Custom Tailights!!
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Third Coast Outlaw(South Texas)
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: 383 Carbed
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Custom Tailights!!
So I was browsing the web and saw some guy who said he found a way to paint the amber part of out third gen tailights on this website red with some red kandy apple red clear paint. But, I can't seem to find it, dont know if anyone know what Im talking about, but if you do please help!!
#2
Banned
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes
on
10 Posts
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: Custom Tailights!!
Yes....Translucent Red spray model paint.
A usual mod for the Camaro guys, to run my STS.
A usual mod for the Camaro guys, to run my STS.
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Third Coast Outlaw(South Texas)
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: 383 Carbed
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Custom Tailights!!
Yeah but I was looking for more of a "how to" like disassemble the tailights assembly..
#4
Member
iTrader: (8)
Re: Custom Tailights!!
That looks good, but steve, is that painted on the inside or the outside? I like the way mine turned out after painting the inside and polishing the outside.
----------
I think the easyiest way to dissasemble the taillights once they are out, is to give the seal a nice go over with a HOT hairdryer. Then the seal gets kinda gooey, and the lense starts to pull apart real easily.
----------
I think the easyiest way to dissasemble the taillights once they are out, is to give the seal a nice go over with a HOT hairdryer. Then the seal gets kinda gooey, and the lense starts to pull apart real easily.
Last edited by BrOdBaNd; 01-14-2009 at 10:11 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
#5
Banned
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes
on
10 Posts
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: Custom Tailights!!
That looks good, but steve, is that painted on the inside or the outside? I like the way mine turned out after painting the inside and polishing the outside.
----------
I think the easyiest way to dissasemble the taillights once they are out, is to give the seal a nice go over with a HOT hairdryer. Then the seal gets kinda gooey, and the lense starts to pull apart real easily.
----------
I think the easyiest way to dissasemble the taillights once they are out, is to give the seal a nice go over with a HOT hairdryer. Then the seal gets kinda gooey, and the lense starts to pull apart real easily.
My GTA is already all red.
#6
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 990
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: 5.0 305 Carb'd
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Custom Tailights!!
thats all it is model paint? *stupid question* any sanding or anything required? how long does it usually last? does the heat from the light bulbs fade it quick?
#7
Member
iTrader: (8)
Re: Custom Tailights!!
Well... I dont know about how long the paint would last on the outside. But I did first do mine on the outside, and it didnt quite look just right. The texture of the lense was different and you could tell. I then took my lense apart and painted the inside, and it matches the red for my brake lights 100%. I then sanded and removed the old paint from where I painted it on the outside, then polished the outside to a brilliant shine. Personally if it was me, I would paint the inside...
Trending Topics
#8
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 990
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: 5.0 305 Carb'd
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Custom Tailights!!
did you scuff up the inside before you painted, or did you just clean it and paint it? how many coats/bottles did you have to use? im going up to the hobby store tomorrow while im out to get some transparent candy apple red model spray paint lol. how many bottles will i need? thanks!
#9
Member
iTrader: (8)
Re: Custom Tailights!!
No. DONT scuff the inside... Just get an alcohol prep wipe, wipe the lense your painting. That's all, then paint in light coats. Finish up with a nice thick coat. When I get off work Ill take some pics for you... I think I used about 4-5 light coats, then 1 heavy coat. Just to be safe. One bottle per tail light. If your only doing one side of the car, then just get one bottle... That's PLENTY in case you mess up. As a matter of fact, You could probably do 10 taillights with one bottle lol
Last edited by BrOdBaNd; 01-14-2009 at 12:56 PM.
#11
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Kiev Ukraine
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: Firebird 91
Engine: Vortec 350 224/230cam, ported head
Transmission: TH700r4 with vette servo,hd oil pum
Axle/Gears: now 3.73 posi old 3.23 posi
Re: Custom Tailights!!
Stephen , Great Look! At my Firebird i paint tail lights too
#12
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 990
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: 5.0 305 Carb'd
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Custom Tailights!!
i know it depends on what state your in being able to have you taillights blacked out. in illinois its illegal to have black covers, im guessing it would be illegal to have them be just painted black to wouldnt it??
#13
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Queens, NY
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 87 IROC Z28
Engine: Custom Forged 355
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9" 4:11's Detroit Locker
Re: Custom Tailights!!
i do custom tinted tails and whatever else you want tinted....its a custom made tint that is pretty much totally transparent when hit with light....can do any color or any darkness...
#14
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Kiev Ukraine
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: Firebird 91
Engine: Vortec 350 224/230cam, ported head
Transmission: TH700r4 with vette servo,hd oil pum
Axle/Gears: now 3.73 posi old 3.23 posi
Re: Custom Tailights!!
+1 they looks black but transparrency of this paint is about 70%. so other drivers seen the very good (but quick )
#16
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 990
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: 5.0 305 Carb'd
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Custom Tailights!!
whats it take to do the tinting by yourself? what exactly is the tinting? full explanation if you could please. thanks again guys
#17
Senior Member
iTrader: (12)
Re: Custom Tailights!!
Tail light tinting is the darkening of the outside of the stock tail light housing. This process is most commonly done on 3rd gens with a product called VHT Nite shades:
http://www.jegs.com/i//322/SP999/10002/-1
The process is explained in the description on the Jegs website. There is also a great deal of info. on this mod. Much can be found by using the search feature.
http://www.jegs.com/i//322/SP999/10002/-1
The process is explained in the description on the Jegs website. There is also a great deal of info. on this mod. Much can be found by using the search feature.
