Auto Detailing and AppearanceTips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
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i recently completed the taillights for my camaro. i went with all clear lenses and used led bulbs. this thread is about how i received, assembled, installed, and completed the taillights. i know im not the only one to purchase the taillights so i encourage those to post on the direction they went. i am not an expert in fabrication but i know my way around shop tools. this is my expierence and want to share it with everyone interested. there is good and bad.
overall i am satisfied with the taillights. to quote what someone here had previously said, " if you take your time and follow the directions" they will turn out great.
it took about a week to assemble the lights. i had an extra set of taillights that i previously prepared for the new lenses. after removing the old lenses, i removed all the caulking from the housings. i cleaned and painted the housings, using gloss black for the outside and chrome bumper spray paint for the inside. i even took apart the license plate lenses and cleaned and painted them.
after laying everything out and making sure i had everything , i assembled the lenses. as in the directions, sand file and heat as needed. REMEBER TO CLEAN THE HOUSINGS AND INSIDE LENSES PRIOR TO INSTALL. nothing like permanent prints to ruin the whole thing. after double checking fitment, i caulked the lenses and assembled the first three on each side. i used painters tape and a few assembly clamps to secure the lenses to the housing. put them up to dry and go at it the following day.
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put on the corner piece and clamp and tape it. let that sit over night. wipe off the excess sealant as you go. after it dries remove the excess by rubbing it off. RESEAL THE AREAS YOU MISSED OR NEEDED. i did this a few times to both assemblies. check your work and TAKE YOUR TIME.
Last edited by tonys91rs; 12-09-2008 at 08:36 AM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
i cleaned them up and used 1/4 inch black pinstripe in the grid pattern. why? because its easier than to paint and i can remove it or change colors. i thought it looked good.
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the rear bulbs were replaced with led lights. the brake and signal bulbs are 24 led bulbs. the back up bulbs are 12 led bulbs. single led bulbs were used in the corner and plate lights. the bulbs were purchased on ebay.
Last edited by tonys91rs; 12-09-2008 at 08:42 AM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
ok now the good and bad. the lenses after completetion are not factory perfect. however i think mine turned out great and they look good. i could have done better or worse. never the less it was fun and im satisfied. dont take this on unless you are confident with your self. if your looking for a "snap tite" skill level project, this is not it.
im having a problem with the signal led bulbs. they are not flashing and were difficult to plug in. ill fix that later this week.
im going to fix my third brake light and i recommend if you are going smoked or clear, you make sure it works. the red brake lights are faint in direct sunlight. at night they look twice as better. ill post a pic of them at night later this week.
check your local and state laws. in georgia, all vehicles are required to have a red reflective lense at the rear of the vehicle. that does not mean it must be the taillights. im working on that problem now. i have some ideas. my camaro is a weekend toy, not a daily driver.
ive been in contact with klearz by email. they were informative and quick to respond. post any questions or comments. ill help as best as i can.
wow, first time seeing these. very unique! A+ on the effort and very nice visual modification.
...You have a 305TBI to go with those SS emblems?
haha just messing with ya a bit. very clean RS!
__________________ 1987 Chevrolet Camaro Sport Coupe-assorted shades of rust 13.75@102.2mph on 2.1 60'
"rust rocket" ...someday hope to install FAST EZ EFI... 1999 Chevrolet Camaro Z28-Artic White, Flame Red Cloth Full Bolt-Ons, Tuned by Frost, Hurst Billet, Bilsteins, Zr1s
very nice but i have had leds in the reverse light before, they dont light up as much area as a regular bulb. I honestly didn't think i would like it but i reallly dig it! Great Job
Also, did you fab the LED setup and do you have any pictures of it ? Post all pictures of the process youy have available and i will post them as a separate gallery on http://badassiroc.com
ill try to get some more assembly pictures up, but im having a problem recovering them from the camera.
i didnt fab the led set up. i know someone else here is in that process. i just ordered some led bulbs from ebay, VLEDS i think is the company name. they were simple plug in like regular bulbs. the problem i had with the signal bulbs is that they barely fit in the socket so i had to trim the slots a little inside the socket. now they work with the flashers all on but dont flash when the left or right signal is activated. they just stay on. ill fix it i replace them with regular yellow signal bulbs.
nice job, to have leds flash with your bliker you need to wire up sort of resistor inline with the blinker....read up on it and a lot better site for leds is superbrightleds.com...enjoy...
Tony they look great. I hope mine turn out as good. Good call on the pinstripe. Ive been scratchin my noggin thinkin about how im gonna get the lines back in. SOOOOOO, im gonna steal the idea.
nice to see pictures on the car. visually they don't look to bad in pictures. i really had my heart set on these after trying to privately contract a company to make a set i gave up with the expenses so it's nice to see some sort of option. i share your opinion on the fit and that's exactly why i have steered away as with that many single pieces it will be impossible to match the oem finish but what can you expect as for the price you can't beat it.
