Smoked/tinted lights (pics)
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 76
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Smoked/tinted lights (pics)
Just figured I would share my latest project from this last weekend. Decided to smoke my Tail lights as well as my reverse lights.
I used VHT night shade, 3 light coats on the tail lights plus 3 coats of clear, and 4 light coats on the revers lights plus 3 coats of clear.
Wet sanded and polished once finished
Besides a spray cap that broke and dripped clear all over one of the reverse lights the whole process went pretty smooth, i has to sand down and redo the ruined reverse light.
Sorry for the bad quality but all I have is my Iphone for pics, I really should invest in a good camera. Here are the pics:
Before:
After:
Tail lights on:
Brake lights on:
They look very dark until any light comes on and they are completely transparent, once the brake lights come on there is no difference than factory red. I wish the camera picked the black up better when the tail lights are on, they have a very sinister look! Looks sick at night when your behind me.
I used VHT night shade, 3 light coats on the tail lights plus 3 coats of clear, and 4 light coats on the revers lights plus 3 coats of clear.
Wet sanded and polished once finished
Besides a spray cap that broke and dripped clear all over one of the reverse lights the whole process went pretty smooth, i has to sand down and redo the ruined reverse light.
Sorry for the bad quality but all I have is my Iphone for pics, I really should invest in a good camera. Here are the pics:
Before:
After:
Tail lights on:
Brake lights on:
They look very dark until any light comes on and they are completely transparent, once the brake lights come on there is no difference than factory red. I wish the camera picked the black up better when the tail lights are on, they have a very sinister look! Looks sick at night when your behind me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,905
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From: Jesuit Bend Louisiana
Just my Opinion.....but the whole "Black Out" craze SCREAMS of cheesy aftermarket add ons. It is a saturated fad that so many people have done already....it follows the earring in the left ear, the jorts and the mullet hairduo.
I also don't like the fact that you compromise safety for "looks".
But hey, if that's what you want.
I also don't like the fact that you compromise safety for "looks".
But hey, if that's what you want.
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Joined: Mar 2012
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Thanks guys, I actually forgot about the third brake light all together until i was putting it all back together, it is on my to do list for next weekend.
I appreciate the opinions but my car is very far from "blacked out" but I think the lights compliment the lower valance very well. Also I dont think there is any safety compromise in the lights, the tint almost disappears when the brake lights are on in both night and day.
As for fads, Ive got full length levis, no piercings, and a shaved head...
I appreciate the opinions but my car is very far from "blacked out" but I think the lights compliment the lower valance very well. Also I dont think there is any safety compromise in the lights, the tint almost disappears when the brake lights are on in both night and day.
As for fads, Ive got full length levis, no piercings, and a shaved head...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,905
Likes: 10
From: Jesuit Bend Louisiana
Thanks guys, I actually forgot about the third brake light all together until i was putting it all back together, it is on my to do list for next weekend.
I appreciate the opinions but my car is very far from "blacked out" but I think the lights compliment the lower valance very well. Also I dont think there is any safety compromise in the lights, the tint almost disappears when the brake lights are on in both night and day.
As for fads, Ive got full length levis, no piercings, and a shaved head...
I appreciate the opinions but my car is very far from "blacked out" but I think the lights compliment the lower valance very well. Also I dont think there is any safety compromise in the lights, the tint almost disappears when the brake lights are on in both night and day.
As for fads, Ive got full length levis, no piercings, and a shaved head...
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Nice job. I'm not a real fan of tinted tail lights, but I have to admit those do look good on your car.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 491
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Would be such a shame if you got rear ended and consequently charged for reducing the effectiveness of your brake lamps and then sued by the driver who hits you causing your insurance company to drop you and walk away from any liability.
This is such an asinine mod.
This is such an asinine mod.
Last edited by 98DC231; Jul 5, 2012 at 09:34 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: This is not a Song, It's an Outburst: Or, The Establishment Blues; Sixto Diaz Rodriguez
Nice job OP 
, looks good....
Nice change you made from "hoping" someone gets rear-ended. But seriously, what is it with some of you dudes, some of your opinions/comments, border on personal insults/attacks. 
, looks good....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,905
Likes: 10
From: Jesuit Bend Louisiana
I had this same discussion back in 2009......a LEO chimed in and explained some of the ramifications of altering a DOT approved tail light. He explained that if you rear ended someone you would still be cited for failure to yield or following too closely so you would get that ticket. BUT - if you make sure that the police cites on the ticket that the tail lights were altered your liability STOPS right there.
