Tail Light Trim

[Guest]

Re: Tail Light Trim

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Alex, pre-heating the wrap on its underside with a heat gun on low eliminates any bubbles/bumps... Got the tip on YouTube.

[BLACK BEAUTY]

Re: Tail Light Trim

So tell me Mark how did you do the chrome across the top? The only place on my car that still has 'soft' chrome plastic is a around my rear view mirror. I put the seam at the bottom. I'm very happy with my painted custom tail light bezels from Alex so I'd guess I'm done with that part of Black Beauty. The only other chrome part I'd like is strut covers for under the hood...ANYBODY??

[Guest]

Re: Tail Light Trim

So tell me Mark how did you do the chrome across the top? The only place on my car that still has 'soft' chrome plastic is a around my rear view mirror. I put the seam at the bottom. I'm very happy with my painted custom tail light bezels from Alex so I'd guess I'm done with that part of Black Beauty. The only other chrome part I'd like is strut covers for under the hood...ANYBODY??

Greg, if I understand your first question correctly, "across the top" is covered in a vinyl wrap product made by a company called Avery. For me, it's a tricky application process that took some practice (and $$$) before achieving acceptable results. Lots of good how-to videos on YouTube. After precise trimming of the wrap, I installed the chrome moldings.

Regarding strut/shock tower covers, I had mine chromed many years ago and they still look perfect today. A place like Paul's Chrome in PA still chromes plastic, I think. Since you have an '03, check to see if the covers are part of the 03-05 engine Chrome dress-up kit available through various sources.

[WyrdBird]

Re: Tail Light Trim

The only other chrome part I'd like is strut covers for under the hood...ANYBODY??

If these don't fit, you can probably find a set that do...
http://www.amazon.com/Assault-Racing.../dp/B00S75FQNG

Oops. I see now that's not what you're talking about. But...

[Ray]

Re: Tail Light Trim

Many years ago after seeing the Foose tail light trim I went to a couple of local metal fabrication shops to see if they could make the rings. Because of the shape and curvature of the tail lights neither shop was able to do it. I like the look of the simple chrome ring but I wanted it to be in one piece without having to join it at the bottom.

Even though I showed both shops the photo of the Foose rings, neither shop was able to make a one piece ring that would properly bend to the shape and curvature of the tail lights. The problem (according to the fabrication shops I went to) is that the chrome piece has to be the exact length, the exact shape and be flexible enough to bend with the curvature of the tail light when applied. I sent several emails to Foose asking him how he did it, but I never got a response.

Over the course of many months, the shops made me several prototypes but none fit to my liking. After a few hundred dollars of experimentation I gave up. Maybe someone else can find a shop that can do it.

[Duke583]

Re: Tail Light Trim

I did the same mod about 7 years ago using the flexible plastic chrome as others above have done. I was not smart enough to use the technique above. Just started at the bottom, and followed the line in taillight. Used a sharp single edge razor blade to cut to fit when I got all the way around. May take more than one try to get it right, but the material is inexpensive.

[birdy2004]

Re: Tail Light Trim

Thanks for all the feedback and to SteelBlue for the secret ingredient!

The 1/8'' is in stock at my local Auto Zone for $13.99!

Looks like Birdy is getting some tail treatment next weekend!

Pics will follow.

[birdy2004]

Re: Tail Light Trim

OK, I took on the tail light trim project today. Below are the items you'll need for this. I bought the chrome trim at Auto Zone for $14.00




As others have stated, plan on taking a few tries at this. Below is attempt #2 and I am still not completely happy with it, and may redo later.

Start at the top and work each side along the black line in the tail light a few inches at a time. I used the foot stool (foreground) and it helped me stay balanced.





Below is the finished product. I did not get the butt joint as good as I wanted, but.... it wasn't super awful either so I went with it. I did use a tiny bit of super glue on the joint and pushed it together resulting in some improvement. (yes I glued my fingers together.)

While I was feeling so ambitious, I also replaced the Thunderbird script on this side, since the original had been damaged by wash rags catching it.

[steelblue5505]

Re: Tail Light Trim

That looks terrific. As my old cat, Shasta, would say Peerrrrr-fect!

[RustyFrye]

Re: Tail Light Trim

As my old cat, Shasta, would say Peerrrrr-fect!

And what did your cat say when it liked something that was different than what his peers did?

[JohnA]

Re: Tail Light Trim

Looks great, Bill. The butt joint is definitely the hardest part, and your are far better than mine. I may have to give it another go in the spring. John A

[Rondor]

Any good sign shop with a Gerber vinyl machine can duplicate many designs very inexpensively. They are stick-on but look great. A few dollars will buy several sets and they can easily be removed and replaced. There are several styles of chrome available. Mine are 2 years old and look new and original like the car came that way.