So I painted the inside of the covers of the Altezza's the look even better in person. And since the inside was painted, they don't have the painted look or feel like if you painted the outside. I also painted the entire housing. It turned out better than I thought, people have asked me where I bought them, they really do look store purchased. I think this probably the best reulst of the methods used to paint Altezza's. Not an easy job though

http://members.rogers.com/sergio3986...s/light-01.jpg
http://members.rogers.com/sergio3986...s/light-02.jpg
http://members.rogers.com/sergio3986...s/light-03.jpg

Fixed the links...Ooooops!

 

links don't work

 

Diiiiisssss....OK I fixed the links but just incase here they are again....

http://members.rogers.com/sergio3986...s/light-01.jpg
http://members.rogers.com/sergio3986...s/light-02.jpg
http://members.rogers.com/sergio3986...s/light-03.jpg

 

They look even better at night. My emblems are off, becasue I'm having the body detailed this week.

 

Looks good.

 

Thanks!

 

HOW? How did you do it? Please make a wright up like NOW!

 

Wow! Painting the inside makes it look much, much better.

 

OK well for the circle I used 4 stickers I had laying around, they where exactly 5inches in diameter. They where also vinyl, which is much better than a paper sticker. Paper sticker would maybe be hard to take off once painted, it may rip…bla bla bla…I was going to get four 5” circles cut at a vinyl lettering place, but just by chance I found these promo wu-tang stickers..haha. Anyways so I positioned them on the outside of the lens first, this is simply for placement, once it was centered, I trace it with a marker. Opening the lights is the same as opening them to clear them out. You can use the oven or a heat gun, I used a heat gun. But Altezza’s are mush more fragile than stock lights. Anyways once opened, you will see that the border is painted silver I got rid of this with Goof-Off, you really have to at this since it’s really in the edges and around where the screws go, for the tight spots I even sanded in. Once I thought all the silver was gone I would check by placing a piece of black paper behind the lens and seeing if there was still any silver visible when looking at the lens from the exterior. Then since my car is black, I got rid of all the grayish colored sealant in the edges, as this would make a grey outline on the lights when re-sealed. I used goof-off for this and a razor blade. The big pieces of the sealant I just picked out with a screwdriver. I then masked out the actual red lights that I didn’t want painted. You can take these lenses out but I simply masked them with tape. Now back to the lens, I positioned the vinyl sticker on the outline I did, and stuck it on the inside of the lens, and pressed hard where the lines are, so that it didn’t lift when I was painting. Once all was masked off and the circle was in place I painted the inside of the lenses and the actual alteazza housing black. I used up the a whole spray paint can and a bit more. I wanted to make sure there was no way light would pass through the painted portion of the lens. Make sure you paint all of the housing; even the sites and the edges…ALL OF IT…or you may find exposed parts in chrome or what not when you install it. I let it dry for over 24hrs. I then removed the stickers; luckily for me they held on good, I touched up a few spots in the circle outline with a rag and the goof off. The basically heated the edges back up, applied black window sealant to seal it. I then used the goof-off to get rid of the circle I traced with the marker on the exterior of the lens. You can also use some Plastix to polish the exterior of the lens. I didn’t use the corner bulb, no point, plus I’ve seen people that masked that off and it looked dumb. You really have to take your time, as the lens is very very very fragile and will crack if you’re not careful, I have a very small crack, but you can’t notice because mine are black now. Also if you get paint on the red lens where the lights shines through do not use the goof off on it, as it will damage the glos finish, always test goof off in a small area before using it. And do not get any goof off on your car paint, or goodbye clear coat. But I really think this is the best method. Once you do it you will see that the end product is wicked, and the look and feel is perfect, as if it where originally made like that. If I do another set I’ll take pics and do a really good write up, but this should give you a good idea. Any question, just let me know.

Sergio

 

for once Altezzas that actually look some what decent

Good job on them

 

Freakin great job man....Makes me wanna get the craptezzas and do what you did. Very cost effective solution for 95-96z. Thanks!

 

Thanks guys. Ya I was never a fan of the Altezza's at all, and I liked the whole painted concept, but I figured if you painted on teh outside...you get scratches, plus the finish won't be all that unless you spend coin and get a body shop to do it, and even then you can still see the inside housing as chrome or what not. But I was surprised how they turned out. Plus Altezza's are coming down in price now also.

 

Wow... awesome job. I think I got a new project for my altezzas this weekend :P

 

those are the best altezzas ive seen yet

 

wow! looks really good, normally i think the altezzas look really ghey, very nice work indeed

 

Lights look mint, great job

 

just for fun...here's pics of altezzas painted black from the outside: http://maxima.cardomain.com/member_p...page_id=212859

 

this kinda makes me want to rethink ditching my altezzas for redclears, my car is black and i think the skyline mod looks great on black cars. but then again the red/clears look more sexy and conservative.

 

You did a GREAT Job on those lights!!!!

 

so you painted the inside but still the outer plastic piece? i'd like to see some pics of black painted but where the chrome was, like the pics of the ones painted white in that other thread. i think that would look nice too. still looks really nice though!

 

I gotta admit, those look really good. Props for making those Altezza's look good.

 

Once again, thanks for the feedback guys. I figured some of you would like it. As for painting only the chrome part like the white ones...that was my original plan, but it still looked some what altezza-ish. Honestly, in person is where you really see the clean crips end product the way I did it, like I said doesn't look like a homemade mod, looks purchased, mainly because the lens on the exterior hasn't been touched, so all work is on the inside. If any of you do decide to do it, you'll see what I'm talking about. Pictures doesn't do it justice, people here with maxima's that have seen it always go and touch it are impressed. That's why I posted it, althought it's the same concept as what's already been done, end product is not even close to being the same. Might do another set in a week or so, I'll take pics along the way and to a start to finish write up, digicam wasn't available on this last run. So looks like there is some use for the old altezza's everybody is selling. Thanks Guys!!!

 

i met a guy on the CT berlin turnpike last saturday night. same mod done liek this one. looks awsome, i wonder if it will work with my 95 altezza's and would i be able to get spary can match to my green paint.

 

Just to let everyone know, TYC has a set of ALtezza's that you paint to match the car. http://www.elegantebytyc.com

On that site you will be able to see them. I am getting a set for my 95.

 

it looks much better than chrome on black....

kind of reminds me of the impala

 

It looks really nice, I like how the chrome is still on the edges.
Great job, wanna do a write up on it?

 

damn thats sweet. It blends on the car perfectly. I must say those are tight looking altezzas. I'm selling 97-99 chrome altezzas if any one want to do this project. 75 dollars shipped.

 

As for the write up, I will probably do another set hopefully soon. when I do I'll do a full write up with pics. Those TYC lights, hmmm... only thing I'm not feeling is that corner light. I'd like to see those on a Maxima for sure. Iwonder how the TYC look, with the lred lights sticking out like that. Anybody have these yet?