Q: Clear tail lights

trueblue · 25-01-2005, 06:38 PM

Hey... Just a quicky...

Can you buy clear tail lights like the ones they sell on the AU's.. or is it possible to modify them to make them clear...

XRated · 25-01-2005, 06:53 PM

I have seen a photo of some clear indicator style ones for the EB/ED. However, don't know if it's a Photoshop or not. They looked sexy, but dunno if they'd look good on the car...

EFFalcon · 25-01-2005, 09:11 PM

they're real.
took 2 sets of standard EB tail lights to make it work :P
they were custom.

Kenaz · 25-01-2005, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EaGhIa

Can you buy clear tail lights like the ones they sell on the AU's..

If you're talking about the Altezza style lights, I think they would look terrible on a EA-ED. Clear indicators would be nice though

Walkinshaw · 25-01-2005, 09:38 PM

clear lights = WRONG WRONG WRONG.

now to answer your question, im not sure if they are avalable in retail quantities (Thank god), but custom anything is possable.

AdzT3-146 · 25-01-2005, 09:42 PM

Yes clear lights is definatly wrong. saw em on a BA ute today and it made the rear of the car look really bad

trueblue · 25-01-2005, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenaz

If you're talking about the Altezza style lights, I think they would look terrible on a EA-ED. Clear indicators would be nice though

i ment clear indicators not the altezza ones...

Pics?? i think Spider Sells em

12 · 25-01-2005, 09:51 PM

I might know of someone who could do clear taillights for you guys. Not 100% sure if it's possible, but I know he does custom low volume orders for car clubs etc.. He's based in Minto NSW.

Suggest maybe taking a set to him, or sending him a set of taillights and see what he says. Someone could do all the enquiring, and then pass the info to interested parties with the price and minimum quantity required?

Who wants to be the person to do the running around? I will PM you he's details. Better to have one person than a bunch of people asking all the same questions. Although not important, but maybe someone from NSW and close to Minto would be good as he/she could help with fitment and being the ginea pig??

Who wants the job?

ssj_jaypee · 25-01-2005, 11:37 PM

I'm interested in clear tail lights for my EA but as long as they are done well and look good.
Most of the time altezza lights just look crap but I've seen some slick ones.

26-01-2005, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EaGhIa

i ment clear indicators not the altezza ones...

Pics?? i think Spider Sells em

Spiders ones are EB and all he's done is pull out the orange filter from the tail light as the EB has clear on the outside. with the EA its harder because the plastic is coloured on the outside. the only real way would be to fade it completely with out fading the red.

sphell · 26-01-2005, 05:00 AM

just get a set of Taiwan made EA lights and leave em in the sun for a few weeks, they'll be clear in no time.

Inferno · 26-01-2005, 06:19 PM

How do you take the filter out? Do you need to crack the indicator light?

Psycho Chicken · 26-01-2005, 08:38 PM

You need to split the lense from the backing of the tail light, which is easier said than done. Once it's apart the orange bit just pulls out.

Not worth $200!

trueblue · 26-01-2005, 08:50 PM

If i tint the rear tail lights and garnish. would it look good with clear indicators?

EFFalcon · 26-01-2005, 08:57 PM

depending on what Garnish, Thanatos has a Ghia garnish with some rather cool idea on it.
the red section of the both the tail lights and garnish hasnt been touched, still nice and red.
the indicators and reverse lights (EA tail lights) have been tinted nice and dark.
the lower section of the garnish has been painted a glossy black to blend in with the tint.

its really comes off well, not sure if he has any pics of it.

Inferno · 26-01-2005, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

You need to split the lense from the backing of the tail light, which is easier said than done. Once it's apart the orange bit just pulls out.

Not worth $200!

Well I got a cheap pair Jaded6, plus I have my current pair. If I need another set I could always visit my local wrecker, I could get a pair of him for about 50 dollars.

But I see what you mean, it's curved thou, will make things interesting.

InitialD · 26-01-2005, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EFFalcon

depending on what Garnish, Thanatos has a Ghia garnish with some rather cool idea on it.
the red section of the both the tail lights and garnish hasnt been touched, still nice and red.
the indicators and reverse lights (EA tail lights) have been tinted nice and dark.
the lower section of the garnish has been painted a glossy black to blend in with the tint.

its really comes off well, not sure if he has any pics of it.

Yea it looks very good actually (least those EA taillights got some use)
only thing is that its unfortunatly crying out for a "defect notice" from the cops :(

Psycho Chicken · 26-01-2005, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glock

Well I got a cheap pair Jaded6, plus I have my current pair. If I need another set I could always visit my local wrecker, I could get a pair of him for about 50 dollars.

But I see what you mean, it's curved thou, will make things interesting.

