How To Tint Your Tail Lights

[bjensen83]

DIFFICULTY: http://www.aleromod.com/images/beer.gif
TIME: http://www.aleromod.com/images/beer.gif http://www.aleromod.com/images/beer.gif

K, this is a real easy process guys.
Instructions to remove the inner tail lights are about 12 posts down.

Materials needed:
VHT Night Shades <--- tint spray paint
Clear coat paint
600/800/1000/1200 sand paper

1) In the trunk, pull back the carpet covering the back of the tail lights. there's gonna be 3 plastic screws that you have to remove. this can be done by hand.

2) Disconnect all the lights from the housing

3) K, now that we have the housing off the car, we're gonna start sanding it down to get a smooth result. First start with 600 rating sandpaper, then 800, then 1000, You can even go up to 1200 if u want, but it's not necessary.

4) Now that the sanding is done, we apply the tint paint. I personally used VHT Night Shades paint. It's stayed for over 2 years and hasn't faded at all. Remember when working with spray paint, you want to do several LIGHT COATS. Start each spray stroke off the housing and go at an steady pace and distance. If you miss a tiny spot, just add another LIGHT coat and let it dry until you're satisfied with the shade you want.

5) Let the tint paint dry. I let the paint dry for 24 hours before i applied the clear coat. for the clearcoat paint, i used DupliColor's clear coat paint, and i'm satisfied with it. Provides a nice gloss to the tail lights.

6) After waiting another 24 hours for the clear coat to dry, it's safe to put it back on the car. Put the housing on the correct side, and hook up the lights again. Each light fits in only one place.

7) Put on the 3 plastic screw things again, and cover it up with the carpet, and voila, you're done.

[FormulaNERD]

pictures?

and you might want to add the removal of the inner tails for the newbs.

[BDizzle]

so are you painting the outside? or the inside?

[alerosport.com]

he talking about panting the outside of the tails

[mixmastercase]

I don't know how well you can tell but these are tinted with three coats of nightshades. I think they look good. Compared to the tails on my moms 2002 they are much darker.

[b-spot]

Mike, did you order any of this poop yet?

[bjensen83]

The 3 screws

[bjensen83]

Removing the lights

[bjensen83]

Pic of the lights removed

[bjensen83]

What the light looked like b4 (pic with flash, lol)

[bjensen83]

And what the end results look like.

[bjensen83]

Another

[bjensen83]

One more...

[bjensen83]

If i remember right, it's the same process for the removal of the inner lights, except you need a wrench for this. I'm not sure what size they are, so i'll leave that up to you guys :) here's a pic of the 3 bolts you have to remove. Then once they're out, the light should pop right out.

[1WhiteOSV]

Here's a pic of mine that I did at the beginning of the summer...I used about a full can and an 1/8 of another..looks nice and black

[bjensen83]

Remember to check with your state laws. My friend who tinted his tails that dark gets pulled over often because the reflector isn't visible. Typically the rule of thumb is as long as your reflector is visible, you should be ok. but that dark paint sure looks good, WhiteOSV.

[FormulaNERD]

looks good, i'd only do this to get rid of the amber reflectors, maybe even tape off the reverse light sections.

oh, and a suggestion, it might look better if the 3rd brake was tinted to match.

[Grouch]

or if you don't wanna do the black tint, you could do red to get rid of the amber areas. ;)
http://invision.aleromod.com/uploads/post-14-1095448478.jpg
I need to get better pics. lol

[1WhiteOSV]

thanks bjensen....but the reflectors are visible when light is applied to it...no matter how dark it is (unless its actual PAINT lol)...I mean that's the only time a reflector is useful anyway (when light's applied). I know at least in Illinois it's okay to have em' tinted.

