How To: Custom Blackout Tail Lights (any Gen)

Maxstealth04 · 01-04-2012, 03:14 PM

I decided to create my own tail lights using my stock ones. I really like the stock look so I customized them to my truck. Hope it all works as well for you as me.

First you need ALL your products.

Can of VHT Night Shade
Blue tape or any edge-locking tape
Rubbing compound and Buffing compound
Clear Coat UV Paint
Pencil or Pen
Carpet Knife or X-acto knife
2000 Grit sandpaper
Dupli-Color prep wipe (optional)

I ALWAYS use Dupli-Color prep wipes when I do ANY painting. Open the package and wipe down your lights.

Completely Tape off the area you do not want to paint. I did a custom look so I taped off the whole area and removed the parts I wanted painted.

Than draw what you want to be visible

Using your carpet knife or even better an x-acto knife, follow your lines you drew

Remove all the tape except the viable area

Then paint! I suggest doing light coats, if you get it too dark for your liking than you have do do it ALL over again, after you find a way to get it all off! You can always add more. I used 3 coats on mine.

After they dry sand it all down to get it all smooth. Once you are content, spray your clear coat on, once again I used 3 coats. Sand them again.

Now using a damp cloth, apply the rubbing compound in good and remove any access on the surface with a dry clean cloth. Do the same with the buffing compound but be more precise, the buffing compound is your deciding factor if your lights are going to be shiny or dull.

Now you are finished. Install them on your ride and enjoy!

Stock

Custom

05exploder · 01-04-2012, 03:26 PM

looks good

Maxstealth04 · 01-04-2012, 03:32 PM

After I saw your yesterday, I decided to do the night shades.

Triton8273 · 01-04-2012, 03:35 PM

When are you going to get the rear bumper painted?

Maxstealth04 · 01-04-2012, 03:36 PM

After i get my new one. Waiting for a loaner car at the Ford dealership so the can look at and fix anything that is needed. I got re ended on the express way by a monte carlo!

Maxstealth04 · 01-04-2012, 05:55 PM

Running Lights

With Brake

Burnout · 01-05-2012, 02:13 AM

That's awesome. It might just be the pictures, but it seems like during the day that could be hard to see and kind of dangerous. Is it just the pictures?

Maxstealth04 · 01-05-2012, 07:19 AM

Yeah, it all shows up just as bright. Where I put the Harley logo and such was right over where the bulb is. That is why I did a design was so you can still see the lights so I do not get pulled over or rear ended.

*not8taxi* · 01-05-2012, 01:49 PM

nice job

Teejay4490 · 01-05-2012, 01:50 PM

Good write up

tgrfly · 01-05-2012, 04:27 PM

Looks nice. I'm gonna do a write-up when I do mine too. I've done several sets of VHTd tails and I'm planning to do mine on my X tomorrow. Tried to do a set on a G6 similar to what you did here. Just didn't have the patience to do it.

Maxstealth04 · 01-05-2012, 05:56 PM

Thanks all, maybe be a sticky? I do not have patience BUT since I am a disabled veteran and can not work, I have a lot of time! LOL!

*Sams01XplrSprt* · 01-06-2012, 02:00 AM

looks good keep up good work

Maxstealth04 · 01-06-2012, 11:40 AM

If anyone wants something like this done, I will do it for you. Just pay for shipping or new lights and paint and I will use my resources and time to complete it for you. PM me if you are interested.

tgrfly · 01-06-2012, 05:30 PM

Getting ready to post up mine. Mine came out a ton better than any other set I have done before.

Here is my how to:
http://explorerforum.com/forums/show...46#post2878846

01-04-2012, 03:14 PM	#1
Maxstealth04 B Jackson, MI '05 XLT Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 333 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	How To: Custom Blackout Tail Lights (any Gen) I decided to create my own tail lights using my stock ones. I really like the stock look so I customized them to my truck. Hope it all works as well for you as me. First you need ALL your products. Can of VHT Night Shade Blue tape or any edge-locking tape Rubbing compound and Buffing compound Clear Coat UV Paint Pencil or Pen Carpet Knife or X-acto knife 2000 Grit sandpaper Dupli-Color prep wipe (optional) I ALWAYS use Dupli-Color prep wipes when I do ANY painting. Open the package and wipe down your lights. Completely Tape off the area you do not want to paint. I did a custom look so I taped off the whole area and removed the parts I wanted painted. Than draw what you want to be visible Using your carpet knife or even better an x-acto knife, follow your lines you drew Remove all the tape except the viable area Then paint! I suggest doing light coats, if you get it too dark for your liking than you have do do it ALL over again, after you find a way to get it all off! You can always add more. I used 3 coats on mine. After they dry sand it all down to get it all smooth. Once you are content, spray your clear coat on, once again I used 3 coats. Sand them again. Now using a damp cloth, apply the rubbing compound in good and remove any access on the surface with a dry clean cloth. Do the same with the buffing compound but be more precise, the buffing compound is your deciding factor if your lights are going to be shiny or dull. Now you are finished. Install them on your ride and enjoy! Stock Custom

