Blackout Taillights
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Guntersville Alabama
Blackout Taillights
Just bought a C-5 and have a question for you folks in the know. When I was driving this new to me car home Saturday night. My wife was following me in my Dodge Pick-Up she noticed that the black-Out tail lights are really pretty dim, so dim they were hard for her to see. Brakelights were OK but the tail lights are way to dim. These on my car are not the stick on type I have found looking today, they appear to be the lens them selves. The screws that hold the bucket and lens in go thru the lens.
This I am going to have to change. Question is do I need to replace the complete assembly? When I removed one today it appears to me that the lens is made onto the bucket. Am I correct in that assumption? Or can I just change the lens itself ?
Any help are information would be appreciated.
Thanks Roland
This I am going to have to change. Question is do I need to replace the complete assembly? When I removed one today it appears to me that the lens is made onto the bucket. Am I correct in that assumption? Or can I just change the lens itself ?
Any help are information would be appreciated.
Thanks Roland
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 15
From: Richardson TX
The most popular type of blackout cover is a piece of 1/8" tinted acrylic (plexiglass) that goes on top of the factory tail lights and uses their same mounting screw. If the surface of your lights super flat and smooth, then they're acrylic covers.
There are also thin tint films that you can apply. If you take off the headlight, the film is probably fairly easy to take off.
Some people do tint their actual tail lights also. If you have one of these, you'll really just need to buy a set of factory tail lights, or perhaps buy brighter bulbs, like these:
http://shop.radioflyerinnovations.co...t-of-4-033.htm
In any case, take the screws out of one of the taillights, and remove the actual taillight and you'll be able to tell how it was tinted. The screws have a TORX head, I believe the size is a T25.
There are also thin tint films that you can apply. If you take off the headlight, the film is probably fairly easy to take off.
Some people do tint their actual tail lights also. If you have one of these, you'll really just need to buy a set of factory tail lights, or perhaps buy brighter bulbs, like these:
http://shop.radioflyerinnovations.co...t-of-4-033.htm
In any case, take the screws out of one of the taillights, and remove the actual taillight and you'll be able to tell how it was tinted. The screws have a TORX head, I believe the size is a T25.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
If you need to purchase replacement tail lamps, there are several sets up on the auction site for around $100. Also check the C5 Parts section here on the forum.
Here's a link to one set that might still be available.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...-c5-parts.html
Here's a link to one set that might still be available.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...-c5-parts.html
Last edited by MAC5; Dec 9, 2013 at 08:50 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,915
Likes: 10
From: Jesuit Bend Louisiana
Your wife is a smart lady!
Take that crap off your car - Stupid "styling" that compromises safety, not a smart move on people who do this "cool" mod.
Also, it causes pimples and acne.
Take that crap off your car - Stupid "styling" that compromises safety, not a smart move on people who do this "cool" mod.
Also, it causes pimples and acne.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: SW Nuh Hampsha
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
If your taillights were spray tinted with Nightshades, you can remove it with brake or carb cleaner. Or you can sand it off, ultimately using a fine grade sandpaper, then polish to better than new. 
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You can try to remove the tint yourself, but you might just want to plan on buying a nice used set - they come up for sale here on the forum every now and then. In fact, a set was put up in the pay it forward thread recently.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Guntersville Alabama
Folks, Thanks for the responses. I went out to the shop after reading a couple of the posts, and mine did indeed turn out to be "Tinted" stock lens. I don't really have a clue how they did this tint but it is almost like a tinted clear coat and very thick and way to dark. In my shop with the lights out and standing right behind the car I could barely tell that the headlights were on from looking at the rear of the car. I will replace these with some stock untinted ones Thanks Again!!
Someone tell me about this "Pay It Forward" deal. Since I have a complete set of the tinted ones, and if someone is planning on going this route I would be glad to Pay These Forward, as soon as the replacements arrive.
Roland
Someone tell me about this "Pay It Forward" deal. Since I have a complete set of the tinted ones, and if someone is planning on going this route I would be glad to Pay These Forward, as soon as the replacements arrive.
Roland
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Folks, Thanks for the responses. I went out to the shop after reading a couple of the posts, and mine did indeed turn out to be "Tinted" stock lens. I don't really have a clue how they did this tint but it is almost like a tinted clear coat and very thick and way to dark. In my shop with the lights out and standing right behind the car I could barely tell that the headlights were on from looking at the rear of the car. I will replace these with some stock untinted ones Thanks Again!!