The best option seems to be taking to two sets with a hammer. Smash the lense on one and the body on the other. Then make one set out of them.

I tried prying them apart with a screwdriver but I just broke bits off the lense.

26-01-2005, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InitialD

only thing is that its unfortunatly crying out for a "defect notice" from the cops :(

mick, you worry about your mates to much LOL.

is it possible to heat the glue on the lense to try and pry it off? kerry mentioned a while ago that he pulled his fairmont garnish apart to re paint the orange or something. im sure he said he heated it, cant remebrer.

Inferno · 26-01-2005, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

The best option seems to be taking to two sets with a hammer. Smash the lense on one and the body on the other. Then make one set out of them.

I tried prying them apart with a screwdriver but I just broke bits off the lense.

That's what I'm going to do on the weekend, but only try to use one set rather than two, I've got some ideas, hopefully they will pan out.

trueblue · 27-01-2005, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EFFalcon

depending on what Garnish, Thanatos has a Ghia garnish with some rather cool idea on it.
the red section of the both the tail lights and garnish hasnt been touched, still nice and red.
the indicators and reverse lights (EA tail lights) have been tinted nice and dark.
the lower section of the garnish has been painted a glossy black to blend in with the tint.

its really comes off well, not sure if he has any pics of it.

sounds alright... Pics?

EFFalcon · 27-01-2005, 08:57 AM

no pics atm... might get some today.

with the AU headlights (to paint the inside) they put them in the oven.
According to what i've heard, this won't work with the EA-ED tail lights (or atleast the NC lights) and i don't know how the plastic would react to the heat from a heat gun (very direct)

RUKIDN · 27-01-2005, 08:39 PM

id have to agree with some of the other guys.. id consider clear tail-lights but i would have to see em first.. but anyways i tinted my EA tail-lights with the black tint not long back and to add to it i sprayed the garnish black also and i rekon it looks pretty fat!

Thanatos · 27-01-2005, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EFFalcon

no pics atm... might get some today.

Well, guess you didn't do that, huh! :P

I seem to remember taking a pic a week or so ago... not sure where it is though. If i can't find it i'll take another pic tomorrow ;)

EFFalcon · 28-01-2005, 08:50 AM

correct... didnt get much of a chance...
u can do it!

chelvdog · 28-01-2005, 09:35 AM

Instead of smashing two sets of tail lights, I suppose you could cut the body of the light with a dremel tool, remove the orange part, then have the body plastic welded up. Don't know how much it would cost, probably more than two sets of lights! I haven't taken my tail lights off to have a look, but I was thinking if you got a pair of hooked pliers, you could reach in and break the orange plastic out piece by piece, very time consuming tho!

Inferno · 29-01-2005, 01:40 PM

Ok, cracking the back of the taillight is totally out.

I must warn, the following pictures made disturb some viewers.

Even after you crack the back, breaking the lens is very difficult without cracking the outer plastic. It's not quite that easy as just cracking the orange lens, it's actually tougher to crack than the outer clear plastic. The lens was almost impossible to break. Even after I smashed the crap out of the outer plastic. It's looks like the lens are glued in with the plastic from the pictures. I also managed to crack the black plastic and the back with a hammer, not an easy thing to do, but even with a hole to work through with I couldn't manage to break the lens, it's too tough and doesn't shift very easily.

Fortunatley, this was a taillight with a crack in it already that I had replaced over 3 years ago. So it wasn't such an expensive exercise.

But I think this a job for a pro.

Psycho Chicken · 29-01-2005, 01:50 PM

Once I had the lense off the orange bit just popped out with the aid of a screw driver.

I glued the lense back together, I might whack it on a take a photo or two, it'll leak like hell though (well it leaked before I smashed it!).

Inferno · 29-01-2005, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

Once I had the lense off the orange bit just popped out with the aid of a screw driver.

I glued the lense back together, I might whack it on a take a photo or two, it'll leak like hell though (well it leaked before I smashed it!).

Yeah, I tried removing the lense with a screwdriver, flathead of course, but like you mentioned in a previous post, I too only managed to chip little pieces of it off.

Once I had actually smashed the indicator part of the outer plastic, the plastic came off in one piece, well, one big piece and lots of other little pieces on the ground.

JADED6 · 29-01-2005, 02:46 PM

Sheesh..
Well sometimes you just gotta do these things to get an idea on what works.
If there was a big enough market it'd be easy to get a die made up, 2 cavities L+R & mould them. Then everyone could smash the yellow part off and glue in a clear lens.
Tool would be basic as far as injection moulding tools go. Poly carbonate granules, wouldn't be that expensive due to low part weight.
Then I'll mould them in my own time.
Anyone wanna build me some injection moulding dies??