In :
-removing them from car
-heating them
-Removing cover, etc
-What tools to use for best results


Planning on using a small heat gun. and a butter knife to split the plastics.

 

http://www.vqpower.com/v2/articles.php?article_id=46

That's how i did mine. Came out good. MUST HAVE PATIENT

 

Patients heating or seperating?

I wish those pictures would get bigger when clicked soo small

 

just be careful with the glue. Its really messy

 

I found that if you heat them in the oven (on a cookie sheet, facing up) at low heat (200 or less) for about 10-12 minutes and then tried to pull the apart using the butter knife it works good. But also, in order keep the glue from getting all over the place, use a heat gun as ur pulling the cover off (my heat gun had a stand so i just had it stationary) to heat the glue as it stretches and it kind of cuts the glue. hope that helps and makes sense to you haha

 

what side did u guys start prying? I feel like its going to crack my lens...is it durable?

 

I also kept the heat low at about 200 deg for about 8 min or so. I put on a pair of gloves so I don't burn my hands and slowly pull the lens apart starting away from the corner end of the tail. Just pull apart very slowly or you will crack the lens. Don't forget to remove the small screws holding the lens together.

 

Both but mainly seperating, i crack one of my tail by kinda rushing.

 

SSucess!!! 1 more tail to go!


and the cutting...lol

 

hmmm... to keep or not to keep the small red reflector..

 

did u guys lay the clear flourescent light plastic against the metal part of the housing or flush with the small red reflector?

 

What do you want the red reflector for? Go flush with the indented outline of the outerlense. If done right, it will actually *snap* into place, but be sure to add a little heat to help the new clear inner lense find the curve of the outer. And for the glue and gunk, just have some goo-b-gone at hand.

 

I took out the tiny red reflector in the bottom. Don't forget to unplug that 194 bulb in the corner after as you would not need it anymore. Take your time in opening it and don't rush it otherwise you will crack it.

For an added bonus, do the inner trunk pieces as well so you can get all 4 tail light pieces to match perfectly. Plus they're a lot easier to open than the corners.

 

i left the red reflector inside. Ill do the right tail light tomorrow, as the left was my first try and getting comfortable with it. I can definetly improve the acrylic piece, but wow, this mod is BEst bang for your buck.

it looks cleeeeeeeean.

pics soon.

 

Here's some old pics:

mMmm.. flushed clear piece on the bottom


and matching inner trunk tail lights

 

i was going for this..




U got any close ups on where ur trunk tail light meets ur outer tail? That line dividing it. Thats where i messed up, i cut the acrylic too short and it kinda shows its un even if u look closely. I was thinking of using a glue gun to keep it flush with the area the amber piece covered, just to keep it still and from poping outward towards the lens.

 

In early December I will be cutting up a large batch of clear lenses to be sold for both inner and outer stock 97-99 tails. If anyone is interested, PM me for pics and pricing.

 

Sorry, can't find any close up's of my tails.

 

do u have pictures of your finished product ?
did you use the oven ? or a heat gun ?

 

heat gun.

Ill put pictures up soon. Camera's battery is dead.

 

Me i wouldnd personally keep the red deflector , it just doesnt flow . But hey it your ride. Show some after pics . Maybe my mind will change about the red deflector.