BlueMaximus

Has anyone painted their APC clear tails? I decided I've had it with my clears because I can't get bright enough bulbs to avoid that washed out look. So yesterday I got a can of that Vans paint to finally do this right and make em clear/red tails.

Anyways I looked over the rear of the housing noticing the four tab like things in slots (mine is the 95-96 tails). But when I try to pry them apart they dont budge. I'm afraid of breaking the darn thing. Doesnt look like you'd want to spray the paint inside through the bulb openings so seems to me that you have to take em apart. Thinking its some kind of work like heating up a few glue spots and undoing the tabs in a certain order. If anyone has done this please share your advice. Many thanks for help!

Dan

clee130

Try following these instructions. Although they're for the 97+ stock lights, I'm pretty sure they're similiar.

http://www.performanceix.com/how-to/...axima_tail.asp

BlueMaximus

Hey great idea. Makes sense to me that this method should work very much the same way for the non OEM part. Thanks!!

guitaraus

am i wrong to think that the paint should just go out the outside of the taillights? isn't it "taillight paint"?

clee130

You could do that and from far away it would look ok. But once you get up close, it looks horrible. And if it's cheap taillight spray, it might even come off in the rain. Eeech.

BlueMaximus

Yeah, I agree with Clee. Painting on the outside will change the way light reflects off the plastic. Painting inside is the only way to go because up close you will see what appears to be a 'clear layer'. The paint is on the inside. But it should look good.

The only other thing I can think of is cutting the taillight up with a thin motorized saw blade and glueing the clear top part to the oem taillight in place of the amber part. Should work with a good epoxy glue and **carefully** applying it. I may just do that if the paint doesnt turn out the way I like it to. But I'm clueless on whats the best way to fuse plastic together. Yet more research t'be done.

96MAXIMAGXE

iTrader: (3)

you can open up the tailights by putting them in the oven at 400 degress for about 5min. sounds crazy but i tried it with an old oem tailight that was no good. and when i took it out of the oven i pryed it right open with a screwdriver. if not you can send them to david l and he will paint them for you, he does excellent work the tailights look like they came out of the factory.

ptatohed

iTrader: (12)

I painted on the outside and it looks absolutely fine.

Kyle7475

get led bulbs, they don't have the pink or faded out look.

ny96max

LED bulbs look like crap in the max's tails. Ive tried them already and found that the light doesnt fill the entire brake section of the lense.

As for the clear/red tails: i say ask around for David Lau's e-mail and ask him to do you a favor. I have mine done by him and they match perectly and have never faded after 2years.

look for your self:



Anthony

Ryan93SE

iTrader: (1)

DONT cut them open...... this sounds bad but it works.... this is what i did. Put the lights in the oven at 250 degrees for 5 mins... NO LONGER.. then lift the 4 prongs up and pull on the light... it will take a little work but it will finally come apart... the heat gets the glue in there to come apart quite nicely

SuDZ

I remember last time you recommended this. Nearly gave everyone who was gonna do it to there tails a heart attack. Did any of them end up following your advice?

SuDZ

Ryan93SE

iTrader: (1)

i dunno but it worked great for me and mine turned out ok... also MZMTG has done the oven thing to open his headlights before too... its safe i promise

j_bryan

iTrader: (1)

david did mine as well and I think they look great. i would never trying painting tails myself, but then again i sucked at arts and crafts as a kid! ::

here's are my clear tails at maxus:

http://maxus2001.tripod.com/P1010087.jpg

j_bryan

iTrader: (1)

try this link

http://maxus2001.tripod.com/page3.htm

from the top left my max is two across and three down. anyway hope this helps.