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T/A taillights delaminating

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Old 09-08-2004, 08:51 AM
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T/A taillights delaminating

First off I did a search for this and didn't come up with anything. I'm wondering if anyone has experienced the grid on the Trans Am taillights coming off the back, and if it is fixable. I haven't yanked my lights yet, so I'll probably do that this weekend. Has anyone else experienced this happening? If so, what did you do to fix it?

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super_kev
Old 09-08-2004, 01:31 PM
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does it look like the grid part is bubbling or are the black pieces simply falling off? either way, your lights are going downhill... I advise you buy a new set or try out that nightshades spray on tint... i found a new pair at the junkyard when i realized my old ones were crap... here's a pic just for ***** and giggles...
Old 09-08-2004, 01:33 PM
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Yes, the grid part is bubbling. I was wondering if there was a way to take apart the lights and reglue the grid or something.
Old 09-09-2004, 01:25 AM
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the grid wont come off without breaking it off...
Old 09-17-2004, 12:09 PM
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Joe had a set that was delaminating on his car. We found a good set at a junkyard and swapped them out. I worked on the delaminated set. Could not get them to look good again. Would not glue back. So I busted out the plastic grid and polished the lens and got this result...


More pics here

Last edited by redraif; 09-17-2004 at 12:19 PM.
Old 09-17-2004, 10:00 PM
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[i]So I busted out the plastic grid and polished the lens and got this result...[/URL] [/B]
They look weird, but not all that bad. Maybe if you could sand the backside so there was no impression of the grid left they'd look a lot better.
Old 09-19-2004, 02:55 AM
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wow, good job on that one redraif.. it seems like its too tedious to me, plus you'll end up with remnants of the grid...
Old 09-20-2004, 10:04 AM
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redraif

How did you get the outer lens cover off? I have this problem with my lights, and it looks like the outer lens cover is glued on. Did not try to get it off for fear of breaking it.
Old 09-23-2004, 10:21 PM
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Originally posted by Goumba T
They look weird, but not all that bad. Maybe if you could sand the backside so there was no impression of the grid left they'd look a lot better.
I have sanded the impression out. What you are seeing is the inner red lenses' texture. It has an uneven surface. Sanding it down took forever. I will try to see if I have any pics of the unit apart to show you the red lense.

Originally posted by wilyk9
redraif

How did you get the outer lens cover off? I have this problem with my lights, and it looks like the outer lens cover is glued on. Did not try to get it off for fear of breaking it.
What style lense do you have?

Mine grid style had no glue. Just pins at the top I had to pull up and out, like the ones in our fender wells holding in the plastic liner. Once they were out you look on the bottom. There are these metal clips. You just pop them off. The the lense will separate simple as pie.

To my knowledge, this design is only on the grid style and older finned style tailights. The stocker lights are glued adn are a PITA. The other styles I have never separated.

Last edited by redraif; 09-23-2004 at 10:37 PM.
Old 09-23-2004, 10:25 PM
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buying a new set it your best bet unless you wanna just buy blackout and just cover it up or use vht nightshades on them to cover it up .
Old 09-23-2004, 10:39 PM
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Originally posted by 90firebird
wow, good job on that one redraif.. it seems like its too tedious to me, plus you'll end up with remnants of the grid...
The reminants of the inner grid will not be visible whan I'm done. I plan to install these on my 82 and it will have a custom paint job that will flow around the tailights and cover this problem area. Not sure what design yet. Somethign to compliment the flame job it will get!
Old 09-23-2004, 10:51 PM
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Originally posted by 90firebird
wow, good job on that one redraif.. it seems like its too tedious to me, plus you'll end up with remnants of the grid...
Well I plan to do a custom paint job on the 82 that will include some paint scheme that will cover this problem area. Not sure what yet.
Old 09-24-2004, 08:46 AM
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Originally posted by redraif
What style lense do you have?

Mine grid style had no glue. Just pins at the top I had to pull up and out, like the ones in our fender wells holding in the plastic liner. Once they were out you look on the bottom. There are these metal clips. You just pop them off. The the lense will separate simple as pie.

To my knowledge, this design is only on the grid style and older finned style tailights. The stocker lights are glued adn are a PITA. The other styles I have never separated.
From the outside, mine look the same as the pic posted by 90firebird. Have not had them off in quite some time, but I remember that I was not able to get them apart, looked like they were glued together. Maybe I'll pull them off again before I put it up for the winter and make it a winter project.
Old 09-24-2004, 12:29 PM
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all I can think is maybe someone was in there before you!
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