I also hear the people who do this mod say "well, you can see them great at night"......the issue is seeing them during the brightest part of the day!
Smoked and tinted lenses are for off road or show use only.....
Why do some sacrifice safety for style is beyond me.
I also hear the people who do this mod say "well, you can see them great at night"......the issue is seeing them during the brightest part of the day!
Smoked and tinted lenses are for off road or show use only.....
Why do some sacrifice safety for style is beyond me.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 491
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My opinion/comment is completely founded on the fact that this is completely stupid on a car that can outbrake 99% of the vehicles on the road.
If i ever hit someone that had this mod done, I would sue the hell out of them.
Safety Car
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From: This is not a Song, It's an Outburst: Or, The Establishment Blues; Sixto Diaz Rodriguez
I've been around for 64 years, traveled a bit, overseas as well as local, and have yet to find a "perfect world," but, I do hear some people believe they live in one, so I guess it is, what it is. 
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Wow I am glad to hear that fellow corvette owners are hoping i get rear ended because of a dislike on a mod.... Im all for negative criticism and i usually appreciate different opinions and views good or bad but regardless of your personal opinions about someone else's car, like said above these seem to be over the line of personal attacks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,905
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From: Jesuit Bend Louisiana
He changed it from "hoping" to "it would be a shame"..... so the poster recognized an error in his judgment and changed it appropriately. That is the right thing to do.
Yes, to post on any forum you must be thick skinned as others will have differing opinions/tastes. Yes, I think it looks cheesy. That is my opinion as far as looks go and I am entitled to it but hey it is your car.......my real issue is that you compromise safety and that is where I draw the line.
Take Care and don’t slam your brakes on!
Yes, to post on any forum you must be thick skinned as others will have differing opinions/tastes. Yes, I think it looks cheesy. That is my opinion as far as looks go and I am entitled to it but hey it is your car.......my real issue is that you compromise safety and that is where I draw the line.
Take Care and don’t slam your brakes on!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 5
From: Grafton WI
This is exactly the issue with the tinted lights. If it were an issue of seeing these at night, everyone would have them. I had the LED's (Black Cherry Halo's) from Richard back when they were considered cool. They were significantly brighter than OEM lights. They were very bright at night, probably more than non-tinted OEM's. The problem was that you could not see the brake lights well on a sunny day with the sun high in the sky. I took them off last year. I have considered trying the new Radioflyer Halo's, but think that stock looks just as good, especially when considering the expense. There is no way the OEM with tint is as bright as OEM without tint, no matter what time of the day or night it is. I think what you did to your car looks good and compliment you on the work, but have to wonder if the safety factor is worth it.
I had this same discussion back in 2009......a LEO chimed in and explained some of the ramifications of altering a DOT approved tail light. He explained that if you rear ended someone you would still be cited for failure to yield or following too closely so you would get that ticket. BUT - if you make sure that the police cites on the ticket that the tail lights were altered your liability STOPS right there.
I also hear the people who do this mod say "well, you can see them great at night"......the issue is seeing them during the brightest part of the day!
Smoked and tinted lenses are for off road or show use only.....
Why do some sacrifice safety for style is beyond me.
I also hear the people who do this mod say "well, you can see them great at night"......the issue is seeing them during the brightest part of the day!
Smoked and tinted lenses are for off road or show use only.....
Why do some sacrifice safety for style is beyond me.
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 578
Likes: 1
From: Boiling Springs Pennsylvania
Oldtimer
What's Happening??
This "hope you get rear ended 'cause you're an idiot and yu've got bad taste in mods" has all the similarities of the comments made about selling a car and it breaks down 100 miles down the road, do you help the buyer with money to fix it and if you don't, you're an unethical, dishonest and lacking integrity SOB. Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion and their philosophy including one's "mod philosophy." Name calling and hoping a crash happens has no place on this forum or any where else. Putting out provocative statements on the anonymous computer forums is just not acceptable.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,905
Likes: 10
From: Jesuit Bend Louisiana
This "hope you get rear ended 'cause you're an idiot and yu've got bad taste in mods" has all the similarities of the comments made about selling a car and it breaks down 100 miles down the road, do you help the buyer with money to fix it and if you don't, you're an unethical, dishonest and lacking integrity SOB. Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion and their philosophy including one's "mod philosophy." Name calling and hoping a crash happens has no place on this forum or any where else. Putting out provocative statements on the anonymous computer forums is just not acceptable.
BTW - C5 General Forum is tame -- if you are offended easily do NOT venture over to the CFOT forum.....!!!!