I had two hours to kill and paintshop pro as my friend. Here are my best examples of clears on a camaro.

stock
<img src= "http://www.nconnect.net/~briones/camrearside.JPG">
clear
<img src= "http://www.nconnect.net/~briones/camclears.jpg">
clear with brakes and hazards/turn signals on.
<img src= "http://www.nconnect.net/~briones/camclearsbrakes.jpg">

doesn't look too bad... I'd use em' if I had em.
don't bash it too much, I spent like two hours manipulating the pic.

I don't think altezzas would work too well considering out tails aren't very round.

------------------
--- 1988 Camaro Sport Coupe ---
2.8 V6, TCI 3200 Stall TC, B&M Transkit, Flowmaster & Catback (No Cat)
CFI Z/28 Hood, '87 16" IROC Wheels, Bowtie Grille, IROC Gauges, IROC Taillights,
IROC Foglamps w/ 9005 hi-beam bulbs
Heritage Style Hood and Decklid Stripes

[This message has been edited by SlowCamaro88SC (edited July 07, 2001).]

 

Cool. I wonder if they would look better without the grid pattern.

 

holy **** those are sweet

------------------
1989 Firebird
2.8 v6, t5 swapped in

Ram Hi-po clutch, Cold Air, 1.6 rockers,Lakewood LCA's, Lakewood Lift bars, Wonder Bar, 3" y-pipe, Random Tech Cat, 3" I-pipe, Flowmasters, MSd 6a, MSD Coil, Accel 8.8 wires, Auto Meter Gauges (Water, Clock, Fuel Pressure, and 5" Sport Comp Tach)TB Bypass, 4th Gen Seats

Coming for my v6:
Panhard Bar, 4thgen front seats, Nitrous, Line Lock, Posi, Spohn Torque Arm & Subframe connnectors

"I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to NOT have run at all"
#3 Forever

 

thats what I have been tring to tell people. It does not look "rice" it looks pretty damn good...

 

Yeah, it doesn't look like "rice", it looks like domestic "rice". LOL.

------------------
89 RS

Looking For:
87 IROC-Z28 350 TPI


[This message has been edited by IROCZTWENTYGR8 (edited July 08, 2001).]

 

I think they need the grid to be a "seperator" from each light section.

finally I do something to my camaro that others like. so to speak..

yeah that's my camaro.

------------------
--- 1988 Camaro Sport Coupe ---
2.8 V6, TCI 3200 Stall TC, B&M Transkit, Flowmaster & Catback (No Cat)
CFI Z/28 Hood, '87 16" IROC Wheels, Bowtie Grille, IROC Gauges, IROC Taillights,
IROC Foglamps w/ 9005 hi-beam bulbs
Heritage Style Hood and Decklid Stripes

 

just because import boys jumped on the idea first, doesn't mean it's rice to a point. it means it's a style that is popular with the young crowd. it's mostly seen on rice. only because that's the most popular trend right now. it wouldn't be rice if we'd (domestics new and used) have jumped on the idea a long time ago.

and the idea isn't even a true clear. I used the backup light section as a basis. Another good idea would be to keep the stock tailights config color wise, and have someone fab up a new cover in the same red-amber-white/clear config, but not have the textured backside that makes the light diffuse the way it does. someone could sand it down until it'sperfectly flat then work their way up the grit scale till it's like colored plexiglass.. that would be bitc^in'

i don't have a spare to try on though.

[This message has been edited by SlowCamaro88SC (edited July 07, 2001).]

 

I emailed elitez5 a while back on how I was planning on doing mine. You could ask him(nicely) to post the email. I could go through it all (yet again) but it's late and I'm tired. It does require some spending and ALOT OF PATENICE!. I made the molds for mine for about 10 bucks. Cement(yes concrete), plastic wrap(food cling type) and bondo.
The way I plan on doing it they will come out crystal clear(no reflective properties at all) And you can use lexan, acrylic or what ever the home improvement store has...


and by the way you lose the grid pattern too....

[This message has been edited by Camaro_hunter_d (edited July 07, 2001).]

 

well try using aluminum flashing material...Bend, cut and glue... then for 5 bucks you have your seperators to put into the crome base housing. Or if you feel really frisky heat the flashing and press it through the plastic housing...

