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What can I do to make my Camaro's taillights look better?

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Old Feb 18, 2002 | 04:55 PM
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Black_Widdow's Avatar
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From: Albany, GA.
Car: 05 GTO, 88 GTA, 98 SS
What can I do to make my Camaro's taillights look better?

Anything?
The car came with blackouts and now 2 years later I took them off. I like the new look but the colors are a little faded, especially the red. It looks good up close but when you get further away they look pinkish. Can I polish them or wax them like the rest of the car or would I have to get replacements?

Thanks,
Chris
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Old Feb 18, 2002 | 05:15 PM
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From: Lan Terminal
?You could do this :

Yummy, looks nice don't it
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Old Feb 18, 2002 | 05:17 PM
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Car: 05 GTO, 88 GTA, 98 SS
Originally posted by un4givin89
?You could do this :

Yummy, looks nice don't it
How did you do that?!
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Old Feb 18, 2002 | 05:44 PM
  #4  
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From: Lan Terminal
Red Translocent paint, Candy Apple Red, Testors model paint. Find it at any hobby store, tape of the sections and spray about 3-4 coats, let dry over night, spray on a few coats of high gloss clear let dry and polish.
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Old Feb 18, 2002 | 05:56 PM
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wow, that looks cool I might have to try that out for myself. What did you buff/polish them with?
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Old Feb 18, 2002 | 09:20 PM
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From: Albany, GA.
Car: 05 GTO, 88 GTA, 98 SS
Do the lights still shine through good? Did you use the paint from a spraycan or did you put it in an airbrush and use it that way? I have to drive an hour and a half for a good selection a Testors paints but it might be worth the drive! Now I'm torn between doing this and going with MrIrocZ's way (half black/half clear sprayed over all the lights, kinda like Niteshades) I'll have to think about it!!
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Old Feb 18, 2002 | 11:17 PM
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From: St.Charles, MO/ Edwardsville, IL
Car: '03 S-10/ '87 Trans Am
Engine: mild 350
Transmission: TH350
Good job Un4givin! The appearance mods that don't jump up in your face, but still give a coolness to the car becouse it's differant than others are the ones I like. You did a great job with those and now I can't decide to do that or get blackouts to match my new black paint comming soon.

-Matt
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Old Feb 19, 2002 | 10:46 AM
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Car: 91 Z28
Engine: L98 350
Transmission: Tire Chirpin A4
There is an alternitive to painting your taillights. If anyone has ever heard of novus plastic polishes. Plastic like any surface with a luster is not immune to scatches. Novus is a 3 step process that comes with a flannel cloth. It has a heavy, and light scatch remover, and the final gloss with is kind of like a car wax. Best part is it works on all kinds of surfaces from painted to plastic. It's just a little time consuming and requires some elbow grease. If you do the novus and you still paint the part, DO NOT USE THE LAST STEP POLISH! Hope this helps
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Old Feb 19, 2002 | 11:22 AM
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From: Lan Terminal
irocet305: I'm in Virginia Beach too, and you'll find there are alot of members in Hampton Roads area.

I plan on doing those to my new IROC baby when I get her home next weekend.

I just used some lacor finish to polish it up and then just used some good old fashion plastic polish you get in the detailing section of k-mart or wallie world.

The only reason I don't like MrIrocZ's lights is becuase they look very dirty, I tried it on a set I had extra and it just looked dirty to me. Don't compare to the smoked lens on a firebird
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Old Feb 20, 2002 | 07:34 PM
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Did you tape off the black grids, or just the clear back up lights?
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Old Feb 21, 2002 | 06:32 PM
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I swear we need a Tech Article, even though this is as easy as masking off the rest of the taillights, and either paint just the amber, or the amber and red w/ Testors (in a can) Translucent Candy Apple Red spraypaint. Un4givin89 just painted the amber part, I painted the amber and red part. It gives the taillights a darker red appearance, like a red jollyrancher or something.

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Old Feb 21, 2002 | 06:47 PM
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Car: 88 IROC-Z
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dont ya get any orange fade through???
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Old Feb 21, 2002 | 07:10 PM
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Does it fade after repeated washing?
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Old Feb 22, 2002 | 01:33 PM
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no, but maybe in like 8-10 years. Like your car's paint, but still I doubt it. It can handle the elements just fine. and the turn sig is only SLIGHTLY oranger colored than the brake light. Easy fix is to put a amber bulb in the taillight bulb, makes them all red with a very very very very slight orangish tinge rather than a slight orange in one section.:hail:
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Old Feb 22, 2002 | 09:28 PM
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From: Portales, NM USA
Car: 86 T/A
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Polishing Your Tail Lights



<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Red 86 T/A 5.0 TPI (LB9/WS6)
~HyperTech Cap/Coil/Rotor/AFPR
~Derale Adjustable Fan Switch ~ 170° Stat
~Flow Matched Injectors ~ K & N Air Filter
~Ported Plenum ~ Pirelli 245/50/16
~SLP TB Airfoil ~ All Else Stock


Last edited by MikeInAZ; Aug 20, 2006 at 05:54 PM.
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Old Feb 23, 2002 | 04:44 PM
  #16  
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Beautiful idea guys(!!!); I am going to put than on my to-do list! ;-)
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Old Feb 23, 2002 | 09:15 PM
  #17  
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From: Cove, Arkansas
Car: 85 Camaro SC
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Transmission: 700r4
It looks like I'm off to the j/y for some test parts
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Old Feb 24, 2002 | 09:58 AM
  #18  
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JY wanted 50 bucks for one light (drivers side) Is this reasonable guys? (No cracks)
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Old Feb 24, 2002 | 01:39 PM
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I'd pay it for an IROC taillight, in perfect condition, but not a SC tail. You can score them on e-bay for the same, or sometimes cheaper.
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Old Feb 24, 2002 | 01:51 PM
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From: Lan Terminal
I'd never pay 50 bucks, do not waste your money, you are getting TAKEN, I paid 10 bucks for mine
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Old Feb 24, 2002 | 07:38 PM
  #21  
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Here mine with the non-grid style. I added some smoke on top to blacken all the lights out some.
Attached Thumbnails What can I do to make my Camaro's taillights look better?-closebackleft2.jpg  
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Old Feb 24, 2002 | 08:35 PM
  #22  
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From: Lan Terminal
Heres my orginal no grid lights
Attached Thumbnails What can I do to make my Camaro's taillights look better?-soildreds.jpg  
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Old Feb 24, 2002 | 08:42 PM
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From: Pflugerville, TX USA
Car: 1999 Camaro Z28
Engine: LS1 V8
Transmission: T-56 6spd
Polish Them!!!!! I just posted this a few mins ago.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=87154

Do not paint them, model paint is not made to withstand the elements nature. Polish them and I guarantee you will like the results.
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Old Feb 24, 2002 | 10:52 PM
  #24  
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From: In a mint Third Gen!
Car: Red 87 IROC-Z28 T-Top
Engine: 5.7 Tuned Port Injection
Transmission: 700R4 Auto
Axle/Gears: BW 9-Bolt 3.27
Polishing is good.

Last edited by IROCZTWENTYGR8; Feb 24, 2002 at 10:55 PM.
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Old Feb 25, 2002 | 02:27 PM
  #25  
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the best thing would be to polish them, paint them, then clearcoat them, so it CAN withstand the elements for a long time.
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