Please first... IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF CLEAR TAILS LEAVE THIS THREAD!. There is No need to fill a thread with flames, just cause you fo not like the idea(S) presented. Do us all a favor and simply do not post.

OK Clear tails are a contraversal issue. DUH

But if you do not like them fine. STAY OUTTA THE TREADS> IT REDUCES THE FlAMES!. And the countless worthless posts. that litter the thread.

If you LIKE them good for you. You are like most people and do not want another "third gen CLONE" to drive around.

Either way you ARE entitled to your oppinion, BUT if the thread is asking about them, IE where to get them, how to make them and you DO NOT LIKE THEM, STAY OUTTA THE THREAD. Your only gonna cause probs.

Now with that outta the way...

My idea(In practice) on remaking these things clear.

CAREFULLY remove the lense from the housing. IT DOES COME APART, Trust me.

throughly clean the black "glue/goop" from the lens.

Line the lens with cling plastic wrap. 1 piece only. Try to leave 2-3 inches hanging out of all sides.

Mix up enough concrete to fill 1/4-1/2" AND NO MORE. Go through this process untill the entire cavity is filled with the concrete.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, DO NOT FILL MORE THEN THE ABOVE STATED 1/4-1/2" AT A TIME AND LET THAT AMOUNT FULLY DRY BEFORE ADDING THE NEXT LAYER. IF YOU DO NOT HEED THIS YOUR LENS WILL CRACK FROM THE EXPANSION OF THE CONCRETE DRING.

Now you have spent a week filling, allowing to dry, then refilling and the lens is now full. Great your halfway there.

Now to get the concrete out. If I remember correctly you have the pointed end up, and the flat end down. SUpport the concrete as it begins to "slide" out of the lens.

Remove the plastic wrap. It comes right off.

go out to the garrage and get that gallon tub of bondo we all know that we have laying around. Use it to fill the surface smooth. Just handle the concrete carefully. IT WILL BREAK IF YOU DON'T.(Again trust me)

The rest is just like filling a dent on your car.

Now. Acrylic and a heat gun will become your best freinds.

You can go to www.uscomposties.com or www.aircraftspruce.com and get VACUUM FORMING SUPPLIES. I think about 30 bucks should do it.

Buy the book they have on the subject, it will be invaluable.

Then do as the book explains and "bag" the concrete form with the acrylic on top with that propped up on something to get it off the ground.

Heat the arylic and apply the vacuum and you will be mystified to see the acrylic take the form of the concrete mold you just spent a month working on...

Trim to fit, and be happy with your brand new CRYSTAL CLEAR lens.

These instructions were what I did to get started on a set for Camaro tails though, but no reason they should not also work for Firebirds..

I wrote these in the Clear tails for a Firebird thread.. But just decided to make a thread outta it. For those that are interested in having something different.

Last edited by Camar_Hunter_c on 04-29-2002 at 08:40 PM

 

Hehe .. this guy is smart to say this

"IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF CLEAR TAILS LEAVE THIS THREAD!."

Good luck man. anybody have a photochop of this ?

 

Well if you have ever seen the "base" houseing, without the red lenses, it will ook like that. alotta crome surfaces, and the bulb will stick out like a sore thumb. So I desided on something differetn, make my bulbs outta LED stripes. Not 7 light LED bulb replacements, but an actual board loaded with LED's. Clear when off(no lights on) and when they have power to them they light the appropriate color.

 

this is the end result, i like it

 

That turned out pretty durn nifty and unique. Good mojo in your direction.

I was thinking about making my taillights green, good idea? Bad idea?

 

How about instead of us all buying a bunch of vacuum forming supplies and only *** knows how many bags of concrete, you just show us pics of yours and offer them at a fair price since you've got the moulds and equipment now.

 

do you have any pics of firebird taillights done like this

 

I think it wouldn't be legal. The brake lights have to be red legally, not the lenses, but the light itself at least.

 

real pics please!!

 

Im pretty sure its legal to have clear lenses with red bulbs. If its not legal then i know at least 50 honda civics that shouldnt have passed inspection...

 

well as I stated... This is my idea in PRACTICE. Right now I have the molds done. And only one is even close to being usable. The other is straight concrete and needs finishing. I made this so that the people that are interested in making them have a good footing to start with. Not starting from scratch and being lost.

Just FYI a small 4-6 Lb bag of 'crete is all one should need to make these. The vacuum forming supplies... approx 3 feet of "bagging" and a vacuum cleaner. The $30 quoted was for the bagging and the book.

Hopefully this summer I will be able to get further into the project(I have so many going on right now its unreal) but this is deffinately one that is on the back burner, cause as I also said the car needs more important work then this appearance mod.


And as for the color of len's/bulbs it depends on state laws. Some states allow clear lens' with colored bulbs, and some require the "red disks of dorkiness". Most however will let you get away with clear lenses as long as you have some form of constant red light shining. (hense why I am converting to LED lights.) I plan on making the constant light the "BowTie Symbol". That will look bad *** at night... And what a way to show CHEVY PRIDE! LOL...

 

I was being fecetious. Some bleary-eyed, over fatigued truck driver would interprate green taillights as "Go".. Know whatuh mean?