blacking out taillights
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
blacking out taillights
Want to black out my tail lights so I bought the blackout kit that is static cling. COMPLETE CRAP! looks like I cut out a piece of a hefty bag and taped it on there. Don't really feel like shelling out a couple hundred for new taillights so where should I go from here? Is there a spray that blacks them out?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 328
Likes: 12
From: frankfort new york
LOL yea just go to your local auto parts store they have spray on tint costs like $10
just remember to use very light coat better to do 10 light coats then 3 heavy coats spraying glass or plastic lenses is not as forgiving as spraying other materials as when it lights up or looking through it you will see any un-even-ness in your spray technique so very light spray kinda like when you get overspray on the side of something your painting
just remember to use very light coat better to do 10 light coats then 3 heavy coats spraying glass or plastic lenses is not as forgiving as spraying other materials as when it lights up or looking through it you will see any un-even-ness in your spray technique so very light spray kinda like when you get overspray on the side of something your painting
Last edited by jb35007; Apr 9, 2015 at 06:21 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 538
Likes: 36
From: Northern Colorado
Want to black out my tail lights so I bought the blackout kit that is static cling. COMPLETE CRAP! looks like I cut out a piece of a hefty bag and taped it on there. Don't really feel like shelling out a couple hundred for new taillights so where should I go from here? Is there a spray that blacks them out?
That flex spot on top of the 3rd brake looks really bad in this pic. Need to figure out if that can be helped back to original shape.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
I had the TL blacked out in The Ghost and I got a "correction ticket". I removed the lenses, and got inspected by a CHP officer, he signed it, and sent the payment.
That's a triple whammy
That's a triple whammy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Connecticut
Well you do live in the communist state of California. So glad I don't live in that place anymore.
Race Director
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From: Rolla Missouri
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Drifting
Joined: May 2012
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From: Mechanicsburg PA
Central PA Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
The same logic why headlights are not tinted/blacked out... reduction of illumination.
Safety hazzard
Safety hazzard
Last edited by Bandit's C4; Apr 9, 2015 at 08:02 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 343
Likes: 9
From: Long Beach Ca,
Personalty I like the rear end of my Vette exactly where it is ( at the back of the car )and I like the idea that a 5000 lb truck with a kid talking on his phone might see my brake lights 3 or 4 seconds sooner when I have to come to a stop. Looks are one thing, putting the gas tank in the passenger seat is another.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
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From: Chandler AZ
St Jude Donor '14
The spray on definitely works but what if you want to remove it back to stock? How does it come off?
I used dark film and put it over my lights so I can remove it at will.
I used a light version to go over my side markers so they wouldn't stand out so much.
But then here used the darkest and put two layers on to make it really dark to match the center black piece. Brake lights and turn signal can be seen wth no problem when lit.
I used dark film and put it over my lights so I can remove it at will.
I used a light version to go over my side markers so they wouldn't stand out so much.
But then here used the darkest and put two layers on to make it really dark to match the center black piece. Brake lights and turn signal can be seen wth no problem when lit.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
The spray on definitely works but what if you want to remove it back to stock? How does it come off?
I used dark film and put it over my lights so I can remove it at will.
I used a light version to go over my side markers so they wouldn't stand out so much.
But then here used the darkest and put two layers on to make it really dark to match the center black piece. Brake lights and turn signal can be seen wth no problem when lit.
I used dark film and put it over my lights so I can remove it at will.
I used a light version to go over my side markers so they wouldn't stand out so much.
But then here used the darkest and put two layers on to make it really dark to match the center black piece. Brake lights and turn signal can be seen wth no problem when lit.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Hey Mike. My 95 came with tail-light black outs. These appear to be a smoked poly and are held on with what appears to be velcro (I have not yet had the need to remove one to confirm 100%). I would think if you can find a dark polycarbonate, it would be easy to create a template and with a little patience cut out a nice insert. If you need a closer shot let me know. Hope this helps some
That flex spot on top of the 3rd brake looks really bad in this pic. Need to figure out if that can be helped back to original shape.
That flex spot on top of the 3rd brake looks really bad in this pic. Need to figure out if that can be helped back to original shape.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
Hey Mike. My 95 came with tail-light black outs. These appear to be a smoked poly and are held on with what appears to be velcro (I have not yet had the need to remove one to confirm 100%). I would think if you can find a dark polycarbonate, it would be easy to create a template and with a little patience cut out a nice insert. If you need a closer shot let me know. Hope this helps some
That flex spot on top of the 3rd brake looks really bad in this pic. Need to figure out if that can be helped back to original shape.
That flex spot on top of the 3rd brake looks really bad in this pic. Need to figure out if that can be helped back to original shape.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 328
Likes: 12
From: frankfort new york
think the best bet if you want to be able to go to stock at a whim would either use window tint inside some lexan or plexiglass and cut it to fit the tail light holes then use velcro to attach??
or you could use window tint directly on the tail light and use that stuff the vynel graphics people use, it's an adhesion promoter kinda like glue but never cures it stays sticky..??
or you could use window tint directly on the tail light and use that stuff the vynel graphics people use, it's an adhesion promoter kinda like glue but never cures it stays sticky..??
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: moraga ca
When you get rearended by an 18 wheeler at night, not only does your car explode and you die, but your insurance company has to pay him for a new bumper because the accident was your fault. Everytime I see a car with blacked out taillights at night, I can only shake my head. And then there are the idiots with blacked out headlights...
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,772
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From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
When you get rearended by an 18 wheeler at night, not only does your car explode and you die, but your insurance company has to pay him for a new bumper because the accident was your fault. Everytime I see a car with blacked out taillights at night, I can only shake my head. And then there are the idiots with blacked out headlights...
Pro
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 538
Likes: 36
From: Northern Colorado
Okay okay, you guys convinced me. Mine are coming off. I never really gave it too much thought, as the PO installed, just hey "looks sharp". Usually I'm a little more conscious of these type of issues. 
Thanks again ALL !!!
Thanks again ALL !!!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 239
From: Venice Cali.
I was driving the old corvette today and noticed the tails looked like the were kind of red jewels nice looking I thought , never thought about blacking them.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 538
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From: Northern Colorado
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