Someone tell me about this "Pay It Forward" deal. Since I have a complete set of the tinted ones, and if someone is planning on going this route I would be glad to Pay These Forward, as soon as the replacements arrive.
Roland
Someone tell me about this "Pay It Forward" deal. Since I have a complete set of the tinted ones, and if someone is planning on going this route I would be glad to Pay These Forward, as soon as the replacements arrive.
Roland
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
One thing to think about with tinted tail lamp lenses is that the tint make the built-in reflector almost useless. Federal law requires a red reflector that is visible from a fairy long distance. You could get pulled over for not having visible red reflectors
Have you considered going to LED tail lamps? I just got a set from RadioFlyer and these lights are much brighter than stock. There is no "hyperflash" with these units as resistors are already installed in the housing. It's completely plug and play!!
George is a Supporting Vendor on the CF and is well-respected for both the quality of work and his customer support.
Have you considered going to LED tail lamps? I just got a set from RadioFlyer and these lights are much brighter than stock. There is no "hyperflash" with these units as resistors are already installed in the housing. It's completely plug and play!!
George is a Supporting Vendor on the CF and is well-respected for both the quality of work and his customer support.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,550
Likes: 901
From: Republic of Texas
These should solve your problem:
http://shop.radioflyerinnovations.co...t-of-4-033.htm
The Cree LED bulbs we offer are significantly brighter than the factory lights and best of all emit the same color as the lens they are behind. With a factory bulb, the yellow light is filtered through the lens so only a small fraction of the total output is transmitted. With the LED, nearly all of the total output is transmitted through the lens giving it much more power to punch through tint.
Comparison using factory housings: (Cree LEDs on left)
Tail lights:
Brake lights:
Or if you have the blackout treatment on all your lights, this would be your best bet:
http://shop.radioflyerinnovations.co...on-kit-053.htm
http://shop.radioflyerinnovations.co...t-of-4-033.htm
The Cree LED bulbs we offer are significantly brighter than the factory lights and best of all emit the same color as the lens they are behind. With a factory bulb, the yellow light is filtered through the lens so only a small fraction of the total output is transmitted. With the LED, nearly all of the total output is transmitted through the lens giving it much more power to punch through tint.
Comparison using factory housings: (Cree LEDs on left)
Tail lights:
Brake lights:
Or if you have the blackout treatment on all your lights, this would be your best bet:
http://shop.radioflyerinnovations.co...on-kit-053.htm
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Beavercreek Ohio Currently own: 1958 Silver Blue Corvette & 1969 Riverside Gold Corvette Coupe
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You are SO right these blacked out taillights are totally unsafe. In heavy traffic they are an invitation to get rear-ended! Smart decision to replace them with stock...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Anybody who spends $120 or $235 for $12 worth of bulbs is NUTS
Tail and Brake lights are meant to let you SEE the car in front of you and when braking know that the car is slowing down or stopping.
How stylish is it getting rear ended?
Purposely darkening the lenses and then spending a fortune to install high intensity lights is just plain CRAZY. The LEDs should cost pennies per LED so a LED bulb should cost LESS than a filament bulb. But if you charge a fortune for it and gullible people buy them thats their loss.
PT Barnum was right. There's one born every minute.
How stylish is it getting rear ended?
Purposely darkening the lenses and then spending a fortune to install high intensity lights is just plain CRAZY. The LEDs should cost pennies per LED so a LED bulb should cost LESS than a filament bulb. But if you charge a fortune for it and gullible people buy them thats their loss.
PT Barnum was right. There's one born every minute.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 15
From: Richardson TX
Tail and Brake lights are meant to let you SEE the car in front of you and when braking know that the car is slowing down or stopping.
How stylish is it getting rear ended?
Purposely darkening the lenses and then spending a fortune to install high intensity lights is just plain CRAZY. The LEDs should cost pennies per LED so a LED bulb should cost LESS than a filament bulb. But if you charge a fortune for it and gullible people buy them thats their loss.
PT Barnum was right. There's one born every minute.
How stylish is it getting rear ended?
Purposely darkening the lenses and then spending a fortune to install high intensity lights is just plain CRAZY. The LEDs should cost pennies per LED so a LED bulb should cost LESS than a filament bulb. But if you charge a fortune for it and gullible people buy them thats their loss.
