FINISHED RESULTS ON PAGE 3....AND A LITTLE PHOTOSHOOT

PART 2 ON PAGE 2

Alright guys I decided to do something about my hideous stock tailights tonight and rather then spending $300 + I went with the DIY method. For starters these are tailights off of an '03....and for those of you who don't know the tailights are not glued the same way the headlights are. Meaning you can't simply put them in the oven and bake them apart. What I did to split them apart was the "dremel method."

Below you will see some pictures and explanations of how I started....

This is the tail light assembled in its original form



Next you will see a variety of shots of where I dremeled. Pretty much you dremel the black housing/seal right next to the plastic lip of the light. Using the 409-420 duty dremel cutting wheel I was able to determine that when the arm of the dremel sunk down to the plastic of the light you knew you were far enough.

Go slow using approximately 6-8 speed on the dremel. If you go faster the wheels tend to break faster and just melt all the plastic. Be warned this stuff flies everywhere so don't do it in your mom's kitchen. Also another thing....start with a guidance line around the tailight then increase the speed. Its much easier to go faster with a groove already made.











This is what the tailight looks like once the plastic cover is removed.



Now once you remove the plastic cover you will see that you need to "pop" out the chrome (vomit in mouth) housing. Note that there are 4 tabs the hold it in place, 2 on top and 2 on bottom.

Here is the top



And the bottom



Now that the chrome housing is off you will see the red reflectors which are held in place by one tab each



Finally all the parts are out




This is what I have done so far...Tomorrow I will sand/prime/paint the housing as well as re-assemble. I will be sure to post more pics as the progress continues.

And if anyone is wondering I plan on going with JDM MR style tails...

-Ray

 

looks good kid...can't wait to see finished product...

 

instead of sanding, why don't you use the "no sanding" plastic spray paint, I believe it's in gloss black, for the first coat and then paint it lightly with a flat black paint. I did it with an extra set of tails, but I messed up gluing it back together. I was a little impatient and silicone went all over the lense. Tried cleaning it, but it was no use, too greasy. AHh well.

How are you doign the orange part turning signal? I wanted to try again one of these days

I did my headlights the same way (no sanding part) and it came out great!

 

Well moving onto tail light #2 I got impatient and made a slight crack in the lens DOH!....anyways I plan on taping off the clear lens and painting that part with the clear orange.

 

i give you props for diy, but they are gonna look horrible when you try to glue them back together, cutting with a dremal is a bad idea... many on here have posted what a dremal does...

but hey i had to learn the hard way when doing mine, till i could do others...

 

Yeah I understand what you are saying but hey lets see how it turns out....i think i might be able to pull it off but who knows

This gives me an excuse to buy legit ones....

 

nice!

 

gotta learn somehow, when you get done with them, pm me, i might buy them and try to fix them... besides i need ones for leds... if they come out bad you can pm evodave and get a set.. at a 3rd of the price...

 

Will do, and I have contacted evodave and you're right about the price...I figured I have done the headlights why not give the tails a try. Stay posted for the results tomorrow.

 

yup definatly keep us posted on your progress

 

i tried the dremel method and let's just say i'm sporting IX tails now!

 

Seems to be everyone's scenario.....looks like i better start shopping for some new tails...

Nah I think I will be able to pull it together, minus the slight crack

 

finish them and post the pictures, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THE DIY

if they look bad after finished, well then, only then consider to buy new ones
never give up, I think you can doit, and if you can, I can

good work...

 

I did my tails the same way..(but with no cracks). Honestly guys...Evodave does phenominal work...BUT with a $900 a mont child support costs...I did my own! If you take your time, they come out fine. The dremel method will leave scuff marks visible through the lens around the outer edge. However, I just painted a 3/8" wide black strip around the outside of the lens. It looks fine (to me at least)... If you have $300 to spend though, have Dave do it.. If not, and your mechanically inclined GO FOR IT!!! I give you an "A" for the attempt!

 

Don't worry all I am going to finish them today regardless of how they come out...also 300 is for a legit pair evodave asks for maybe half that.....not too bad for a lifetime warantee.