 

i think I'll play around with a piece of plexiglass... I can keep the grid pattern if i grind out a recessed area just like the original tails, and paint it black. I still kinda want to try to make the factory taillight clear.

 

i am going from being a rice basher to a total freakin hypocrit-----those are pretty cool.........

 

SEE I told ya they look bad *** .....

 

Well sence the nights gone and the sleeps caught up, heres what I did.

1. go to a local home improvement store and get a bag of concrete(small stone) 2.50 here, a sheet of lexan/acyrlic around 12.00 here and a roll of aluminum flashing. 10 inch by 6 feet(the smallest available) around 6 bucks. a heat gun 500 deg is the hottest you'll need.
2. a tub(a big one) of bondo. 9.90 here.
3. a box of that food cling film. .99 cents.
4. Take off the tail lights. Remove the lenses(take your time) they will eventually pop off.
5. Clean the adhesive off the lens.
6. Place a large sheet of the plastic wrap into the lens.
7. mix a small amount of the 'crete to fill it about 1/4 inch. As the 'crete dries ONLY FILL IT 1/4 INCH AT A TIME OR ELSE IT WILL CRACK THE LENS!
8. after letting the 'crete dry for at least 36 hours, after all layers have been laid in.(the 1/4 inch thing should be within 6 hours) about 5 layers I think not sure...
9. After the cure is done remove the concrete at an angle the squared end first(you'll see what I mean if you do this.)
10. the plastic wrap should peel right off. Take the bondo and fill in all the creases, and lines on the 'crete. Sand them down.
11. go to www.aircraftspruce.com and order the book vacuum forming. and some bagging film. around 20 bucks all togeather.
12. You can use your household vacuum to create the neccesary vacuum. Use duct tape to get a good seal around everything.
13. get a stand so the 'crete mold can sit without anything below it to the sides.
14. bag the thing with the "lens material" inside. Apply vacuum and heat to the lens material. TAKE YOUR TIME GO SLOW! it will come around.
Next enjoy your new absolutely clear lens. Just make sure to ge the colored bulbs as to not get pulled over.

 

too much work for me. lol... sorry about the "brakes on" pic. it looks like crap, but that's the best I could do...

 

well, i realized to, while riding in my friends Mustang (oh my god, I'm friends with a Mustang owner!!! :eek when we saw another Mustang that had clear tailights

i mean, i think you can get clear tailights for 4th generations camaro's, so all in all it cant be THAT *****

only thing i was concerned about a few days ago was do "2 Much" to a camaro..........cuz then it looks like crap when you deviate 2 much from the stock exterior

 

LOL its not that much work really... took me 2 days to get both rear tailight molds...1 days for each for bodo and sanding. 1 days for the molding, so about 7 days or so... not a quick thing but could be much worth it...

 

i would be willing to try it if you had a bit better instructions, and some pics of the steps.

 

I think they have a nice clean look to them. I like the factory look of them with the grid separation but I think they would still look good if they were flat.

 

I think I could deal with them (even maybe like them?) on a white car. On anything else I think I'll pass.

And just because they make them for 4th gens doesn't mean that they're rice-free. They make sheetmetal shopping kart spoilers and stickers for 4th gens too.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

What Jim said. I think they would only go with white or silver Camaros.

 

I think they look really good. I agree if the instructions were a little more detailed.

But they look really good. Nice job.

A.

 

keep in mind though my representation isn't truely clear. I used the backup light as a basis. it's flat and clear, but it's textured on the backside like the amber and red sections, if it were truely clear, I'm sure it would look better.

 

Well it seems you all want more "clear" instructions... well... I think those are pretty clear...but anyway here goes nothin..


Ok the supplies... listed above...

Now first step of the molding process.
Take a peice of the food wrap and lay it inside the removed tail light lens. Remember to leave at least 1 inch over hang in all directions...


Second step. Mix only enough concrete(I got the ready mix only add water type) to cover about 1/4-5/8 inch of the bottom of the lens.

Third step. WAIT UNTIL THE FIRST LAYER BEFORE ADDING ANOTHER LAYER OF THE SAME THICKNESS. IF YOU DO NOT WAIT AND TRY TO POUR ALL OF IT AT ONCE YOU WILL HAVE A RUINED/CRACKED LENS WHEN THE STUFF STARTS TO DRY.