Thanks JERK! Just creamed my pants at work. Not work safe, this should have been labeled.
Haha, just playing, just they look so DAMN ****ING EXTREMELY GOOD. I bought my dark smoked and cant wait....
AHHHHHHHHHH THESE LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!
K91Z, we were able to get full with housings replacements for our cars but nobody wanted to fork up $75 for the down payment of making new housings as well....which would have made them a full replacement and not in pieces...but it is what it is.
But like you said for what they are in price, they are no where near bad.
Later guys, going to clean my pants now.
P.S. LED bulbs, Mm Mm Good!
EDIT: Re-read your good and bad post, maybe you should look into this guy, i bought my LED bulbs for my nissan 300zx from him, and plan to do the same for my camaro. they are 13 watt bulbs, the brightest LED's I have seen and are easily noticeable during the day.
Look here, they are $20 a set but well worth it...cant wait to get my tails and do this ****...haha. Later.
Check here ( Warden JP2002 ), search the results for " 13W " without quotes, and it'll bring up his brightest ones, be sure to check size, also he sells relays you use to keep your blinkers working properly, just replace your stock relay and boom bang, good to go. Where is the realy, im not sure..haha sorry. But there ya go.
Last edited by I H8 WWD; 12-12-2008 at 08:56 PM.
Reason: Added LED Info
after a washing and some rain, i found no leaks or water problems. im going to get the relay for the signal leds. these pictures do not show very much detail, but up close i dont see any alignment problems or waves in the lenses. ive already received a lot of comments both good and bad. i respect everyones honesty.
i went with the clear lenses because they are much easier to change the color later on if i wish. if you get a set i do recommend that you engrave an identifcation number somewhere on them.
awesome man i love it. I remember prolly about 8 years ago i was going through town and seen a third gen camaro in a drive way that had clear lenses and they looked really bad.... but yours look great and the led bulbs are awesome. love it man -Matt
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1979 Z28, Mild built Numbers Matching 350, Built TH350, 3000 stall and shift kit, 2.5" flowmaster 40 series exhaust with x pipe. http://www.cardomain.com/id/19CAMARO85
I Am Definatelly Going To Try To Get ahold Of This Jason Guy From Klearz So I Can Buy A Set Of The Smoked Black Ones,Think They Would Look Good On My Car?,The Contact Email I Have Is Info@klearz.com , I Have A 1991 Z-28 With A ZZ4 Crate Motor [383 Basically](No Its Not Running Yet.......My Dad And Brother Are Helping Me Build It,Im Only 19),Please Dont Flame Or Insult Me,I Know Im New To The Camaro Scene,But Im Trying To Learn - MJEW@teamstepitup.com
Last edited by Team Step It Up; 01-22-2009 at 04:11 AM.
Also How Did You Pay Him Tony?I Have A Little Over $1,600 In My Paypal Account But I Dont Have A Credit Card/Bank Card,Does He Take Paypal?Or Do I Have To Send Him A Check Now?
Just Sent In My Order Info,Waiting For A Reply,Ill Be Paying and Waiting For Them To Ship Out,Putting Them Together And Posting Pics When The Paint/Bodywork Is Done,Anyone Know How To Make A ZZ4 CA Smog Legal?(Just Till I Can Get The Slip Saying It Passed.........Then Ill Unleash The Beast LOL)
They look okay but not my thing. If i wanted clear lights ida bought a honda. no offense guys. sorry peeps not bashing the lights or your style. it does look alot better than i thought it would. well thats my 2 cents n im out for the night. peace.
funny..the 5-0 is already at the end of your drive ready to write a ticket...lol...I believe those kind of lights are illegal in MI...but i'm not 100% on that
hey loneroad i like the look of them. Post pics on the car asap.
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1979 Z28, Mild built Numbers Matching 350, Built TH350, 3000 stall and shift kit, 2.5" flowmaster 40 series exhaust with x pipe. http://www.cardomain.com/id/19CAMARO85
Loneroad, looking great. Did you use 1/4" tape as well because your lines look a little thicker than tonys setup.
I will be having my lenses lines painted in, and on the inside, to keep the smooth look on the outside, but thats still undecided but they will be painted, flat black too.
But definitely more pictures, with and without lights.
Have mine, waiting until Summer to have someone install them. Si I can blame them if something happens...haha.
loneroad I also see you got an electric flip plate nice. most likely from flipplate.com.
Lol i thought you were BSing me. I never knew there was such a thing. That is awesome.Mine is stock, the trunk lock is behind there. I do pay a crap load of tolls tho..hmmmmmmm something to think about
Lol i thought you were BSing me. I never knew there was such a thing. That is awesome.Mine is stock, the trunk lock is behind there. I do pay a crap load of tolls tho..hmmmmmmm something to think about
It is amazing how many knight rider inspired products that are available for cars today. There are so many manufacturers of electric and manual flip plates.