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5 minute, all RED $30 dollar tails(02-03, pics inside)

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Old 08-27-2002 | 11:58 PM
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5 minute, all RED $30 dollar tails(02-03, pics inside)

Well after breaking 2.5 pairs of tail lights I gave up trying to make my tails all red. And then on Saturday I got the briliant idea... Lets try painting the tails from the inside red! So I went over to my car with a bottle of "vans" red translucent tail light paint in hand. Then I popped the trunk open, moved the trunk liner away from the back of my tail lights, removed my corner light bulb and then I just sprayed my tail light paint into the tail light. To my suprise this actually works! And quite well at that. I could note believe I went threw so much grief when I could have just done this all along.



And FYI I bought the vans tail light paint at www.nopi.com (i think anyways). And make sure you do not try to do this with regualar spray paint, the paint has to be translucent. Several coats of paint yields the best results too.

Anyhow let me know what you think, I know the shade of red does not match 100% but it is pretty darn close, hehe. You can find a few more pics here: http://members6.clubphoto.com/ethan5...ner-f8f1.phtml
Old 08-28-2002 | 12:00 AM
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Looks awesome, once again breaking the mold and figuring out NEW ways to do Shiet.

Dixit
Old 08-28-2002 | 12:16 AM
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does it still flash as brightly as it used to? i considered this, but was afraid that i would get paint all over the reflective part (housing not the lens). looks great!
Old 08-28-2002 | 12:19 AM
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Originally posted by MaximaZero
does it still flash as brightly as it used to? i considered this, but was afraid that i would get paint all over the reflective part (housing not the lens). looks great!
It still flashes with the best of them . (nice and bright)
Old 08-28-2002 | 12:22 AM
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Sweet, that looks awesome!
Old 08-28-2002 | 12:23 AM
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Ethan u are tha man

Kudos
Old 08-28-2002 | 12:29 AM
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100% BETTER!!!!!

Now if only the clear part was smoke colored it would look 1000% better.
















You the man, Ethan!
Old 08-28-2002 | 12:33 AM
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this should work with 2k-2k1 right?
Old 08-28-2002 | 12:34 AM
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gotta say you have come up w/ some good shiet ever since you got that 2k2...great job!

moderators....listen....people are chanting emax for MOTM....oh nevermind thats just me chanting
Old 08-28-2002 | 12:55 AM
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Emax!! Emax!! Emax!!
Old 08-28-2002 | 01:28 AM
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You know, this might just have to be my first real mod. That looks awesome!!
Old 08-28-2002 | 02:14 AM
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Looks sweet!! Can you take a night pic of them flashing? Gotta time it when you take the pic, but I'm pretty sure everyone wants to see what they look like lit up.

Let me get this straight, so you didn't remove the whole assembly at all, you just basically took the bulb out, and sprayed into the hole?
Old 08-28-2002 | 05:49 AM
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you are sooooo sick






















actually I meant your car look so sick
that looks sooooo awesome
Old 08-28-2002 | 05:52 AM
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btw, can someone write/and take pic for HOW-TO?
cuz with the luck i'm having right now, i'm destined to FuXk up
Old 08-28-2002 | 06:09 AM
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great job. very original
Old 08-28-2002 | 07:01 AM
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Nice work.....looks AWESOME!
Old 08-28-2002 | 07:26 AM
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Alright Ethan, I want to do this. I hate the Orange, and I have already damaged my rear lense by trying to crack it.

Did you have any drips rolling down?

Did you have to spray in any kind of fashion, ie. one side then the other, then top, then bottom?

How "fool proof" is this? because with my luck, I will have red paint running down the inside of my rear lenses.

Kudos for figuring this one out.

R
Old 08-28-2002 | 07:27 AM
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Looks ok, but you've still got all that chrome there. Why not just swap for some 00' tails instead?
Old 08-28-2002 | 11:03 AM
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I will try to get a picture of them at night.


When you spray the paint in point the nossle around so that the paint gets all over the reflector. For the most part the paint will form into a mist and go right where it should. I did 3 light coats of paint, that seemed to get it to match up best.
Old 08-28-2002 | 11:06 AM
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Did you do quick spirts? I dont want to mess this up so that is why I am trying to get all the info
Old 08-28-2002 | 11:51 AM
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whoa that looks damn good, great job ethan. Im pretty sure you can get translucent spray paint at wal-mart, im going to give it a shot this weekend
Old 08-28-2002 | 12:09 PM
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good imagination!!!



suppa NICE!!!!
Old 08-28-2002 | 12:57 PM
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Originally posted by dblrr900
Did you do quick spirts? I dont want to mess this up so that is why I am trying to get all the info
3-4 seconds of spraying and moving the nossle around.
Old 08-28-2002 | 01:43 PM
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my attempt didnt turn out as well.

