paint tails

here ya go... this is how i painted my tails..

tools needed: scissors, rachet set to remove tails, large pieces of paper, pencil, 2" masking tape, preferred paint for this job, preferred clear coat for this job, patience


1) totally remove one side of the tails, both pieces, there are three wing type plastic nuts holding the outer piece of the tail (behind the carpet in trunk) and there are three nuts holding the inner piece of tail on the trunk... remove all while unhooking lights in the process....

2) take a larger piece of paper, anything as long as it's blank and big enough to cover one piece of the two piece tail assembly and form the paper on the outer lense of the tail.... so that it fits nice and snug (on this step i had to wrinkle the paper in some places to make it form- you could also cut a slit in it to make it form) .... then tape it secure.... next trace the form of the tail to your satisfaction and remove paper from tail...

3) repeat this process for the other piece of the tail

4) take the two and retrace the outline of the tails.. find exactly where the bulbs will be in the tails and transfer those center points to my drawing.... then make copies.....

5) be creative and come up with designs that suit you (for example i used a catfood can and a 20 oz soda lid)... when you're happy with the designs it's time to cut them out... first cut out the main pattern of the tail, then cut out your circles, ovals, stripes, ... whatever it is you came up with.... take the the patterns and make duplicates then reinstall the tails... next take the cut-out patterns and tape them on your tails tape the side you removed first then flip the other one over and tape it to the other side....

6) test them... if you like them then proceed on, if not design more....

7) remove tails, both sides and set aside... then take at least 2" masking tape and tear about a 6"-10" strips and place on a glossy surface that the tape can easily be removed from ... continue tearing and placing strips of until you can transfer your circle, oval, square, whatever it may be, ..... stagger the tape to make it wider.... then trace the pattern onto the tape....
remove tape from surface and with sharp scissors cut out the pattern... continue steps for all patterns....

8) somwhat retape the main cut-out piece (the one we traced from the tails) and place the tape cut-out patterns onto the tails... repeat until all your cut-out patterns of tape are placed nice and even an your tails... do one side at a time so you don't have to cut out all those small tape patterns again, they'll also be the same exact size.... after all are placed take medium grit sand paper and give it a light sanding around your taped pieces, sand doesn't have to be absolutely perfect...

9) take your preferred brand of paint (i used krylon fusion) and begin applying light coats of paint... allow each one to dry completely before applying next coat... continue applying coats until you reach the level of color/darkness you want.... next apply a polyurethane clear coat to finish of the job.... totally let dry before reinstalling tail assemblies...

10) go outside and enjoy your custom tails... this job is done! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: