Converting clear tails to red/clears?

[DAMON]

Hey guys, Im looking for your opinons and ideas. I have a set of clear tail lights that I used to have on my gen 3 camry that Im currently not using. Ive sort of grown out of the phase I was in and Im not a big fan of the all clear tails anymore, not to mention I was always nervous about their visibility and being pulled over.

My question is this: What would be the easiest way to convert these to red/clear tail lights? I had just planned on buying the red/clear tails but i figured maybe I could save some cash and make these work. Any ideas? I know about the testors candy apple red trick, I am considering that, but any other thoughts? thanks for reading.

Damon

[dna59]

Yeah try spraying 'em with the transparent candy apple red paint. It should work if done right. Or you could open them up and put some kind of red lens in there.

[Xevuhtess77]

i agree, i think the transparent red paint would be best, since most people use that and get good results when they red out their taillights.

[Silver Streak]

go to walmart, and in the craft's section, you can buy glass paint that comes in a spray can. It'll look OEM with that stuff.

[CamryWhat?]

or trade them with some one..i am sure someone here wants clear tails or somehting

[DAMON]

so do i just spray this paint on the outside of the lens? is it going to be prone to chipping or scratching? I do tend to powerwash my car a lot, especially to get the salt off of it in the winter. Trading is always a possibility as well, thanks for the ideas guys.

[TdotTercel]

if you open em up and spray the inside you shouldnt have any problems....

If your slack and spray the outside, it should last a good long while, but probably will eventually start to chip and scratch.....

[funboy102]

Sup people,

I was highly considering redding out my tail-lights with the Testors Candy Apple red spray you were talking about. But the biggest obstacle of course is opening the taillight housing. Do you guys have instructions on how to remove the housing from the car, and then opening the actual housing to spraypaint the amber part? I took a look at the housing today and it seems like you just can't spraypaint the outside cover, it wouldn't look right because the way the taillights are designed, there is a clear cover over the actual colored part (the part you want to color right?).
Help?

[.tony. .riot.]

Originally Posted by funboy102

Sup people,

I was highly considering redding out my tail-lights with the Testors Candy Apple red spray you were talking about. But the biggest obstacle of course is opening the taillight housing. Do you guys have instructions on how to remove the housing from the car, and then opening the actual housing to spraypaint the amber part? I took a look at the housing today and it seems like you just can't spraypaint the outside cover, it wouldn't look right because the way the taillights are designed, there is a clear cover over the actual colored part (the part you want to color right?).
Help?

You can paint them on the outside.

[SnakeyeS]

I wouldn't paint the outside. You would need to figure out how to open them and paint the inside. If it is sealed like a headlight, which i'm assuming it is, then you can bake them in the oven to soften the adhesive and pry them apart.

Otherwise if you just want to paint the outside check this link

http://vamp.darkravers.net/DIYReddingOutTaillights.cfm

[whocares04]

Originally Posted by SnakeyeS

I wouldn't paint the outside. You would need to figure out how to open them and paint the inside. If it is sealed like a headlight, which i'm assuming it is, then you can bake them in the oven to soften the adhesive and pry them apart.

Otherwise if you just want to paint the outside check this link

http://vamp.darkravers.net/DIYReddingOutTaillights.cfm

it's actually easier on the outside and as long as u spray enough and clear coat it, then it should be fine (maybe touch it up every summer) but taking apart the tails is def. more difficult than the headlights!!!!! also if he has amber tails (funboy102) what good would it do spraying it on the inside???

[.tony. .riot.]

Some people have painted them on the outside and haven't reported any problems at all.

[Knailgun]

sell the clears, get the red and white ones...they look good, and aren't a fortune either

[TdotTercel]

I did mine on the outside, that was the beginning of the summer 04, its now end of winter 05, no probs yet

[funboy102]

Originally Posted by whocares04

it's actually easier on the outside and as long as u spray enough and clear coat it, then it should be fine (maybe touch it up every summer) but taking apart the tails is def. more difficult than the headlights!!!!! also if he has amber tails (funboy102) what good would it do spraying it on the inside???

Well, I decided to try out Testors spray. I went to their website and didn't know which color to chose from, I knew it going to be either http://testors.com/catalog_item.asp?itemNbr=1405 (Transparent Candy Red) or http://testors.com/catalog_item.asp?itemNbr=1406 (Transparent Hot Rod Red). Do you guys know where to buy Testors product in real life, not online?

Whocares04, what do you mean by since I got amber tails, it would be useless to spray the inside? Would red paint over amber cover wouldn't look right?

I think I will paint the outside cover of the amber turn signals; it the paint blends in well, I will use the whole can on the whole back panel EXCEPT the reverse lights and a 1" by 2' section where it says C A M R Y. It's so that if someone look at the back panel, there wouldn't a patch of paint only where the ambers are. What do you guys think? Is this possible? or will it look ugly?