the blackout light covers

http://www.autothing.com/Products/Le...outs-intro.htm

You'll probably have to take it off at night though. Which could be annoying after a while

 

r u talking about the headlight guards?The performance products catalog says for off-road or shows and check ur local laws.

 

Most states consider those illegal. Here in South Carolina they will ticket you for them, and you can get away with almost anything here

 

Nope, it's not the headlight covers, although that's an option that I hadn't considered.

I will have to do some creative searching. It's a headlight that actually looks black behind the glass when turned off, and shines when turned on.

I could swear I saw them somewhere...

 

Is this what you are referring to?
These are overlays.

There is also a spray like this

 

I blacked out my taillights and bumperlights. As far as I know it's legal, I talked to a cop and he said you just had to be able to see the red. I got a spray for $10 and it came out really nice after a couple of coats.

 

Nope. I'll find it, darn it. Wish work wouldn't get in the way of my browsing on Yotatech during the day.

 

rah1420

Are you talking about these?

 

Are you talking about something like what Hella has for their Black Magic foglights?See Here
I think thats the concept you're talking about right?


EDIT* looks like elnip beat me to it:pat:

 

I think he means these...they are called halo headlights.

here's the link to them: Click here

 

The closest thing is the Hella lights, yes. I think I found what I'm looking for but they don't make it yet.

More details if I can sweet-talk the manufacturer into letting me try something.

 

Okay, and oddly enough there's a picture of it on the VWDiesel website, the author of which might be more famously known round these parts for for 4Crawler.

If you click on the VWDiesel site and click the middle pic on the top, you'll see what I was looking for. It's a headlight called ColorClear. It's made by Philips Lighting with a technology called KillFlash, licensed from a company called Tenebraex. KillFlash is more commonly used by snipers and other people who don't want their scope flashes to appear, but it apparently has an interesting side effect in a headlight; although it suppresses the reflection from a headlight, it also renders it black looking while not impairing the light transmission all that much.

I wrote to Tenebraex looking to get this material and this guy told me that Philips got there first -- but the headlight (to his knowledge) is no longer made, and "you wouldn't really be able to do it yourself." (His quote.)

I couldn't find more than Roger's site on a cursory Google search -- so I guess for now it'll have to be removable covers. Grumble.

 

I do remember those, I had a buddy that had a pair in his 88'
I haven't seen them in a long time.

 

Cool, I see AutoVentShade makes headlight covers for 2nd gen 4Runners, etc.

Does anyone happen to have any photos please? might look good painted to match your duco, or even some eyes to match your KC Daylighters