T-Rex Eyelids on a budget mod

So after really wanting t-rex eyelids and not wanting to spend the $45 to buy them, I found a way to get the same results while spending less than half of the cost.

Tools needed:
- flexible foam sheets (~ $0.89 per sheet at craft store), I found ones that were about 1/8" thick to help when removing them after spray painting
- flexible curve stencil ($3-$5 at craft store)
- plasti-dip (~ $5)
- scissors
- painters tape (or any tape for covering non-painted areas and for holding foam sheets in place on headlight)
- optional: black gloss spray paint for plastics (~$5), for finishing touches



Step 1:
Bend the curve stencil to the angle and shape you'd like. I used photos from other Tacos that had T-Rex eyelids in order to get the shape just right.



Step 2:
Tape foam sheet on headlight so that the bottom aligns with the top of the front bumper. Trace the curve onto the foam sheet.



Step 3:
Make sure the shape is what you want before you start cutting. If you need to retrace, do so now, or you could buy a few sheets and try again if you mess up. Tape the lower half of the foam sheet back onto the headlight into the same position it was before you cut. If needed, make small pencil marks beside the headlight in order to put the stencil back in the exact spot. Tape all around the headlight.





Step 4:
Spray multiple coats of plasti-dip over exposed portion of headlight. I used about 4-5 thin coats. Make sure you don't apply too heavy of a coat that it drips under the foam stencil.





Step 5 (optional):
After you're finished with your coats of plasti-dip, you may want to spray a thin layer of black gloss spray paint in case you feel the plasti-dip is too dull (thanks TankTodd). I also turned on my headlights to see if any light bled through the layers of paint/plasi-dip and covered those small areas up with the paint.

Step 6:
Remove tape and foam sheets and enjoy.

Without gloss


With gloss

 

Would you have been able to tell the difference between this and a bought one if you had only seen the pics (despite the lack of color-matching)?

 

I probably would not have noticed the difference in shape or quality but to me the whole point of doing eyelids is to color match. But that's JMHO, YMMV, ETC, and like that.

Do you have a pic of the whole front of the truck with finished result?

 

you get an A for effort. They aren't bad looking. kinda cool actually.
if they get beat up...peel them fuggers off
I used to hate how my trex eyelide stuck out from the headlight.

 

Here's the whole front end. I think the black works well with the rest of the black. I dunno, just a simple project for the truck. How could I resist?

 

Nothing wrong with that; good job!

 

I think you did an awesome job man, it looks great!

 

i think it looks good! although i think it would look better w/o the bug shield. kinda looks like a mustache

 

^^ yea that def crossed my mind, i like to think that it actually works deflecting stuff, but it does look weird now

 

Agreed

 

No with it above the "eyes" it looks like a unibrow.

 

Looks good! I was planning on doing the same thing but i havent had the time to make a template for it.

 

Another way you could do it, that would keep it flush and color match would be just to rattle can the template with your color

 

Sweet, I should did that instead of paying $100 for my eyelids.

 

NICE, been wanting to get some eyelids for a while now too. should have some dip left over from the last time.

 

I say it looks really good and it is super cheap to do. Great work man

 

looks good!! will be doin this weekend! thanks for the good write up aswell.

 

Looks good. It might be better than the fiberglass lids that do no always sit flush with the lights. Instead of the gloss black you could color match it to the truck, but I understand you prefer the black. Options and personal preference/opinion is always good.