Very, very cool.

 

that looks very cool

 

Cool.

 

Great Job...

 

I like, how did you do it?

 

Looks good. Nice job doing something very unique.

 

Thanks everyone!! I just don't like the big backup lights on these corvettes I think the back end really looses what could be a more exotic look by putting in those big rectangular makeup lights!

Well it's hard to get inside the backup lights to paint and it's not smooth inside so painting it on the inside isn't going to work. I haven't tried these lights at night since my tranny is hanging below the car and the new engine is still on a stand in front of the car. Hopefully in a couple weeks I can report on how they look at night and more importantly do they still function well.


If you want to try this yourself, I just uploaded the file I used next to the photo of the rear end of my Z06. Just copy the JPEG file into the program of your choice and print it on 8.5x11 sticker paper. You can find the paper in the custom papers section of OfficeMax/Depot etc. The brand I used was Office Depot "Print & Stick Paper" sku# 652-051. It's not the easiest to work with, I would think some Avery label type paper might work better. This will print out several Jakes. Then carefully use an exacto knife and cut out the Skull. Be sure to have something under the paper as you cut like an old magazine or newspaper because it will cut through.

Remove the rear license plate assembly from car and clean it with brake parts cleaner. Then warm water with Dawn or Ajax liquid detergent to remove any grease from the assembly.

Take your time and use some masking tape across the top and bottom of the entire assembly to give yourself some guides. I covered about the top 1" and bottom 1" of the assembly. I then placed the skulls where I liked them and looked from a distance. THEN remove the backing and stick them on the light where you want them to go.

After sticking both skulls on your lights lightly sand AROUND the skulls, (try not to touch them) with 1200-2400 grit sandpaper or 0000 steel wool to help with adhesion of the spray paint. This takes about two minutes per side, just a light rubbing around the sticker and perhaps in the middle if you can without touching the sticker.

UPDATE: I'm finding it impossible to spray clear over Krylon paint so although this looks cool, it's probably a temporary thing as the first time I wash the car or get a harsh detergent on it the logo is going to probably turn white. I would talk with a local auto paint store and get a high quality auto paint that accepts a clear coat. Actually the nuts where my license plate mounts are cracked so at least I used a well used license plate frame. I may try again using "real" auto paint instead of Krylon and update this post.

So find a specific paint that accepts a clear coat to protect it and paint the entire assembly. About 6-8 light coats. Check after the first 4 coats with a small flashlight in the light socket. It will highlight any areas where you don't have enough paint coverage, you want these blacked out. You don't want light coming through the paint. After several coats let it dry overnite.

The most difficult part is removing the stickers. You need to use the exacto knife to lightly cut along ALL the edges of the sticker so it comes off cleanly. Then use the knife and work an edge up until you can grab with your fingers and gently pull off the stickers, watch closely that it doesn't lift any paint off the light and if it does, stop and scribe it again with the knife and try pulling again.

I haven't put a clear coat on yet but I plan to. This is usually where I screw up a perfectly good thing so I'll going to check and see if Krylon has a semi-flat clear as I like the almost flat black look. I used the same paint to paint the area between the exhaust pipes.

Let me know if you have any other questions...
Paul.

 

 

 

Looks great!!

 

nice

oak

 

looks great!!!

 

Put lightweight painters tape on wax paper, then feed it through your printer. Use that instead of sticker paper. When you have to remove it from the lights at the end of the process, it should come off much easier.

 

Anytime I've used the blue or green painter's tape it bleeds what am I doing wrong???

Paul.

 

Seeing as you only need the outline to trace around with your scissors, you could probably just set it to print that and not the full logo.

 

I think he means the paint bleeds. I have had that problem with the blue stuff, but I found a new green tape at home depot (don't remember what it's called) that comes in an individual plastic case. Seems to work with no bleeding.

 

 

 

 

This actually just gave me a really good idea for doing something similar, but using the two flags for the c5 logo... one flag per light.

If I get some free time this summer I might have to give this idea a try!