Painting 97-99 Altezza Tail lights.....
10-02-2001, 08:34 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,185
Painting 97-99 Altezza Tail lights.....
I'm thinking about getting the 97-99 Altezza clear tail lights from CustomMaxima.com and modifying them. I have a 97 black SE, but I want to paint all the clear lenses to BLACK so it just leaves the round red lights (almost looks like skyline tailights). Does anybody know how to do this, what kind of paint, will it work or just look silly and ruin perfeclty good Altezzas? Or better yet, can I get Skyline lights??? Thanks fellas...
-str8ridin
-str8ridin
10-02-2001, 09:27 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,857
As for painting the altezzas I'm in the process of painting them right now. I was able to open them using a heat gun only. The clear outer lens is only held in by some white silicone and the 4 tabs . The 4 tabs do absolutely nothing to hold them in it's all the silicone. Once you heat it up it gets real soft. It's exactly like the black silicone that seals the OEM tails in. You have to be careful not to melt the abs/reflector. As for paint, I'm using import color spray paint that you get from PepBoys. I'm still testing different brands to see which is the best as far as gloss and durability are concerned. You also have to consider painting the edge of the outer clear lens since it comes painted silver. If you paint just the reflector part you'll still have the silver edges. The silver comes right off so it is real easy to mask off and paint. Taking them apart was easy but I've read that a few people have had a hard time getting them back together. I'm taking it nice and slow as not to break them. I've got a 96 so I'm not absolutely certain if the 97-up altezzas are the same but I'd assume so.
10-02-2001, 09:34 AM
#7
Originally posted by Ravq
As for painting the altezzas I'm in the process of painting them right now. I was able to open them using a heat gun only. The clear outer lens is only held in by some white silicone and the 4 tabs . The 4 tabs do absolutely nothing to hold them in it's all the silicone. Once you heat it up it gets real soft. It's exactly like the black silicone that seals the OEM tails in. You have to be careful not to melt the abs/reflector. As for paint, I'm using import color spray paint that you get from PepBoys. I'm still testing different brands to see which is the best as far as gloss and durability are concerned. You also have to consider painting the edge of the outer clear lens since it comes painted silver. If you paint just the reflector part you'll still have the silver edges. The silver comes right off so it is real easy to mask off and paint. Taking them apart was easy but I've read that a few people have had a hard time getting them back together. I'm taking it nice and slow as not to break them. I've got a 96 so I'm not absolutely certain if the 97-up altezzas are the same but I'd assume so.
As for painting the altezzas I'm in the process of painting them right now. I was able to open them using a heat gun only. The clear outer lens is only held in by some white silicone and the 4 tabs . The 4 tabs do absolutely nothing to hold them in it's all the silicone. Once you heat it up it gets real soft. It's exactly like the black silicone that seals the OEM tails in. You have to be careful not to melt the abs/reflector. As for paint, I'm using import color spray paint that you get from PepBoys. I'm still testing different brands to see which is the best as far as gloss and durability are concerned. You also have to consider painting the edge of the outer clear lens since it comes painted silver. If you paint just the reflector part you'll still have the silver edges. The silver comes right off so it is real easy to mask off and paint. Taking them apart was easy but I've read that a few people have had a hard time getting them back together. I'm taking it nice and slow as not to break them. I've got a 96 so I'm not absolutely certain if the 97-up altezzas are the same but I'd assume so.
10-02-2001, 09:43 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 824
Originally posted by Ravq
As for painting the altezzas I'm in the process of painting them right now. I was able to open them using a heat gun only. The clear outer lens is only held in by some white silicone and the 4 tabs . The 4 tabs do absolutely nothing to hold them in it's all the silicone. Once you heat it up it gets real soft. It's exactly like the black silicone that seals the OEM tails in. You have to be careful not to melt the abs/reflector. As for paint, I'm using import color spray paint that you get from PepBoys. I'm still testing different brands to see which is the best as far as gloss and durability are concerned. You also have to consider painting the edge of the outer clear lens since it comes painted silver. If you paint just the reflector part you'll still have the silver edges. The silver comes right off so it is real easy to mask off and paint. Taking them apart was easy but I've read that a few people have had a hard time getting them back together. I'm taking it nice and slow as not to break them. I've got a 96 so I'm not absolutely certain if the 97-up altezzas are the same but I'd assume so.
As for painting the altezzas I'm in the process of painting them right now. I was able to open them using a heat gun only. The clear outer lens is only held in by some white silicone and the 4 tabs . The 4 tabs do absolutely nothing to hold them in it's all the silicone. Once you heat it up it gets real soft. It's exactly like the black silicone that seals the OEM tails in. You have to be careful not to melt the abs/reflector. As for paint, I'm using import color spray paint that you get from PepBoys. I'm still testing different brands to see which is the best as far as gloss and durability are concerned. You also have to consider painting the edge of the outer clear lens since it comes painted silver. If you paint just the reflector part you'll still have the silver edges. The silver comes right off so it is real easy to mask off and paint. Taking them apart was easy but I've read that a few people have had a hard time getting them back together. I'm taking it nice and slow as not to break them. I've got a 96 so I'm not absolutely certain if the 97-up altezzas are the same but I'd assume so.
10-02-2001, 09:52 AM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,185
Originally posted by Kashoggio
yes you can get skyline tailz but how fat is your wallet?
yes you can get skyline tailz but how fat is your wallet?
10-02-2001, 10:03 AM
#12
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 9,159
Got $600 laying around ... and then another how knows how much to mold them onto your car?
http://www.optauto.com/webstore/prod...t=492&last=492
http://www.optauto.com/webstore/prod...t=492&last=492
Originally posted by Str8ridin
Thanks for all the info fellas...Just got a phat job, so my wallet is getting fatter as we speak....were can I look at the skyline tailz and buy em??
Thanks for all the info fellas...Just got a phat job, so my wallet is getting fatter as we speak....were can I look at the skyline tailz and buy em??
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