Pontiac Grand Prix Forums : Grandprix

This How To Write-up on Tinting Tail Lights has been added to the HOW TO section and can be found HERE.

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2002 Pontiac Trans Am Firehawk - bolt-ons = 344rwhp/356rwtq - Video | Sheet
2000 Chevrolet Corvette - Corsa Exhaust & Chrome C6 Motorsport Wheels



2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP *gone*

I've had trouble the last two summers with my clear flaking off....having to sand them down again is a PITA. Any thing that I could be doing wrong maybe? I've used the duplicolor clear, and a GM clear...nothing seems to want to stay.

I even try to keep them waxed....no help.

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GreenBastardPerformance2000 GTP Coupe (the green bastard)
XP, Pacesetters, LS1 TB & MAF,MSD System, P&P LIM, P&P GenV w/ 3.2, 3.0, 2.8, Devil'sOwn Injected 100% Methanol,PowerTuned, TripleEdge Trans w/3.29's
12.92 @ 105mph

sounds to me like it wasnt fully cleaned...happens to paint as well.

if you touch it...the oils form your fingers gets on and doesnt create a good bond between the clear and the VHT. there is a cleaner solution sold at most autoparts stores that cleans the surface completely of all oils. if not use windex...AFTER the nightshades has dried..before the first coat of clear.

this should help out...if not....I have no idea. bad batch of clear?

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2001 GTP street car- GT45 turbo,Stage 4 Intense turbo cam,FMIC,150 wet, double roller timing chain, Diamond forged coated pistons 8:0:1, Diamond piston rings, cryoed L32 connecting rods, Cryoed crank, Clevite77 main bearings, Clevite77 cam bearings, Clevite77 L32 rod bearings, ARP Everything, Intense/meizere true billet Flexplate, Custom UIM, Intense oil pressure kit, Cometic 4 layer head gaskets, OE-R lifters, Cryoed L67 block, ATI turbo dampner, SDD FATMAN FUEL RAILS!!!!!!!!!

couple other small things i like to do. instead of the scotchbrite/scuff pad wet sand with 400 grit apply 2 to 3 coats (dark) 1 coat (very pleasing as not too dark) let stand 20 to 30 min between coats, after final coat. wet sand with 1000 grit to get any contaminents/dirt, then apply the clear coat. i use automotive grade to give a great look that lasts.

would this work with headlights too? or would that make it too dark

i was just wondering if i could do this with my head lights too... because i dont really feel like spending 60 bucks on a pair of head light covers.

No it would not work. The nite-shades has a red tint to it.

i wouldnt do it with the main heads because it qould reduce visibility but i might try the corners soon since i dont use my signals anyways,lol

this might sound really dumb..but you do this to the outside or is it applied to the inside somehow?

Outside...

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2003 Blue-Black Metallic GTP Sedan - Almost Done...
2007 Gold Mist Chevrolet Cobalt LT - Custom CAI, NGK V-Power's, Muffler Delete, Custom Tuned PCM...Sure does have every bit of 130 FWHP
http://www.cardomain.com/id/03blueGTP

how do you remove the tail lights?..i see there are some screw off pieces on the inside of the trunk. Is that all you have to take off?

Yes, there are a couple you can see, and then one behind your trunk liner, if i remember correctly. Pretty sure its just 3 and then it slides right out.

Yup...3 of them. If you are going to use VHT...here is a great link on DIY from a 350Z website I came across...

How to Smoke Taillights - Nissan 350Z & 370Z Wiki

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2003 Blue-Black Metallic GTP Sedan - Almost Done...
2007 Gold Mist Chevrolet Cobalt LT - Custom CAI, NGK V-Power's, Muffler Delete, Custom Tuned PCM...Sure does have every bit of 130 FWHP
http://www.cardomain.com/id/03blueGTP

Yeah I just did this to my taillights. Turned out great but I'm gonna wet sand and buff mine to get that paint like shine. It doesn't look to bad just the way it is. It actually looks great but when u get up close u can tell it needs to be buffed to a nice shine

i did mine the other day since my car is down for now till my trans id built, i used VHT, wet sanded with 1000 grit, 5 medium coats of VHT, 6 medium/heavy coats of automotive clear, wet sand with 1000 grit, polish with headlight polish, then Scratch-X.

Just went to my Autozone to pick up the VHT, and they don't carry it yet.

Edit: Found VHT at Speed & Truck World.

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Would any spray paint, such as body-color paint, work? My GP is reddish (U817K) and I'd love to have body-color tail lights that still light up bright. I wouldn't mind paying for brighter lights either, if they really needed to come through.

VHT is "translucent black lens paint". Not normal spray paint. You will NOT see anything if you spray paint your tails with normal spray paint.

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2001 Redfire Metallic Grand Prix GTP -Daily Driver-
Mods in the summer time

Halo Fogs, Halo Projectors, Tinted Tails.... and.... that's it

well damn...

what if i painted the parts in this pic that are already a bit darker? Do you think that would interfere with legality?

no, it would be perfectly legal. even lightly tinted tails are completely legal so long as you can see the light output from so far away (local laws are different).

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98 XGT - sold
06 impreza 2.5i 5 speed - stock, slow, and awesome