Well I haven't came around a write up on how to nightshade/tint/blackout your taillights. So if there already is one maybe this will also help someone out. Maybe this will be enough interest to make it a sticky who knows. If you have any questions please feel free to ask!

Things you will need:

A can of VHT Nightshade (local parts store, online)
Torx screwdriver
Your choice of clearcoat, personally I picked rattle can Dupi-Color
Clean rag
Green Scotch Bright pad
Newspaper or cardboard
Something to prop up your taillights ( I used a 2x4 )

This is a picture of the can of nightshade and clearcoat



Pics of removing the tails, there are 2 plastic wing nuts behind the carpet in your trunk.






Once you have every lens you want to tint, use a green Scotch Bright pad and scuff every part where you will spray. I doesn't really matter which direction you go in just as long as you DONT see any shiny spots.



Now the fun part! Make sure everything is well wiped with the clean rag. Grab the Nightshade and shake for about 1 min, and start spraying keep the can about 12" away from the taillight. You DONT want to spray it on too heavy or it will run this stuff is very thin! Put as many coats as you want, depending on the darkness. Let each coat sit for about 2-3 min. I like the tails real dark so here is my progress of the shades.

About 5 or 6 coats later...



Once you let the Nightshade COMPLETELY dry, use the green Scotch Bright pad and re scuff the taillights and what ever else you decided to tint.


Next is to put about 2-3 coats of clearcoat on the Nightshaded parts. Put the clear on as thick as possible with out running it, so do a couple of tests on a piece of paper so you have an idea on how thick/thin it will come out.



Just and idea on how shiny it should be-


Once dry to the touch reinstall on the car.





I am not responsible for any mess ups or damage to your car or taillights!



I Hope this helped out. After your clear has dried you can sand and buff. Once I do this I will add onto this.

Michael

 

Nice..shouldn't you have lightly sanded with 1000 grit first, though.???

 

Scotch brite is probably comparable to 1000 grit sandpaper as far as what it does to the plastic surface. Looks really good, I might try this if I can find some niteshade.

 

I guess it wouldn't hurt but personally I have always just scuffed them up with the scotch bright pad....

 

good write up, there was one in the sticky already. i think it was done by noir a while back. but never hurts to have multiple opinions, i think the only thing he did different was wetsand with 1000 grit first.

 

Whoops, I guess I never noticed that, well here is one for Camaros!

 

I really like how nice and glossy that looks on the tailights. How is visibility through it when you brake? I have some blackouts on the rear of my car, but they do not have that mirror like gloss effect that yours put off. If someone does some LT1 TA lights, post up the pics! I might try this in the future.

 

i know this is for camaros...but if if i nightshade my trans am tailights will it hide the fading and delaminating?

 

damn good write up

 

Looks great
I would have sanded down the DOT and part numbers though. Gives it a cleaner look.



I went a little lighter on the reflectors because, well.. I still wanted them to reflect.

 

Very nice. Beats the hell out of those snap on plastic covers. Now post up some pics in the dark so we can see how they look at night

 

U think you could do this to front corners, or would it be 2 dark for that?

 

you can control how dark you want it by the number of layers you put on so I don't see a problem doing it to the front corners.

 

Like this? Probably too dark but o well im over it.

 

I will get some pictures of the lights at night tonight. I will have to wait until tomorrow for pics of the lights on during the day.

 

I need to get my lazy *** in gear and do this. They came out great!! Good job.

 

Thanks! Is there enough people want to add it to the current sticky? I noticed it was a T/A tails in the sticky...IDK...Just a thought

 

It will make it easier than searching for the thread when I finally get around to doing it.

 

yes sticky

 

Lets see some pics at night would like to know how it looks. Thinkin about doin this myself.