DIY Red Tint and Smoked Tail Lights (PICTURE HEAVY)
 

hey so i pretty much followed http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7826 but decided to post anyways

initially, i was just wanting to smoke my tail lights, but then one of my friends who has a black tacoma suggested that 'red looks better on black'. i looked at some pictures and decided that i didn't just want to red them, but smoke them as well..

these are the items i used: Shop light, VHT Nightshade Smoke and Red, Flathead screwdriver, Awl, and a 8mm wrench
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...87205387_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...99033283_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...15106132_n.jpg

first you have to take the single clip off of the rear carpet behind the tail light and fold it over to have access to the lights
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...30312104_n.jpg

there were two white zipties on my driver tail light holding wiring, but only one on my passenger one. i used my awl (from my tennis strining tools) to undo the zip tie, i wasn't able to use a screwdriver to undo the ziptie. afterwards there are just 4 nuts to unscrew to get the head light out
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...65484919_n.jpg

i just washed my car so my tails weren't too dirty, but i wiped them down with alcohol and then taped the top part that sticks out when the trunk is open
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...97382378_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...03649846_n.jpg


if i'm not mistaken, this was after 2 light coats of the Red Nightshade
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...51024358_n.jpg


this is where i differed from the original diy. he said he did 1 medium coat of the smoke and i thought that might be a little excessive and i have a heavy hand so i might have had runs...so i decided to do 2 light coats of the smoke tint. i'm not sure if this changes how the finish of the nightshade is, but mine are matted...i'm planning on wet sanding them when i get the chance and putting some clear on it
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...76534547_n.jpg

These are from the next morning

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...70190361_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...98088460_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...34774309_n.jpg


Thanks for reading! I hope it helps someone

They look nice, I just hate the muted look of nightshaded tails. I think if I were to do this, I'd have to coat and recoat and REcoat with glossy clear, and buff the hell out of them till they shined like mirrors...