PT Barnum was right. There's one born every minute.
And then compare the light output of CREE LEDs to "regular" LEDs.
Then price the cost of filaments compared to the cost of control circuitry required to run high power LEDs using noisy alternators.
And then make another post.
Your comment about gullibility is let's just say... ironic.
Last edited by PhysicsDude55; Dec 14, 2013 at 07:31 PM.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,550
Likes: 901
From: Republic of Texas
Why don't you go price raw CREE LEDs.
And then compare the light output of CREE LEDs to "regular" LEDs.
Then price the cost of filaments compared to the cost of control circuitry required to run high power LEDs using noisy alternators.
And then make another post.
Your comment about gullibility is let's just say... ironic.
And then compare the light output of CREE LEDs to "regular" LEDs.
Then price the cost of filaments compared to the cost of control circuitry required to run high power LEDs using noisy alternators.
And then make another post.
Your comment about gullibility is let's just say... ironic.
It's also worth noting that the technology to make reasonably-priced LED bulbs that are brighter than factory bulbs (in a reflector housing) has only been around about a year. Filament bulbs have been around for decades only changing base styles with the times.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Guntersville Alabama
Guys, come on I didn't mean to start a pissing contest about the brightness of one type bulb over another.
I will say this about the Blackout tail-lights. The ones that came on my car I liked a lot. The look of these was just perfect as far as looks go. Now with that said, they were waaaaaay to dark, so dark as to be unsafe-In My Opinion it is after all the only opinion I am qualified to speak to.
A forum member on the site wanted to give these a try ( the old ones) so I did the Pay-It_Forward thing and they will be on there way to a new home Monday. My hope is that Mike once he has them installed will take a good "Objective" look at how dark they are at night, and do some kind of a brighter bulb thing.
I received my replacement lights in todays UPS and got them on. Man what a difference they make. For me this was a good thing to do, and my wife may now just ride in the car at night.
Roland
I will say this about the Blackout tail-lights. The ones that came on my car I liked a lot. The look of these was just perfect as far as looks go. Now with that said, they were waaaaaay to dark, so dark as to be unsafe-In My Opinion it is after all the only opinion I am qualified to speak to.
A forum member on the site wanted to give these a try ( the old ones) so I did the Pay-It_Forward thing and they will be on there way to a new home Monday. My hope is that Mike once he has them installed will take a good "Objective" look at how dark they are at night, and do some kind of a brighter bulb thing.
I received my replacement lights in todays UPS and got them on. Man what a difference they make. For me this was a good thing to do, and my wife may now just ride in the car at night.
Roland
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,491
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
In case you get rear ended, be ready to prove to the insurance companies how "bright" your rear lights were because the person who read ended you is going to say he couldn't see your lights. 
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 564
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver British Columbia
Tail and Brake lights are meant to let you SEE the car in front of you and when braking know that the car is slowing down or stopping.
How stylish is it getting rear ended?
Purposely darkening the lenses and then spending a fortune to install high intensity lights is just plain CRAZY. The LEDs should cost pennies per LED so a LED bulb should cost LESS than a filament bulb. But if you charge a fortune for it and gullible people buy them thats their loss.
PT Barnum was right. There's one born every minute.
How stylish is it getting rear ended?
Purposely darkening the lenses and then spending a fortune to install high intensity lights is just plain CRAZY. The LEDs should cost pennies per LED so a LED bulb should cost LESS than a filament bulb. But if you charge a fortune for it and gullible people buy them thats their loss.
PT Barnum was right. There's one born every minute.
of people who chose to install a LED kit insulting.
LED kit on son's Z, brighter than OE bulbs
http://www.corvette-enhancements.com/c5_cherry.php
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,432
Likes: 74
From: KcMo.
2018 C5 of Year Winner
Why don't you go price raw CREE LEDs.
And then compare the light output of CREE LEDs to "regular" LEDs.
Then price the cost of filaments compared to the cost of control circuitry required to run high power LEDs using noisy alternators.
And then make another post.
Your comment about gullibility is let's just say... ironic.
And then compare the light output of CREE LEDs to "regular" LEDs.
Then price the cost of filaments compared to the cost of control circuitry required to run high power LEDs using noisy alternators.
And then make another post.
Your comment about gullibility is let's just say... ironic.