[FormulaNERD]

Originally posted by Grouch@Sep 19 2004, 05:35 AM
or if you don't wanna do the black tint, you could do red to get rid of the amber areas. ;)
http://invision.aleromod.com/uploads/post-14-1095448478.jpg
I need to get better pics. lol
looks good... what did you use/where did you get it?

i'm talkin to a guy to get some overlays done for the amber on the rear, and maybe some eyelids... i'll keep everyone posted.

[Grouch]

It is plastic model paint by Testors. The color is Transparent Candy Apple Red. Should be able to find it at any hobby shop. Looks much better in person than in the pic. I only painted over the amber sections not the entire lens.

[FormulaNERD]

spray i'm assuming? or brush on?

[Grouch]

spray

[koruptid]

looks good grouch

[alerochick242]

Very nice... :thumbsup:

[mike2002]

i dont get why...if you were to tape the lights off, cover the panels of the car.....why you couldn't just spray them while still on the car, maybe have the trunk open while doing it so that you could get in all the cracks....

it would save some time, and down time of the car, any reason not to just leave them on while doing it?

[FormulaNERD]

well it takes less than a minute to remove them.

[1WhiteOSV]

down time?....dude it takes probably 1-2 hours max to do this entire thing...

removal of lights: 10mins

setting up paper(to spray lenses on): 2 mins

shaking can (lol): 20 seconds

spraying lenses: 2-3 minutes per coat with about 2-3 minute intervals
between lenses..TOTAL Spray time about 30 mins
Lens Drying: about 30mins-1 hour depending on conditions (humidity,
fan or not, sun/shade...etc...)

GRAND TOTAL TIME: A COUPLE HOURS

[mike2002]

the how to made it seem like you have to wait 24 hours between the spray and the clear, then the clear and the install....

[roadrunr]

this mod would be really good on my black car!!

[turtles_ride]

you should check out pinstriping your tails, it looks nice on a black car and isnt' as permanent.

[HAZED]

do the auto store have the vht spray?

[Zac7977]

did you actually sand the outside?

[Zac7977]

nevermind

[FormulaNERD]

Originally posted by Zac7977@Oct 14 2004, 06:01 PM
what is paint stripping?
i believe he said PIN striping.

[Zac7977]

what is the setting up the paper to paint on your lights i dont understand what you do with the paper dont you just take the light off and spray the paint on or what

[1WhiteOSV]

no no no man...setting up like newspaper to spray them on so you dont spray the ground lol....i was just tryin to show how easy/short this is to do lol...sorry for the confusion

[mike2002]

ok, i tinted my tails last night

first i sanded them, 800 then 1000 grit

then i put about 3 tints of vht sp-999 on

then about 2 coats of clear coat (gloss laquer)

there are a few white, pasty spots, were it looks a little duller, when i wet it it looks like the rest of the light. how do i get rid of these? light sand (1000 grit) and some more clear coat? anyone have this happen?

otherwise it looks MUCH MUCH better than stock, this is a must do mod! looks great on a dk blue 4 door

EDIT: i just needed to add some more clear coat, i put 2 layers on, but i must have missed a few spots, look GREAT now

thanks

[bigd6983]

hey mike2002 gets some pics of it up on here.......it would be nice for everyone to see pictures of it and how many coats of the tint you used in reference to how dark it gets......

[bigd6983]

ok i got some questions and suggestions......i did it this weekend and they came "ok" but i am going to be doing it again......
Questions
1. how did you put the clear coat on?? when i did soft layers it came out fuzzy compared if i sprayed it on hard it looked really clear and smooth but the problem i had was the paint started running and pulling off some of the tint paint(because i didnt let it dry enough.....6 hours but in my garage and its not too hot out here so thats why..)

Suggestions
1. definately wait til summer to do this or even late spring if u cant wait
2. give more time between the clear coat spray and tint spray....
3. take your time, light coats, its going to look like it aint getting darker but trust me it is

[mike2002]

i painted mine when it was warm. they do have a slightly duller look than stock, not quite as shinny unless there wet. but i got mine pretty glossy. can't remember the brand, but i used a ultra gloss laquer, took about 4 coats.

ill see if i can borrow a digi camera to take some pictures, if you go to page 1, half way down, there like the dark blue car. i dont think mine are quit that dark though, I just applied 1 coat, let it dry, and kept applying light coats till i got it to the right darkness.

