ontarioiroc

I tried to manually search the treads but I can't find how to paint my taillights red. I have seen it done and I think it looks awsome, but I don't know how to do it. I read that some people painted the outside of the lense, and I read that some painted the inside. Which way is the best way to do it? Also what paint do you need to use? I heard that testors paint is the best, but what shade of red. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

JDubya18

I did this to my tail lights a few weeks ago.I just pulled the lenses apart from the housing and sprayed the inside. Then use some RTV to seal them back up. I think you can go either way on this. I just thought it would look better doing the inside and then polishing them up. The paint you wanna use is Translucent Candy Apple Red.

BLACK ICE

Paint the outside of the red and yellow parts with a few light coats of testors transparent candy apple red #1605 I would also recomend putting a few coats of testors gloss coat clear #1814 on the whole tail light after that to make your tail lights shiney and new looking

ontarioiroc

ok, if you paint either the inside or outside does it look better one way or the other. Also if you paint the outside I would have to tape up all of the grids, which could be a pain in the butt.

BLACK ICE

I prefer the look on the outside but it is up to you I also have accidentally broken lenses taking them off the housing just as a heads up.

ontarioiroc

You wouldn't happen to have a pic would you?

darkhorse91

most people I've heard from said to do it from the inside.

maybe a pic of both would help

BLACK ICE

Not mine but done on the outside...

ontarioiroc

Does any one have a pic of taillights painted from the inside?

darkhorse91

87CIZ

iTrader: (8)

it has to be done on the outside otherwise they'll still be orange on the outside... It's orange plastic.

ontarioiroc

I don't think that that is correct. I have heard of people who have painted from the inside, just by spraying paint through the whole in the back. I just can't remember where I saw it.

406TPI

iTrader: (1)

Nope....you can do it on the inside...many of us have. It looks great!

ontarioiroc

do you have a pic of what it looks like painted form the inside?

Gr89RS

iTrader: (5)

That would be me.



I painted through the bulb hole in the back. Came out much better than I expected it would.

406TPI

iTrader: (1)

Here's mine painted from the inside.

Trah84Z

iTrader: (1)

what do you use for backup lights?

ZZ4 86 Z28

iTrader: (1)

if i can go ahead and paint it from the outside, why would i bother getting to the inside? especially if i can run right over it with the clear coat and give it a nice polish? if i get a good reason, ill take em out, otherwise it seems kinda pointless.

Gr89RS

iTrader: (5)

You can do it from the outside and get good results. I did it my way so I wouldn't loose the ridged texture that is on the inside of the light. Not to mention I didnt have to worry about masking the lenses.

Keep in mind though as I said in my other thread, spraying through the bulb hole requires shoving a rag into the reverse section to prevent overspray from coming through, which it will, just ask how I know.

ZZ4 86 Z28

iTrader: (1)

oh, ok. it seems as though the texture came through too by painting the outside. id rather mask personally (i work at a paint shop so i do it all day anyways). thanks for the input.

406TPI

iTrader: (1)

I painted mine from the inside because my lenses are polished and I didn't want to ruin that look. I supposed if you want to paint the outside then clear the whole lense it might not look bad. But...taking the lens apart isn't hard at all if you decide to paint it from the inside. Taking apart the lens also gives you a good oppertunity to clean them up real well.

Gr89RS

iTrader: (5)

Agreed, forgot to mention that. It made polishing a whole lot easier.

ZZ4 86 Z28

iTrader: (1)

hm interesting. well i will be doing an all over paintjob very soon (myself). so tail lights will either need to be removed or masked off. i can just run the clear right by the lights if i want. or if i take the lights out, i can always paint em while theyre out. i think itd be nice to have some clear on the out side too. so i think ill just go ahead and paint the outsides of them. thanks a lot for the help.

hotrod87camaro

i just did mine the other day and i did them from the inside. i would think that would be better because you don't have to worry about the paint getting scratched or anything and it would match better. then you could polish them and they would all have the same shiny finish on the outside. also because its really not that big of deal to take them apart. they just have those big plastic wingnuts on the back to take them out then there are clips on the bottom and plastic rivets that hold the top together. i'm sure you will break the plastic rivets because i broke every single one but i just used a small screw and a nut instead and it worked fine. and the red does shop up over the amber even from the inside. the light comes through red too.
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how do you get by with no reverse lights?