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
Senior Member
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.
Senior Member
Quote:
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.
cool, curious what it will look like on your car, thats good that your not doing a half *** jobOriginally 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.
Yep ... and they look really good in person. Not exactly my style, but very clean and not a half-assed job.
Quote:
Originally posted by Ravq
He's vinyl covering the outer lens though. Right?
Originally posted by Ravq
He's vinyl covering the outer lens though. Right?
Senior Member
Quote:
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.
if you ahve a 96 u need the 95-95 altezzas the 97-99 are a diff size...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.
Quote:
Originally posted by Kashoggio
yes you can get skyline tailz but how fat is your wallet?
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??Originally posted by Kashoggio
yes you can get skyline tailz but how fat is your wallet?
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
Quote:
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??
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??
Senior Member
Quote:
Originally posted by hockeyghst
if you ahve a 96 u need the 95-95 altezzas the 97-99 are a diff size...
he meant that taking them apart would be the sameOriginally posted by hockeyghst
if you ahve a 96 u need the 95-95 altezzas the 97-99 are a diff size...
Senior Member
Quote:
Originally posted by Ravq
...I've got a 96 so I'm not absolutely certain if the 97-up altezzas are the same but I'd assume so...
check ur PM's.Originally posted by Ravq
...I've got a 96 so I'm not absolutely certain if the 97-up altezzas are the same but I'd assume so...
Senior Member
I'll definitely post pics when I'm done. It'll be a week or two cuz work is picking up right now. Actually I'm working on a How2 because I know once I post a pic all I'll be hearing are "How you paint those Altezzas..." 