[bjensen83]

Try wet sanding the clear down with 1500 grit and put on some 3M rubbing compound. Costs $10.99 where i live. You gotta keep rubbing it back and forth for several minutes in small areas. The light will get warm, which means the rubbing compound is working. After that, you can even put some 3M liquid wax on, or whatever wax you use.

[HAZED]

where are u guys getting the laq. and the tint spray from local hardware store or autozone pepboys ????????????? :popcorn:

[mike2002]

Originally posted by HAZED@Feb 28 2005, 12:07 PM
where are u guys getting the laq. and the tint spray from local hardware store or autozone pepboys ????????????? :popcorn:
local stores dont sell the tint spray, not that ive ever seen.

its VHT sp-999, they make a cheaper version, but get that stuff. i got the ultra gloss laquer from a hobby store, but any walmart or paint store will sell it, get the ultra gloss, make sure its for use outdoors so it holds up to the weather a little better

i got the vht from www.summitracing.com

[massdepression88]

I plan on trying this.. it actually looks better then getting tail/headlight covers.

[stealthlero]

is there anyway to do this but mask off the reverse lights somehow?? i have my windows tinted 15% which makes the lights dark enough as it is, so doing this would basically allow me not to see anything when backin up...... thanks

[smlzalero]

yeah, you can mask off the reverse lights. just use elec tape, but if you're picky you might not like the edge of the paint because it will me a fraction of a milimeter higher than the clear part...

[stealthlero]

oh well, i think i might try the pinstriping anyways, less permanent and i kinda like it more.... thanks tho Sarah

[smlzalero]

Sure Max. I've actually changed my mind and I plan on tinting mine. Have you tried the pinstriping? I really was not pleased at all at the look.. they looked not-so-quality when I could see it in person. Let me know how you like it & what stripes you use.. maybe I just got bad vinyl.

[stealthlero]

i went to our napa auto parts and got a roll of black 1/4" thick pinstriping. i am actually pleased at the final results but i ran out of striping after the inner 2 taillights, so i have to get another roll and do the others when i have another afternoon/day off of school...


for anybody that has done the "touch-up" strips at the end of the horizontal strips or around the reverse light, (what Eric did), how do you get the pinstriping to curve so nice around the reverse light spot? if that makes sense.... thanks

[smlzalero]

I didnt figure it out at first either... stretch it. :)

[turtles_ride]

unless your using the chrome one or gold metallic one, they dont stretch at all. i saw some really neet stuff at walmart. It was a stickon honeycomb mesh stuff to put over your lights. Anyone tried this stuff?

[Justy311]

I guess I am confused by the sanding portion, do we sand this to make it not glossy and make it so the spray paint sticks? and how many cans of tint do we most likely need. Thanks

[umm_i_forget_14]

so do you just sand the tails or it it better to wetsand?

[alerored04]

Wetsand, normal sanding will leave deep scratches that the tint will not fill.

[umm_i_forget_14]

k thats wat i thought but the write up just said sand so i wanted to double check...thx

[Alero_1986]

Back From the Dead! :)

[Midgear]

go ask this guy how to tint your tails- apparently all he used was clear coat with black mixed with it.

http://www.aleromod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23300&highlight=tinted+tails

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/420olds/Aleropics008.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/420olds/Aleropics007.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/420olds/Aleropics006.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/420olds/Aleropics005.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/420olds/Aleropics004.jpg


RUNNING LIGHTS
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/420olds/tintedtails001.jpg



BRAKES ON
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/420olds/tintedtails002.jpg



Just Brakes
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/420olds/tintedtails004.jpg



Close up running W/brake on
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/420olds/tintedtails003.jpg