http://photos.napalm.net/PDC_0302a.JPG
http://photos.napalm.net/PDC_0303a.JPG
http://photos.napalm.net/PDC_0304.JPG
http://photos.napalm.net/PDC_0305.JPG
Old 08-28-2002 | 01:50 PM
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I haven't done this, but I think you either:
1) used to much paint before it dried
2) used a different shade of red
Old 08-28-2002 | 01:51 PM
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D*mn very innovative! I think I can handle that! Somebody asked this earlier, but you didn't really say how you did it. When you spray from the inside, you're coating the plastic amber piece, as well as the red plastic piece above it. But aren't you also spraying all over the inner walls behind the lenses? If you paint over the reflectors, won't it be less bright then?
Old 08-28-2002 | 01:52 PM
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I'm assuming that was just practice cause its way to much red for me liking but just my $.02
Old 08-28-2002 | 01:59 PM
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Originally posted by blubyu2k2


I'm assuming that was just practice cause its way to much red for me liking but just my $.02
yea, im practicing on my old ones before i ruin my 2k2s.
Old 08-28-2002 | 02:01 PM
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Also remember that yours started clear. The 2k2 is orange, so the red paint came out more red/orange, matching the brake light better. The clear light came out a much stronger red because there was no orange layer. Or at least that's my guess.
Old 08-28-2002 | 02:05 PM
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Originally posted by Kojiro_FtT


Also remember that yours started clear. The 2k2 is orange, so the red paint came out more red/orange, matching the brake light better. The clear light came out a much stronger red because there was no orange layer. Or at least that's my guess.
i was thinking the same thing. the paint also doesnt like to adhere to the creases on the reflector, and this is probably a lot more noticable on the 2k-2k1 tail lamps than on the 2k2+.
Old 08-28-2002 | 02:09 PM
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Originally posted by Triple8Sol
D*mn very innovative! I think I can handle that! Somebody asked this earlier, but you didn't really say how you did it. When you spray from the inside, you're coating the plastic amber piece, as well as the red plastic piece above it. But aren't you also spraying all over the inner walls behind the lenses? If you paint over the reflectors, won't it be less bright then?
My sentiments exactly. It seems like you're gonna be spraying all over the chrome reflective portion of the blinker.

MaximaZero,
I don't think it looks thatt bad at all.
Old 08-28-2002 | 02:11 PM
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awesome job Ethan! This will be my next mod
Old 08-28-2002 | 02:12 PM
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looks good nice work
Old 08-28-2002 | 02:27 PM
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cool stuff, never thought of doing it from the inside.

I masked the entire brake/signal area and sprayed it with testor's translucent model paint.

I wonder what the 2002 taillamps would look like with the chrome part painted black.
Old 08-28-2002 | 02:27 PM
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Originally posted by MaximaZero


i was thinking the same thing. the paint also doesnt like to adhere to the creases on the reflector, and this is probably a lot more noticable on the 2k-2k1 tail lamps than on the 2k2+.
So the amber section is smooth on the inside of the 2k2 lense, and the clear part on the 2k-2k1 is not smooth?
Old 08-28-2002 | 02:33 PM
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Looks PINK....

I think the amber of the 2K2 makes it darker and looks better IMO.

That or you didn't do enough coats?
Old 08-28-2002 | 02:40 PM
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Originally posted by max34


So the amber section is smooth on the inside of the 2k2 lense, and the clear part on the 2k-2k1 is not smooth?
im pretty sure it's the same with the 2k2s, but since the 2k2's are orage, to begin with it's hard to notice the contrast between orange and red vs. clear and red.

Originally posted by IceY2K1


I think the amber of the 2K2 makes it darker and looks better IMO.

That or you didn't do enough coats?
i think i might have done too many coats in fact. everywhere but the creases started becoming more opaque.


oh well, live and learn.
Old 08-28-2002 | 02:42 PM
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Originally posted by MaximaZero


im pretty sure it's the same with the 2k2s, but since the 2k2's are orage, to begin with it's hard to notice the contrast between orange and red vs. clear and red.



i think i might have done too many coats in fact. everywhere but the creases started becoming more opaque.


oh well, live and learn.
Did you get a lot of spatter on the inside of the lense (the chrome part).
Old 08-28-2002 | 04:26 PM
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Originally posted by max34


Did you get a lot of spatter on the inside of the lense (the chrome part).
i dont see how there is anyway to avoid paint from getting on the chrome part. the angle of the spray is too wide.
Old 08-28-2002 | 05:34 PM
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Originally posted by MaximaZero


i dont see how there is anyway to avoid paint from getting on the chrome part. the angle of the spray is too wide.
If you try to take the lights apart like I have (and Ethan) you will see that there are different parts in there. If you spray from behind the lense you will not see the paint inside, as long as there are NO drips that run out into the bottom of the chrome area.


Quick Reply: 5 minute, all RED $30 dollar tails(02-03, pics inside)



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