Fourth step. after waiting approx 36 hours from the last "layer" pour remove the 'crete. Do this by easing out the squared end first.


Fifth step. BONDO!!!. Crack open the gallon sized tub and bondo away. fill in the lens grids, you know what to so if you've ever used bondo. Also make sure to get the entire thing even.


Sixth step. sand it down. Self explainatory. make sure its SMOOTH!!! THIS CANNOT BE EMPHASIZED ENOUGH!!! I used 220 grit first to rough the shape out then used 350 then 600 grit.


seventh step. Buy that book from aircraft spruce. It will come in handy for more than just this tail light lens thing(like making custom vacuum formed boxes/panels). Also get that vacuum bagging film stuff. you want at least 400 deg tolerance.


eighth step. make the "bag"(explained in book from aircraft spruce) the and place the lens material over the mold.


nineth step. hook up the vacuum and seal it with duct tape(works best). Then with the heat gun about 6-12 inches over the "bag" sweep back and forth(start at the middle of the mold, if you see the "bag" start to melt move further away from it) with the vacuum on. The vacuum will keep the lens material tight against the mold as you apply the heat to "melt" the lens material.


Sorry no pics.. No dig. camera.. These "new" instructions should help out some....

[This message has been edited by Camaro_hunter_d (edited July 09, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Camaro_hunter_d (edited July 09, 2001).]

 

why do you have to sand it smooth???? If you didn't, you'd be able to keep the grid.

 

Well if you feel your good with bondo you can leve the grid, but it will just look odd with the rest of it completely smooth... You do have to smooth out the piece so the lens louvers are smooth. Remember that any imperfection will show up in the final product. So the smoother the better. You could paint the grid on I quess???

 

As soon as anybody finds a place that sells these or a person who makes them, oyu need to post it and tell us where to get them. I ahve a white Z28 and those will go great with my clear blinkers and sidemarkers.

------------------
91 camaro Z28:K&N's, flowmaster 3" cat-back exhaust, competition stero, strut tower brace, ZR1 chrome rims, eibach springs, slp headers, msd wires, bosch +4 plugs, throttle-body-bypass, kyb shocks-struts, airfoil

 

umm build instructions above... Why spens 200 plus on a set.. build for around 50-60...

 

umm.....i bet the will look alot different when on the car, I just hope who ever does this does not ruin their car. ....good luck....

------------------
1987 Black 305 TPI 5spd IROC, seems to be fully loaded, but can't find RPO codes.
AIM: SzkiRM125
---Give up the defending ***** stuff camaro_hunter_d, there is plenty to do to out cars, if not more----

 

I am not sure if someone has mentioned this but they have to reflect red when a light is shown on them, true clear is illegal, at least here in texas.

But it does look good, just my 2 pennys

 

the housing is chrome, add a red light bulb and there you have it(you need to run the light bulb anyway)

I just posted this cause some people seemed really interested in this... SO you have theinfo you need have fun!...

 

ok true clear is illegal even if u put 50 red bulbs inside, it, it has to have a reflector, so that when a car is parked and u are driving down the street, the headlights light up the reflectors, making the parked car more visible at night , the nice thing about altezza`s is that they are dot legal, while true clears are not..

------------------
87 IROC-z 305 TPI 5spd 10-bolt 3.73 posi ,8.8 Accel wires , bosch platinum +4 plugs,gutted air box ram air, K&N air filters,TB coolant bypass ,polyurethane tranny and torque arm mounts, K&N oil filter,Mobil 1 synthetic oil 10w30, futura GLS super sport tires 265/50/15 rear and 235/60/15 front mounted on 86 monte carlo SS rims ,

400 sbc and a 6 spd in the works

[This message has been edited by Fastcamaro87 (edited July 10, 2001).]

 

Thats funny, some jack @$$ told me the same thing about my blackouts....

 

All DOT approved lenses have to have so many square inches of reflective area on them. (not sure of the exact number any more) so true clears, and black out covers are illegal (by the letter of the law) it's up to your local law enforcment to make the call if they want to F with you. I recently had my tail lights checked by a sheriff on a recent trip to Indy, but because they're done with spray on blackout it lets the reflective area shine through, so he gave me the OK on them and let me go.

