Cutting open tail lights with a Solder iron!

[RidetheTran]

Originally Posted by F3dzo

I am going to do this mod today. I have a white fr-s will post pics post mod.

Awesome I've been dying to see this mod on a white fr-s. Can't wait to see the pics!

[cobrabyte]

Here's a few more of both of mine. Thanks again to OP for taking the plunge!

[F3dzo]

Originally Posted by RidetheTran

Awesome I've been dying to see this mod on a white fr-s. Can't wait to see the pics!

Finished tonight... Go check my new post in lighting section !

[lopro25]

Sunday I woke up with lots of ambition and ample time on my hands so I went ahead and did the taillight blackout. I left the turn reflectors chrome because word is, in TX a new rule for state inspections requires all exterior safety lights to output the same brightness as stock.

This is a TOUGH mod. Kudos to anybody who can do this with few imperfections. On mine the cut line can be seen all the way around, and the silicone I used got everywhere during a momentary lapse in attention during reassembly so I had to spend literally hours cleaning up the stray silicone. Be careful, and plan exactly how you will do each step. Luckily I feel like the cutting went well because I planned every angle and every inch of the cut.

Anyway, without further ado...here are my results (luckily the imperfections can not be seen in the pics :-P)

[lopro25]

Daaaaang, sorry the pics are so big... I guess you can see the imperfections haha

[Unleashed]

Originally Posted by lopro25

Sunday I woke up with lots of ambition and ample time on my hands so I went ahead and did the taillight blackout. I left the turn reflectors chrome because word is, in TX a new rule for state inspections requires all exterior safety lights to output the same brightness as stock.

This is a TOUGH mod. Kudos to anybody who can do this with few imperfections. On mine the cut line can be seen all the way around, and the silicone I used got everywhere during a momentary lapse in attention during reassembly so I had to spend literally hours cleaning up the stray silicone. Be careful, and plan exactly how you will do each step. Luckily I feel like the cutting went well because I planned every angle and every inch of the cut.

Anyway, without further ado...here are my results (luckily the imperfections can not be seen in the pics :-P)

Was waiting to see how this looked with my color, I will be doing both the headlights/tail lights tmro with pictures.

[lopro25]

Originally Posted by Unleashed

Was waiting to see how this looked with my color, I will be doing both the headlights/tail lights tmro with pictures.

I will be doing the headlights soon when I have money for the HID projectors. Can't wait to see how they look. After that will be black roof and possibly deck lid.

[Unleashed]

Originally Posted by lopro25

I will be doing the headlights soon when I have money for the HID projectors. Can't wait to see how they look. After that will be black roof and possibly deck lid.

I'm nervous about pulling my whole front bumper off, and will be throughly pissed at myself if I break something. Its going to look epic though!

I'm also considering the black roof to compliment my idea of flat black lip kit.

[lopro25]

Can't wait to see your headlamp pics. If you ever do the roof/lip start a thread with pics. If I beat you to it ill do the same.

[JollyJON]

Update: a month after doing this diy, i still have no condensation after plenty of rain

Originally Posted by lopro25

Daaaaang, sorry the pics are so big... I guess you can see the imperfections haha

Did you use window weld to seal your tails? if so i would open them back up and sand down the black housing so its not so rough. If you have the time and materials you can do what i did. i promise you it will make the tail lights look way better.

1. sand down the rough edges of the black housing connected to the lense
2. use epoxy to make a smooth level surface.
3. paint the epoxy a gloss black. (I used an airbrush)
4.reseal the tails by placing a very thin amount of window weld on the cut, cover that with electrical tape, then place a larger amount of widow weld over the tape.
5. cover up any sticky residue with electrical tape.

hope this helps

Edit: just saw that you used silicone =/ im not sure if you can reopen your tails but if so, you should probably reseal with 3m window weld. it feels like the sticky tack that is used to put up posters and what not. It doesn't run and is very malleable.

[nab335]

Originally Posted by cobrabyte

Here's a few more of both of mine. Thanks again to OP for taking the plunge!

How did you achieve that smoked look to the indicator reflectors? did you just apply a light coat of paint to it?

[cobrabyte]

Originally Posted by nab335

How did you achieve that smoked look to the indicator reflectors? did you just apply a light coat of paint to it?

Yeah. I simply shot the entire reflective bit with the smoked paint. I hated how much chrome was in those babies and just wanted to get rid of it.

[MF_DEUCE]

Has anyone else tried doing this but in RED? im interested in seeing how that looks.

[digital_assassin]

@JollyJON & @cobrabyte - Can you see the cut line and adhesive when looking into the lens after it's done. I have mine out and am ready to pull the trigger but looking at the size of the chrome bezel and where it appears I would cut it seems that there is no way to do this 100% clean. I can actually see the silicone in @lopro25 pictures above since he so graciously gave us a nice big picture . Chime in and let me know if you guys had similar results.