DanZR1

To remove the Shark Gray tail lamp surround, and replace them with the metallic black that is on the lower half of the rear end? It appears that it just pops off, but I want to be sure before I start tugging on them. Does anyone make pre-painted replacements?

TIA

Patches

Pretty easy. You need a small hook pick tool to grab inside the lower, outer corner of the bezel and pull on it until it pops out. Then grab it and slowly tug on the perimeter as you go around until it all snaps out. It feels like you're breaking it because it takes a good amount of force but, not to worry. I've done it several times and mine are totally intact.

DanZR1

Thanks Patches. Just to clarify, is this the "inside the lower, outer corner" you're talking about? My red arrow looks kinda sloppy, sorry about that...

owc6

Unless you are planning on selling them, this would be a good time to learn to paint stuff. It's really very simple. You could do the job for~$50, maybe even less.

I painted the center console and dash surround on my '05 Vert, and out turned out beautifully.

GTFD2

That's the right spot. If you have the plastic trim tools they work great.

HAD2HAV2

I found it easier to start at the lower left hand corner. Get a set of plastic tools from your favorite car parts store. I used one that looks like a pry bar on one end. Slowly slide the tool around and the bezel will just come off. You have optional colored bezels, same as my color Shark Grey. Std. Bezels come in Carbon Flash.

DanZR1

Is Carbon Flash the kinda metallic black color that's on the bottom of the car? Second picture in my original post?

Anyone want to trade?

HAD2HAV2

Carbon Flash is metallic black. I want to correct myself on removal, I started on the lower right hand side.
I'll keep mine.

ErnieN85

Sorry not me, Carbon flash is much more metallic than the lower bumper cover

DanZR1

Okay, got it.

Actually all of my vents; side, hood and tail lamps are Shark Gray. I bought the car used, and it was apparently an option. I'd prefer them to be black, I think it'd contrast better, IMHO. I Plasti-Dipped the hood vent, and it looks, well, Plasti-Dipped. It's be nice to find someone who wants to trade the lot of them...

mountainears

I'm pretty sure the lower bumper cover is carbon flash metallic. My license plate frame matches it perfectly.

ErnieN85

Just looked your right it is, at least on the factory optioned cars

vbdenny

Id wrap them rather than paint. Body color part and hard to replicate later.

DanZR1

That's a good point. I found a right side one, NIB, for $87.00 on eBay. Think I'll keep my Shark Gray ones, and buy someone else take off parts.

Thanks to everyone for the help!

LT4CMG

A. I agree OP, the factory carbon flash looks so much nicer. Trim should stand out. Otherwise it looks like a cheap Maaco $299 paint special where the price does not include masking the trim.

B. Not sure if mentioned, but do yourself a favor and run a layer of masking tape around the edges before you pull the bezel to avoid any accidents.

mpuzach

Interestingly, the Carbon Flash trim is standard at no extra cost and the body-colored vents are a $995 option.

fsvoboda

I would leave them: you've got a C7 option that few people have.

DanZR1

Yeah, I found that out in the Corvette Black Book when I ran all the RPO's on the car the other day. I just bought a set of the bezels and a hood insert from JT in Houston, after posting a WTB in the C7 parts thread. I'll keep the Shark Gray ones, and if I get bored of the Carbon Flash, I'll swap them back...

fsvoboda

Excellent idea if you ever get to re-sale.

budgreen3564

I've got body colored vents on 2LT GS. There is no $995 charge on window sticker, and they don't show to be standard in GS or 2LT packages at least on sticker