------------------
'86 Camaro SC 2.8 V6, 5spd, T-Tops
Mods:

(Performance)
Flowmaster cat back exhaust

(Non-Performance)
Pioneer DEH-P4000 CD receiver head unit
Pioneer 6X9 Tri-Ax speakers
Jensen 8" dual voice coil sub
Blacked out tail lights and side markers (VHT
Nightshades spray tint)

3

 

OK heres a idea... Clear reflective tape???...??? I know I saw some when I worked at napa... I guess you could run in on the sides??? and not over the bulb??? that'll take care or dot...

 

Double Post

[This message has been edited by 86ZRICHIE (edited July 11, 2001).]

 

Well, since you can take the reflector area out, here's a radical idea, put it back in when you're done it's clear so you won't notice it much, if you need it red, well, get some translucent red paint and spray them. I'm thinking of making a set just to paint the whole thing with a translucent red

Anyway, Camaro_hunter_d, so you make the mold on the inside of the lenses? can you get the grid look that way without making a mold of the outside and sandwiching the two together and have the lexan in the middle. sounds like an interesting idea, I have a furnace at school that's set up for vacuum bagging, I might have to try a run there


[This message has been edited by 86ZRICHIE (edited July 11, 2001).]

 

what about that red "reflector" crap being on the bumper? That's how alot of Pontiacs come out of the factory. 88-96 grandprix's did. I made the tails on my girlfriend's white '94 grand prix clear, by taking out the red part on the inside of the tail, and put red bulbs in there. it has red reflectors in the bumper from the factory so my mod is legal.

 

SlowCamaro88sc - Can you photoshop those tails on mine , I'm really curious how they look on a white car ...thanx man

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?...nce=0&res=high




------------------
Derek 90 IROC 5.7
Mods: All the usual bolt ons siamesed base , 2500 stall , 373's , SS hood ,big and littles , lotta reduced weight. Stock heads/rockers , cam ,runners , chip and TB
Best Et: 13.12@101 ...1.701 60 ft.

 

I'll see what I can do when I go to my parents' house tonight. it's Paintshop Pro for me, not Adobe Photoshop.

 

Here ya go 90Z28SS, I just matched the hue to the "clear" section, but because it's not truely clear these look a little more blurry than actual ones would.

 

I'll still pass, the VHT paint blackout look the best on our cars, but have fun toying with you idea, don't hurt yourselfs.

 

That is sweet! Can you let me in on how you did that? I'm tired of seeing all imports have them. Where I'm from no one has them on a domestic car. I'd like to be the first.

 

well actually there is a corner part that is clear and is reflective(I guess you could spray that with red.)

The grid thing... well I think they look better with out the grid... but I guess you could make the mold(yes from the inside) and see what can be done to keep the grid. Though you will have quite a time tring to get the lens material to form around all the compound curves of the grid... Make a mold and experiment is all I can say...

 

you dont like the clear idea then stay the FU(k outta the thread...Just my OPINION... And same goes for you Jim...

 

am i allowed in here??? i kinda like them

i dont think i would do it to my camaro----

actually i mite consider---mustangs get away with it and are not called rice........

i think they look pretty cool kinda like not crystal clear, but more of a blurry clear with the gridlines


i think that would look "phat"--so to speak

 

86Z - Thanx man , I never though I would say this but I acually like it :

 

it's funny... people think we've ACTUALLY made them. They need to read better. lol.

 

LOL .....

 

hey, that comment towards camaro and jim was kinda harsh.
camaro6spd, just said his opinion it was kind, and non degrading....
Be nice.

those are somehella good photshopping jobs, i applaude you man, except... now we have to see it on a 91-92 bird...
any one got a rear end shot?

 

hey, that comment towards camaro and jim was kinda harsh.
camaro6spd, just said his opinion it was kind, and non degrading....
Be nice.

those are somehella good photshopping jobs, i applaude you man, except... now we have to see it on a 91-92 bird...
any one got a rear end shot?

------------------
91 FireBird 305 V-8
Edelbrock Catback, Fourth Gen Console. i have six cupholders. all for starbucks!
ghetto rigged cold air intake,
GheTTo Riggers INC.
We Make Mcgyver look Like Crap
God Created The Earth, And Then Turned Up The Bass
F-Body Meeting, Naperville IL, Chicago Ave and Washington. July 27, 8:00ish.

Part Search, I NEED A Harness For A Radiator fan, THANX