DIY: Tail Light Mod
Moderators: IMC, Club Staff
- kazbah
- National Secretary
- Posts: 2475
- jedwabna poszewka promocja
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2003 5:00 pm
- Location: Stiff Clutch...
- Contact:
DIY: Tail Light Mod
Had some more time on my hands this morning so decided it was tail light mod time
First step is to remove the tail lights. This is quite easy. Just lift up the flaps in the boot of the car where the tail lights are. You will see four nuts. Just undo them and ease the tail light out. Disconnect the bulbs, they are push and turn but be gentle.. and there you go. HINT: Line the bulbs up the way the came out of the lights - save a lot of mucking about making sure you put the right bulb into the right hole.
Next I cut out circles from a cover of a display binder, its made from thin plastic. The dimentions I used were
2 x 4 cm circles for reverse lights
1 x 9 cm for the light next to the reverse
1 x 8 cm for the next light along and
1 x 3.5 cm for the blinker
I found using a compass to draw the circles on the plastic is the best way to get the sizes right. Also when you cut them out, use sand paper to smooth off any uneven edges to make them as circular as possible.
Next I cleaned the lights with metho. HINT: make sure before you start spraying that there are no finger prints on the surface of the lights cos the paint wont adhere, which is what happened to me. I had to use the metho to take off the paint from that area and very carefully respray it to the same depth as the rest of the light.
Using selastic (is that how u spell it??) put a small dot on the centre of the plastic cut outs. Selastic is good cos u can move the circle around without too much effort to make sure both lights are lined up the same.
Now start spraying. I used Nite-Shades from SuperCheap. Its a black tail light lens paint. Do a number of light coats and let it dry between coats or it will run. Keep painting until you get the depth you want.
For the indicators, I found the best way to get them out was by using a precision flat screwdriver and a cloth. Put the cloth on the car under the indicator so as not to scratch the paint. At the bottom of the indicator there is a small opening. Insert the screwdriver into this opening and the indicator should pop out. Take a bit of care with this cos the clip from my indicator fell inside the panel. It was a bitch to get it back out. Also make sure when you remove the indicators you secure the wiring or else it will fall inside the panel (dont ask how I found this out ) Same deal with cleaning and spraying as with the tail lights.
When I removed the plastic circles the selastic should be easy to get off. If not just scrape off as much as you can with your nail and use metho to clean off the rest. DONT USE THE METHO ON THE PARTS YOU HAVE PAINTED OR YOU'RE BACK TO SQUARE ONE!!!
Here are the photos of the finished product.
http://server2.uploadit.org/files/kazba ... linker.jpg
http://server2.uploadit.org/files/kazba ... 8tail1.jpg
http://server2.uploadit.org/files/kazba ... 9tail2.jpg
It only took a couple of hours
First step is to remove the tail lights. This is quite easy. Just lift up the flaps in the boot of the car where the tail lights are. You will see four nuts. Just undo them and ease the tail light out. Disconnect the bulbs, they are push and turn but be gentle.. and there you go. HINT: Line the bulbs up the way the came out of the lights - save a lot of mucking about making sure you put the right bulb into the right hole.
Next I cut out circles from a cover of a display binder, its made from thin plastic. The dimentions I used were
2 x 4 cm circles for reverse lights
1 x 9 cm for the light next to the reverse
1 x 8 cm for the next light along and
1 x 3.5 cm for the blinker
I found using a compass to draw the circles on the plastic is the best way to get the sizes right. Also when you cut them out, use sand paper to smooth off any uneven edges to make them as circular as possible.
Next I cleaned the lights with metho. HINT: make sure before you start spraying that there are no finger prints on the surface of the lights cos the paint wont adhere, which is what happened to me. I had to use the metho to take off the paint from that area and very carefully respray it to the same depth as the rest of the light.
Using selastic (is that how u spell it??) put a small dot on the centre of the plastic cut outs. Selastic is good cos u can move the circle around without too much effort to make sure both lights are lined up the same.
Now start spraying. I used Nite-Shades from SuperCheap. Its a black tail light lens paint. Do a number of light coats and let it dry between coats or it will run. Keep painting until you get the depth you want.
For the indicators, I found the best way to get them out was by using a precision flat screwdriver and a cloth. Put the cloth on the car under the indicator so as not to scratch the paint. At the bottom of the indicator there is a small opening. Insert the screwdriver into this opening and the indicator should pop out. Take a bit of care with this cos the clip from my indicator fell inside the panel. It was a bitch to get it back out. Also make sure when you remove the indicators you secure the wiring or else it will fall inside the panel (dont ask how I found this out ) Same deal with cleaning and spraying as with the tail lights.
When I removed the plastic circles the selastic should be easy to get off. If not just scrape off as much as you can with your nail and use metho to clean off the rest. DONT USE THE METHO ON THE PARTS YOU HAVE PAINTED OR YOU'RE BACK TO SQUARE ONE!!!
Here are the photos of the finished product.
http://server2.uploadit.org/files/kazba ... linker.jpg
http://server2.uploadit.org/files/kazba ... 8tail1.jpg
http://server2.uploadit.org/files/kazba ... 9tail2.jpg
It only took a couple of hours
Teh Ban Queen!
