Custom filler panel decals installed/Shaved key hole+ black out tails on the TRANS Am
12-06-2009, 11:11 AM
#1
Custom filler panel decals installed/Shaved key hole+ black out tails on the TRANS Am Okay, so i finally got around to finishing up a couple little projects i had for the rear end of the car. since i shaved the key hole of the Trans Am a while ago (https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearanc...-key-hole.html), a couple things about it kinda bugged me. 1) i put the decal on a little crooked, 2) i used bondo- everyone said it would eventually start to crack...it hadn't crack yet, but it did start to expand some and push through the paint a little. 3) i wished that i had done something a little more custom with the decals, yet still retain a somewhat factory look.
With the new decals (courtesy of jlincks... thanks man) i have achieved the more personalized look i was going for, yet they dont stand out in a tacky way at all. i love them.
so, i knocked out the old bondo (wasnt easy), refilled it, primed painted, added the new decals, and cleared it. came out great. while i had the lights and everything apart, i decided to refinish my tail lights and add a little VHT to them. i've honestly never seen any one else do ONLY the reverse lights, leaving the rest stock, and i felt that would look perfect. people either leave them stock, or black them out completely, all i wanted to do was get rid of the white, which stood out too much. i wet sanded the entire light down with 400 grit sand paper to get a nice smooth surface. then taped off the reverse lights, and gave them a few coats of vht. than removed all the tape and cleared over the entire lights. brought them back to a brand new looking finish. i will be wet sanding/buffing/polishing when i get some time again, to give them a real glossy finish, although they already look very good.
So, on to the pics. -the bumper is blacker than it looks. it looks lighter because its dusty/dirty
the finished product
the custom decals i had made.
here you can see a close-up difference between the stock decals and mine.
and my tail lights: the top one is stock, the bottom has been wetsanded with 400
all taped up and ready for tint
vht done, and the top/right set has been recleared
both cleared and done. i think they came out great.
With the new decals (courtesy of jlincks... thanks man) i have achieved the more personalized look i was going for, yet they dont stand out in a tacky way at all. i love them.
so, i knocked out the old bondo (wasnt easy), refilled it, primed painted, added the new decals, and cleared it. came out great. while i had the lights and everything apart, i decided to refinish my tail lights and add a little VHT to them. i've honestly never seen any one else do ONLY the reverse lights, leaving the rest stock, and i felt that would look perfect. people either leave them stock, or black them out completely, all i wanted to do was get rid of the white, which stood out too much. i wet sanded the entire light down with 400 grit sand paper to get a nice smooth surface. then taped off the reverse lights, and gave them a few coats of vht. than removed all the tape and cleared over the entire lights. brought them back to a brand new looking finish. i will be wet sanding/buffing/polishing when i get some time again, to give them a real glossy finish, although they already look very good.
So, on to the pics. -the bumper is blacker than it looks. it looks lighter because its dusty/dirty
the finished product
the custom decals i had made.
here you can see a close-up difference between the stock decals and mine.
and my tail lights: the top one is stock, the bottom has been wetsanded with 400
all taped up and ready for tint
vht done, and the top/right set has been recleared
both cleared and done. i think they came out great.
Last edited by crimson_bird; 03-03-2010 at 02:32 AM.
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12-07-2009, 04:20 PM
#10
Thanks for the compliments guys.
its actually still pretty good. i thought it'd be worse. you won't have a problem with people not seeing you.
i'll consider, but i doubt it. i like my emblems
i picked my sign name pretty much the day i got my car, but at that time i didnt really think about incorporating the nickname into actual designs on the car. once i did, i decided to go with a K instead. i was supposed to be getting my KRIMSON lisence plates as well, but the DMV denied my request.
maybe try sending a pm to jlincks, he made them for me.
maybe try sending a pm to jlincks, he made them for me.
Last edited by crimson_bird; 03-03-2010 at 02:33 AM.
12-07-2009, 06:16 PM
#12
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Looks good. I like the "bird". I had tried designing one myself and it was more difficult than I thought and never really looked !00% right. Nice job!
Why did you clear the tails after you sanded them? Couldn't you buff them with compound and wax em up...
Why did you clear the tails after you sanded them? Couldn't you buff them with compound and wax em up...
02-05-2010, 10:47 AM
#20
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Why the hell did the DMV deny the request? Did they give a good reason? I really hate Cali. Sorry man, beautiful state and for the most part good people but I cant stand the politics there. I put LT1 350 on my plates, the lady at the DMV looked at me and asked "whats that?" I told her it was the model of my Engine...Shes like"
ummmmm ok" 
ummmmm ok"