#18
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 990
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: 5.0 305 Carb'd
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Custom Tailights!!
ahh thanks. i just bought a can lol. how many coats did you apply?? i really like the tint in your lights.
#19
Supreme Member
iTrader: (15)
Re: Custom Tailights!!
just did mine about 3 weeks ago. i did 2 good coats. u can see the before and after. VHT says not to do more than 3 coats or u will prob block out the lights. i wet sanded the lights with a 600grit before paint so it would stick properly... then used rubbing alcohole to prep before coats. 2 coats about 30min apart. did the trick.
heres the thread.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabr...des-spray.html
heres the thread.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabr...des-spray.html
#20
Supreme Member
Re: Custom Tailights!!
And if you read enough of that thread, you'll see one of the reasons I don't post here very much. The stock ***** on this site are disgusting. I typed all that crap out, basically a tech article, and they hijack the thread just because the only picture I had was of a car with that big funky wing on it.
Mathius
#22
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New Albany, IN
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1992 25th Anniv. RS T-Tops
Engine: 305 TBI - POS
Transmission: Stock Auto -?
Axle/Gears: stock - ?
Re: Custom Tailights!!
Here: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...our-amber.html
And if you read enough of that thread, you'll see one of the reasons I don't post here very much. The stock ***** on this site are disgusting. I typed all that crap out, basically a tech article, and they hijack the thread just because the only picture I had was of a car with that big funky wing on it.
Mathius
And if you read enough of that thread, you'll see one of the reasons I don't post here very much. The stock ***** on this site are disgusting. I typed all that crap out, basically a tech article, and they hijack the thread just because the only picture I had was of a car with that big funky wing on it.
Mathius
#23
Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: California
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: auto
Re: Custom Tailights!!
GM made over 800,000 Third Gens for Chrissake- this is not the Hope Diamond we are talking about! Mod yours how you see fit. Don't like how it turned out? Buy another one for under $2000 and START OVER!!
#24
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City, KS
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 92 WS6 Trans am convertible
Engine: ls 6.2
Transmission: 4l80
Axle/Gears: 2.73's
#26
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Black Creek, WI
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: Blue 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: T5 WC
Re: Custom Tailights!!
Keeping a 20 year old car stock is not pointless. I'm not telling you how to have your car. But my car will always be stock. And personally i will never buy a car that is not stock, because you never know what is in it then. But then again this is just my opinion and i respect your choice to mod your car. Not trying to start an argument, just tryin to get you to see the other side of things.
#29
Banned
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes
on
10 Posts
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: Custom Tailights!!
I turned my Reverse lights into tail lights, so now I have 4 red lights per side.....
#30
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Custom Tailights!!
Back to my main point, those all-red or all-black tail lights look awesome, but sadly I will probably never get to own a car with them. =(
#31
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Augusta,GA
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1992 Z03 RS
Engine: (L03) 305TBI
Transmission: TH-700R4
Axle/Gears: bone stock
Re: Custom Tailights!!
Bless your heart...
Ok, anyways, for those of us with thirdgen's.
Um, what is the best method for re-sealing the lenses, like what sealing product should I use?
Also I have heard mention of "polishing the tail lights". What polishing product do you recommend?
Ok, anyways, for those of us with thirdgen's.
Um, what is the best method for re-sealing the lenses, like what sealing product should I use?
Also I have heard mention of "polishing the tail lights". What polishing product do you recommend?
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Terre Haute, IN
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 RS Camaro
Engine: 350 0.060" over
Transmission: 700r4
Re: Custom Tailights!!
Under $2grand... You Yanks don't know how lucky you are. I'm a long-time lurker here... I don't own a third-gen... But that is because average price here in Australia is around $17000AUD... At current exchange rates that equates to just under $14000USD. I hope to buy a Camaro as soon as I can afford it. It will probably be RHD, but since I live in Western Australia I won't be legally obliged to get it RHD as long as its a pre-1990 car.
Back to my main point, those all-red or all-black tail lights look awesome, but sadly I will probably never get to own a car with them. =(
Back to my main point, those all-red or all-black tail lights look awesome, but sadly I will probably never get to own a car with them. =(
I didn't check the date, but assuming this is correct, you could fly here, pick one out, and ship it home for that price. That or find a trusty relative over here.
http://www.costhelper.com/cost/home-...-overseas.html
#33
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: saint cloud,florida
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1986 Iroc z
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Custom Tailights!!
heres My 86 Iroc with blacked out tail lights. I used Model paint called window tint from a hobby shop. They are painted on the Outside of the lense. i used it on my parking lights and my fog lights as well
#36
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 990
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: 5.0 305 Carb'd
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Custom Tailights!!
^^agree. why the hell would you tint your fog lights? thats like tinting yor headlights.
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Terre Haute, IN
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 RS Camaro
Engine: 350 0.060" over
Transmission: 700r4
Re: Custom Tailights!!
I had blackouts on my headlights until the day one of them flew out. They didn't really harm my visibility any. It was also nice in the snow because the headlight pockets didn't fill up with snow, which does block the light. Mind you, mine were the plastic slip in kind that goes from the front of the bumper to the front of the hood.
#41
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 990
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: 5.0 305 Carb'd
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Custom Tailights!!
not big on the blackout foglights. but if you like them then rock the hell out of them but i think our headlights, foglights and bumper/parking/turn signal lights bring a good accent to the front end.
#43
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: saint cloud,florida
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1986 Iroc z
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Custom Tailights!!
Well thank you Very much for the decent comment I know they arent for everyones type of look that they are going for But at least you werent RUDE like some other people that post on here. BLAH BLAH BLAH!!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post