- Supplanter
- Forum Moderator
- Posts: 6417
- Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2002 5:00 pm
- Location: Arizona Bay
- Contact:
- Black_FTOGPX
- Mechanic
- Posts: 451
- Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2003 5:00 pm
- Location: Melbourne
Everything is illegal in Australia these days. Maybe there is a way you could use a brighter globe. So when your not indicating its darker, but when you indicate it is the same if not brighter?Slither wrote:Those indicators are very illegal. Maybe the pics are a little dull but basically any darker than standard and your in trouble
Just a thought?
(Prepares to be bombarded)
-
- Mechanic
- Posts: 418
- Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2004 6:00 pm
- Location: Previously NZ, now Hertfordshire, England
Unlike most taillight mods like this, I actually think that looks pretty cool. I think its because you didn't make it white, and left the shape of the tail lights as a contrast to the rest of the car, which I think is better...
[url=http://www.atom.net.nz/afterburner/fto/index.htm][img]http://www.atom.net.nz/afterburner/ftologos.jpg[/img][/url]
It's gone :( - now carless...
It's gone :( - now carless...
- kazbah
- National Secretary
- Posts: 2475
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2003 5:00 pm
- Location: Stiff Clutch...
- Contact:
- HiRAEdd
- Mechanic
- Posts: 689
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:00 pm
- Location: Woody Point, Queensland
- Contact:
- FTO338
- Oldtimer
- Posts: 6712
- Joined: Sun Feb 09, 2003 6:00 pm
- Location: Port Melbourne: Pimping with RX400h, B200 Turbo.
Everything in my car is legal, & passed Vic Road & numerous Cops’ random test and that’s with all the running gear on it, not those dodgy "take if off to pass the test"kazbah wrote:Find a car on this site that is truely legal The blinker actually is brighter than what is shown in the photo. I'm going to take more shot tonight for better effect. Look if the blinkers do become a problem it would take five mins to get the stuff off!!
Anyway i love what you done to the rear lights, & i doubt that its illegal, as it still show the original lights.
DISCLAIMER: The above text is the personal opinion of the author and does not represent the indisputable truth. The author is not responsible for any deaths, injuries or mental illness caused by the above statments.
-
- Veteran Mechanic
- Posts: 1001
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:00 pm
- Location: FTO Capital of Australia
- Contact:
- kazbah
- National Secretary
- Posts: 2475
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2003 5:00 pm
- Location: Stiff Clutch...
- Contact:
Ok, Ok plagerism is alive and well... COPIED MRX'S CAR EVERYONE!!mrx wrote:Gee Kaz, now where have I seen that before.....
The two circles for the reverse lights are interesting, but I think I prefer mine better.
Still, good job and it does look good on the white car too.
Yes I did like the look of your car and when I followed it on Sunday the tail lights stood out. I did the circles on the reverse for legal reasons. Its not exactly legal to do this anyway but I figured if I have a part of all lights showing I should be ok.
Thanks for the idea
Teh Ban Queen!
- HiRAEdd
- Mechanic
- Posts: 689
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:00 pm
- Location: Woody Point, Queensland
- Contact:
- DVSJOHNNYB
- Apprentice
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2004 5:00 pm
- kazbah
- National Secretary
- Posts: 2475
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2003 5:00 pm
- Location: Stiff Clutch...
- Contact:
-
- Veteran Mechanic
- Posts: 1001
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:00 pm
- Location: FTO Capital of Australia
- Contact:
Not that this is a competition or anything, but just if anyone is interested, a couple of pics of my mod.
They aren't the best pictures that I have as it was a bit too overcast on that day, but the problem is that my PC and *ist D are in Adelaide, and right now I am not! I've got a great pic of my car, AJ's and Robs from the last cruise. Looks like a magazine cover (IMO). Will upload when I get around to it (and more specifically when I get back to Adelaide, which will only be a couple of weeks).
- kazbah
- National Secretary
- Posts: 2475
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2003 5:00 pm
- Location: Stiff Clutch...
- Contact:
- HiRAEdd
- Mechanic
- Posts: 689
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:00 pm
- Location: Woody Point, Queensland
- Contact:
- FTO338
- Oldtimer
- Posts: 6712
- Joined: Sun Feb 09, 2003 6:00 pm
- Location: Port Melbourne: Pimping with RX400h, B200 Turbo.
Those paint are specially design for headlights & taillights, so even thought is dark/black, the lights can still shine through.
You should able to get them from Autobarn, SuperCheap, Repco.....etc.
You should able to get them from Autobarn, SuperCheap, Repco.....etc.
DISCLAIMER: The above text is the personal opinion of the author and does not represent the indisputable truth. The author is not responsible for any deaths, injuries or mental illness caused by the above statments.
- AHJ
- Apprentice
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:00 pm
- Location: Sydney
thanks! but where are those shop? i ve no idea abt anyone of them... in in sydney, where are those shops located? would you please give me the address of more deatil abt them, e.g. web site? thanks a lotsFTO338 wrote:Those paint are specially design for headlights & taillights, so even thought is dark/black, the lights can still shine through.
You should able to get them from Autobarn, SuperCheap, Repco.....etc.
- FTO338
- Oldtimer
- Posts: 6712
- Joined: Sun Feb 09, 2003 6:00 pm
- Location: Port Melbourne: Pimping with RX400h, B200 Turbo.
Are your really from Sydney or you just been in Australia for like a week or something?? Try this (Click here--->)http://www.whitepages.com.au & if you have no idea how to get out of you driveway try this (Click here--->) http://www.whereis.com.au
DISCLAIMER: The above text is the personal opinion of the author and does not represent the indisputable truth. The author is not responsible for any deaths, injuries or mental illness caused by the above statments.