01-05-2012, 01:50 PM	#10
Teejay4490 Wannabe Elite Explorer Tallahassee, Florida 02 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 685 Vehicle Specs	Good write up __________________ 2002 Explorer XLT 4x4 - Smoked Tail Lights - Smoked Headlights - Billet Upper Grill - K&N Cold Air Intake - Clarion Head Unit - Wheels Painted Black - BWM My Registry - http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...hp?t=357337#sf

01-06-2012, 02:00 AM	#13
Sams01XplrSprt Southern Cali Explorer Newport Beach California & Bay Area California 2001 Sport (sold) Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 15,633 Vehicle Specs	looks good keep up good work __________________ 2001 Ford Explorer Sport 4.0 sohc engine. Mods include: dual 40 series flowmasters & high flow k&n air filter & removed silencer & yellow fog lights (sold for $1,800) as of 2-26-12

01-06-2012, 05:30 PM	#15
tgrfly Wannabe Elite Explorer Muncie, IN '03 Ford Explorer Limited Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 153 Vehicle Specs	Getting ready to post up mine. Mine came out a ton better than any other set I have done before. Here is my how to: http://explorerforum.com/forums/show...46#post2878846 Last edited by tgrfly; 01-06-2012 at 06:13 PM.

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01-04-2012, 03:26 PM	#2
05exploder Wannabe Elite Explorer jackson,mi 05xlt Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 9 Vehicle Specs	looks good

01-04-2012, 03:32 PM	#3
Maxstealth04 B Jackson, MI '05 XLT Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 333 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	After I saw your yesterday, I decided to do the night shades.

01-04-2012, 03:35 PM	#4
Triton8273 B Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,149 Vehicle Specs	When are you going to get the rear bumper painted?

01-04-2012, 03:36 PM	#5
Maxstealth04 B Jackson, MI '05 XLT Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 333 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	After i get my new one. Waiting for a loaner car at the Ford dealership so the can look at and fix anything that is needed. I got re ended on the express way by a monte carlo!

01-04-2012, 05:55 PM	#6
Maxstealth04 B Jackson, MI '05 XLT Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 333 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Running Lights With Brake

01-05-2012, 02:13 AM	#7
Burnout Wannabe Elite Explorer North Quincy, MA '04 XLT Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 91 Vehicle Specs	That's awesome. It might just be the pictures, but it seems like during the day that could be hard to see and kind of dangerous. Is it just the pictures?

01-05-2012, 07:19 AM	#8
Maxstealth04 B Jackson, MI '05 XLT Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 333 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Yeah, it all shows up just as bright. Where I put the Harley logo and such was right over where the bulb is. That is why I did a design was so you can still see the lights so I do not get pulled over or rear ended.

01-05-2012, 01:49 PM	#9
not8taxi Elite Explorer queens, ny 02 XLT Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 615 Vehicle Specs	nice job

01-05-2012, 04:27 PM	#11
tgrfly Wannabe Elite Explorer Muncie, IN '03 Ford Explorer Limited Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 153 Vehicle Specs	Looks nice. I'm gonna do a write-up when I do mine too. I've done several sets of VHTd tails and I'm planning to do mine on my X tomorrow. Tried to do a set on a G6 similar to what you did here. Just didn't have the patience to do it.

01-05-2012, 05:56 PM	#12
Maxstealth04 B Jackson, MI '05 XLT Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 333 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Thanks all, maybe be a sticky? I do not have patience BUT since I am a disabled veteran and can not work, I have a lot of time! LOL!

01-06-2012, 11:40 AM	#14
Maxstealth04 B Jackson, MI '05 XLT Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 333 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	If anyone wants something like this done, I will do it for you. Just pay for shipping or new lights and paint and I will use my resources and time to complete it for you. PM me if you are interested.