Smoked/Blacked out tail lights

[Phstratton]

My left tail light is leaking so I decided I'm just going to replace them with a set of smoked or blacked out tail lights. Where can you get a set of these?

[popo8]

check ebay

[secretasianman]

You said your lights were leaking...are they damaged? If not I'd just get them tinted. Either with regular window tint or vht nightshades spray tint. The Impala uses the latter and I love em. Either way you can select how dark to go.

[Phstratton]

I don't think they are, it's just that every time I go to the car wash I get soap suds in the driver's side tail light. I could just tint them if I could figure out why it's leaking.

[Counted Out]

I don't think they are, it's just that every time I go to the car wash I get soap suds in the driver's side tail light. I could just tint them if I could figure out why it's leaking.
Try putting some silicone around the seal, it mite be the problem.

As far as getting new ones though, the best thing to do would be to find some used and paint them. That is if you can't fix yours of course, which I bet you will be able to do.

[secretasianman]

Well if you can't fix it, i've seen single lamps on ebay for about $25. You could get one then tint them both.

[Phstratton]

is it hard to tint them? is it just like a spray can?

[secretasianman]

I've never done it myself, but the results are outstanding. I'm going to get the Jeep done too but I'm waiting on purchasing the led version first.

[popo8]

Check these out...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Taillight-Smoked-Tint-Cover-Chevy-Camaro-93-94-95-96-97_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhas hZitem4ce9358a8aQQitemZ330330114698QQptZMotorsQ5fC arQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

And these are pretty neat...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/93-95-96-97-98-99-00-01-02-CAMARO-SMOKE-LED-TAIL-LIGHTS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14Q QhashZitem20acdfc0f2QQitemZ140339298546QQptZMotors Q5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[CamaroGirl]

when i first got the car i bought the covers made by lund, they looked awesome, and the best part was if i got pulled over for them, i popped them off while the cop was there so i didn't get a ticket...i gotta put those back on...

[popo8]

when i first got the car i bought the covers made by lund, they looked awesome, and the best part was if i got pulled over for them, i popped them off while the cop was there so i didn't get a ticket...i gotta put those back on...


Then the Officer was just being nice, because removing the item that is a violation does not change the fact that the violation DID occour, and you could still get the citation...

[Pony_Killer]

I had a extra pair of lenses that were all faded with a leak in one of them and I used some black silicone and sealed it up then VHT them n they turned out good for about $20 in material

[crows93z]

+1 for VHT.

[CamaroGirl]

Then the Officer was just being nice, because removing the item that is a violation does not change the fact that the violation DID occour, and you could still get the citation...
what also great about being a girl is that i can play dumb very well :D

[popo8]

what also great about being a girl is that i can play dumb very well :D


lol.... NO COMMENT.

[Phstratton]

http://ltxtech.com/forums/images/misc/wireless.gif

Lol I'm a tall white kid so I dont think it'll work too well for me

[popo8]

Did you ever check ebay, or the links I posted???

[Phstratton]

Yes I did. I don't really care for the LED tail lights but would that precut tint be just as good as VHT?

[popo8]

I doubt it, I have never seen anyoone use it though... I have seen the spray tint though and as long as you understand how to "dust" the paint on it will look great...

[secretasianman]

When I was getting my windows tinted, I noticed the guy doing the work had the tails of his camaro blacked out. It was actually a vinyl film, prolly similar to that precut tint stuff. He gave me some to cover the amber corner lights on the jeep. It looks good and has held up throught plenty of car washes. However, I still prefer the nightshades stuff used on the tails of my impala. I think ultimately it will outlast the vinyl/precut tint.

[popo8]

When I was getting my windows tinted, I noticed the guy doing the work had the tails of his camaro blacked out. It was actually a vinyl film, prolly similar to that precut tint stuff. He gave me some to cover the amber corner lights on the jeep. It looks good and has held up throught plenty of car washes. However, I still prefer the nightshades stuff used on the tails of my impala. I think ultimately it will outlast the vinyl/precut tint.


Having worked for a tint shop a long time ago, I can tell you that window film is meant to be on the in side. It is not meant to withstand the elements. I tinted the mirrors blue on my montero to give it that BMW/BENZ kind of look, and as long as it was garage kept, it was OK. Last year I lifted the truck and it no longer fits in my garage... well the film expanded and shrank enough that it actually split....

[secretasianman]

Having worked for a tint shop a long time ago, I can tell you that window film is meant to be on the in side. It is not meant to withstand the elements. I tinted the mirrors blue on my montero to give it that BMW/BENZ kind of look, and as long as it was garage kept, it was OK. Last year I lifted the truck and it no longer fits in my garage... well the film expanded and shrank enough that it actually split....

It's not the same tint as the tint on windows. I'm just calling it tint cause it does the same thing, but you're right, windown tint would not work on the exterior. The tint I have on the headlights is a smoked vinyl material, not sure what it's called. But I was told it was guaranteed for 5-7 years. Not bad for $40.

[Counted Out]

Get a can of VHT, read a couple write-ups, then try your best. You don't have much to lose as the lights are already messed up and you were thinking of buying new ones anyway. But if they turn out good, then you'll end up saving yourself some money.

