Auto Detailing and AppearanceTips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
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Got a couple requests on how I made these. Wasn't too difficult. I'll try to explain and apologize for not taking pics showing the process. I'm mostly done with mine but haven't painted them yet. I'm using these 91-92 firebird turn signals for my new KR bumper.
I like how this ended up because the new front lense isn't glued to the turn signal, its just bolted on. This makes it easy to replace.
Tools and supplies needed:
1) Dremel with re-inforced cutting discs. (Sold at walmart, Menards, or Home Depot). The discs have "re-inforced" text printed on them. Note that these discs work well for cutting metal or plastic.
2) Clear sheet of poly-carbonate(Sold at most hardware stores, Home Depot, Menards, maybe Ace Hardware). Not plexiglass, not lexan, not acryllic. Poly-carbonate is the best.
3) 3M wet/dry sandpaper. (Sold at walmart in auto section or at most auto parts stores) 220 or 400 grit should do.
4) Water
5) Flat solid and smooth surface that you don't care if you slightly damage. Such as a counter-top or surface of a table.
6) Krylon Plastic Fusion (Sold at Ace Hardware). High gloss black or satin black paint, whichever you prefer.
7) Silverstar turn signal bulbs (Sold at O'Reilly Auto Parts). Be careful when you buy these, there are 2 kinds. You want the bulb that has 2 contacts on the bottom of the bulb.
8) Torx or star T15 screwdriver
9) Clear face-shield or at least safety classes. You might have hot pieces of plastic flying at your face depending what speed you run the dremel on. Face-shield is recommended.
10) Drill and drill bits. Maybe 1/8" drill bit?? Just remove one of the screws that hold the turn signal in. Get a bit that is a little bit larger than the diameter of the threads of the screw but smaller than the head of the screw.
11) Black magic marker (Sharpie)
Instructions:
A) Remove the turn signal assembly with T15 screwdriver. Replace bulbs with silver star bulbs.
B) Cut off the "FACE SIDE" of the turn signal assembly. By "FACE SIDE", I mean the front of the lense or where light shines out.
C) Cut as shown in the pic. The cutting disc should be behind the lense but not into the non-lense plastic part.
D) You may have to cut a little differently around the screw holes, like perpendicular but don't cut all the way through
E) Remove the clear lense. Try to cut off or even out any pieces of clear plastic that remain.
F) Place your sandpaper with the sand side up on your flat surface area(aka table). Put water on the sandpaper.
G) Take your turn signal assembly, have it so the "FACE SIDE" is facing down and on top of your sandpaper. Move the assembly back and forth over the sandpaper to make the face side smooth.
H) Take your sheet of polycarbonate and cut out the shape you want. You can trace the outline of the shape of the turn signal. Again, use the dremel and wear at least safety glasses.
I) With the "face side" down, on top of the sheet, you can mark your holes for the screws with your marker. Drill out the holes
J) At this point you can put the turn signal together and install it. However, you may want to clean it. You may want to mask off certain areas of the clear poly-carbonate sheet and paint it with your Krylon Plastic Fusion paint. You might also want to put some weather-striping in between the lense and the rest of the lamp housing.
Note: I am going to be building a DRL circuit for the bulbs that will make both filaments in the bulb be on at the same time at any time. This will make the bulbs brighter and look better.
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Thanks for the write up. After I saw the pic last night I had a feeling that's kinda how you did it. I will definitely be doing something very similar to this for my car.
__________________ 355 TBI/WC T-5/ 9 Bolt 3.27 Posi w/PBR's, Edlebrock headers, MSD iginition, complete WS6 conversion, open element, energy suspension poly bushings throughout, complete A.I.R. delete, 8mm wires, 165* stat, 4th gen T/A wing, all black leather 4th gen interior, Custom circle grid T/A tail lights, Sequential turn signals.
sorry but looks sloppy..just a piece of plastic screwed on...not even cut right to shape, not even sealed....have fun replacin those bulbs when they get soaked.
sorry but looks sloppy..just a piece of plastic screwed on...not even cut right to shape, not even sealed....have fun replacin those bulbs when they get soaked.
good idea needs better execution
I highly doubt that this is the finished product. I have seen some of his other mods and he always does top notch work.
Yeah I worded that kind of wrong. Shouldn't have said ended up. I'm going to look for some thin foam insulation to put in there to keep out water. It doesn't have to be perfectly air tight sealed either. The stock one has a vent hole on the bottom. Anyways its not finished.
hey man, I posted in the other thread in the fabrication forum of what I did f you wanna check it out, but yours is looking pretty good. I'm def interested to see what you come up with.
355 TBI/WC T-5/ 9 Bolt 3.27 Posi w/PBR's, Edlebrock headers, MSD iginition, complete WS6 conversion, open element, energy suspension poly bushings throughout, complete A.I.R. delete, 8mm wires, 165* stat, 4th gen T/A wing, all black leather 4th gen interior, Custom circle grid T/A tail lights, Sequential turn signals.