[bricez28]

to use vht make sure you take your time! i should do a write up lol. clean em up real good. and make sure they are off the car and right next to eachother so they come out the same. do light coats, and be patient. this shit runs. just keep doing it till you get your desired effect. alot of people want them fully blacked out but i did mine like half way. thy wet sand or like 2000 grit sand them and polish them so they are smooooth,

[bricez28]

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff272/bricez28/DSC_0044.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff272/bricez28/DSC00595.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff272/bricez28/DSC00573.jpg
before i polished them.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff272/bricez28/DSC00565.jpg

[secretasianman]

Brice, that is how you do it! Looking good.

[proace4]

brice that does look hella good!

OP if you do this post pics asap... i want to see what they look like on a red car! lol

[KissMyWhtSS]

I VHT'd a set of spare tail lights off my old '97 Z28 because I was getting water/condensation in them from a crack (which started rusting the bulb socket)

[CamaroGirl]

yea brice for sure, very tastefully done :cool:

[stilltime]

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff272/bricez28/DSC_0044.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff272/bricez28/DSC00595.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff272/bricez28/DSC00573.jpg
before i polished them.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff272/bricez28/DSC00565.jpg

You don't like the glossy look on VHT'd lights? I'm letting the last coat of clear dry on mine right now, tomorrow morning I'll wetsand, buff, polish and wax. The write-up on ls1tech is excellent.

[CALL911]

+1 for VHT. A long time ago I had the tailight blackouts on my car. They were just too dark. I didn't get pulled over, but I almost got rear-ended like 3 times, and once I had a cop pull up to me and verbally tell me he thought my lights were out at night.

I reccomend getting some VHT and going to a local body shop to have them put it on for you. Thats what I did. I knew they could make it look better than my first attempt, and they could put a clear coat on over the VHT to make it look more like the body of the car than flat like the VHT will leave it.

The first time they put it on, it was just too dark for my liking. I was too worried it would end up like when I had the blackouts and getting hit, or ticketed.

http://i31.tinypic.com/14n086c.jpg
http://i31.tinypic.com/or2bs9.jpg


I ended up taking them back to the body shop, and had them sand them down and re-spray them lighter and re-apply the clear coat. They came out perfect the second time.

http://i32.tinypic.com/2nsuskz.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/200qttx.jpg


When the lights are on, you can just barely tell they are tinted, which is EXACTLY what I wanted. No more worrying about getting hit from behind, or pulled over.

http://i27.tinypic.com/20h6iq8.jpg
http://i26.tinypic.com/29m3acj.jpg


Finally, having the Altezza carbon fiber tailights, they are very suseptable to getting condensation (like some stock tailights). Mostly this happens because the tailight is not properly sealed together. Just take some silicone caulk and run a line around the seal. Then smooth it over with your finger. It will look a little sloppy, but it can only be seen when the tailight is actually removed from the car. This is what I did, and my car has seen its fair share of rain, and I have yet to have any condensation issues.

[MarcZ]

^^ those look pretty good, but I like the other LED tails better, but if they aren't smoked they look like crap.
http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/60000168/Images/10/tlks-cama93led-jdm.jpg

I don't see how people could sand and buff anything from a rattle can, there just isn't enough material there to work with. I would think you'd go through in a second, but a lot of people seem to do it, so I don't know. I just did some vht on mine tonight and they may be too dark. I sand and buff cars often for work and I couldn't imagine doing that with vht unless I put on about 5 coats. I may do it over. I would just use some left over clear with a little black at work, but I haven't had the time or made the plan to take them off and do them, too busy, so I just got some vht.

[popo8]

+1 for VHT. A long time ago I had the tailight blackouts on my car. They were just too dark. I didn't get pulled over, but I almost got rear-ended like 3 times, and once I had a cop pull up to me and verbally tell me he thought my lights were out at night.

I reccomend getting some VHT and going to a local body shop to have them put it on for you. Thats what I did. I knew they could make it look better than my first attempt, and they could put a clear coat on over the VHT to make it look more like the body of the car than flat like the VHT will leave it.

The first time they put it on, it was just too dark for my liking. I was too worried it would end up like when I had the blackouts and getting hit, or ticketed.

http://i31.tinypic.com/14n086c.jpg
http://i31.tinypic.com/or2bs9.jpg


I ended up taking them back to the body shop, and had them sand them down and re-spray them lighter and re-apply the clear coat. They came out perfect the second time.

http://i32.tinypic.com/2nsuskz.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/200qttx.jpg


When the lights are on, you can just barely tell they are tinted, which is EXACTLY what I wanted. No more worrying about getting hit from behind, or pulled over.

http://i27.tinypic.com/20h6iq8.jpg
http://i26.tinypic.com/29m3acj.jpg


Finally, having the Altezza carbon fiber tailights, they are very suseptable to getting condensation (like some stock tailights). Mostly this happens because the tailight is not properly sealed together. Just take some silicone caulk and run a line around the seal. Then smooth it over with your finger. It will look a little sloppy, but it can only be seen when the tailight is actually removed from the car. This is what I did, and my car has seen its fair share of rain, and I have yet to have any condensation issues.


THAT just looks sooooo good. Honestly I could stare at those pics for hours...