S55 Tail Light Treatment

[NATEHAWK]

I went on and decided to do my own lights. I took plenty of time to tape them off real good and that came out great. Now I have 3 coats of paint on I waited 2 hours between coats. Now both lenses are drying not too far from my fire place. Now 1 question I got, I wanted to wet sand them so I can get a brilliant shine from them. I have clear coat to put on but I was told to wet sand the paint first then clear coat it with a few layers of clear..Is this the right steps? I will be using 2000 grit wet sand paper to do this. Any ideas or help or steps I missed or should I take?

[Rocknthehawk]

NO NO NO!!!! (technically you COULD, but i wouldn't recommend it)

just clear them, within 72 hours. do not wetsand them first, all you'll be doing is removing paint and dulling the finish. Clear them, then wait a few days, then wetsand and buff.

[Black_Noise]

i cant believe the direction wernt put in the tech or garage forum for this.

i want to do it this summer but its not warm enought yet. someone need to do step by step direction (pics would be nice too)

[Zack]

i cant believe the direction wernt put in the tech or garage forum for this.

i want to do it this summer but its not warm enought yet. someone need to do step by step direction (pics would be nice too)

Here are the directions:

Tape light.
Scuff entire light.
Paint light
Remove tape
Clear the ENTIRE light
sand and buff.


The BEST directions are:
Take to a professional

[SILVERSURFER03]

i used zack's second set of directions myself and had a place called (creations) here in maryland and i'm very pleased with the outcome.

good luck nate i hope they turn out the way you want them too

[NATEHAWK]

I didn't get a picture of the finished paint but it looks real good and I haven't even clear coated it yet. Will do that later on when I get home.

[fastblackmerc]

Here are the directions:

Tape light.
Scuff entire light.
Paint light
Remove tape
Clear the ENTIRE light
sand and buff.


The BEST directions are:
Take to a professional

You forgot to clean any wax, grease, oil, etc. from the lenses.

[Dragcity]

How do you scuff the entire light if you already taped it?????

[NATEHAWK]

You are only going to scuff the part that you don't tape.

[Zack]

You are only going to scuff the part that you don't tape.

If you dont clear coat the entire light, you are left with ridges that can chip off during car washes, detailing, etc.

Clear the entire light or be sorry later.

[Bigdogjim]

Just find a bodyshop and have it painted the same color as the car:)

Best results!!

[ImpalaSlayer]

do as zack said. if your done spraying color un mask the the parts that will reamain red and clear the entire light. should just be able to scuff with scotch brite. will be enougn to get the clear to adhear good.

[PonyGuy]

Which particular taillights should be used to do the S-55 mod?
I looked at those on my 2004 GMQ, and they don't have the "stripes" molded into the plastic lens... :confused:

[magindat]

Which particular taillights should be used to do the S-55 mod?
I looked at those on my 2004 GMQ, and they don't have the "stripes" molded into the plastic lens... :confused:

Crown Vic lights have the molded 'stripes'.

[Aren Jay]

I just clicked on the picture and thought they were funny sandels.

Did you spray paint them?

If so what colour?

[NATEHAWK]

I painted them black.....Going to clear them tomorrow then I will do a lil wet sanding and then hit it with a lil rubbing compound to get that show room gloss....

[NATEHAWK]

Here you go guy this is what you wait for.. I scuffed them up, used black primer sanded that, then painted with DupliColor Black TS100 for the basecoat about 4 coats letting each coat dry for 30 min in between, next I used Duplicolor Top Clear Coat TS125 about 6 coats letting it dry for about 20 min in between coats. You want to use alot of clear so you can wet sand it real good and not sand to the basecoat of black.

Ok now I wet sanding them using 2000 grit sand paper making sure to keep it wet you will need a spray bottle just use a lil dish liquid in it to make it slick. I wrapped my sand paper around a sanding sponge so it would apply even pressure. After that I used 3m rubbing compound to buff out the scratches that the sand paper left. After that was done I went with 3m hand glaze basically a polish to polish every thing up to a brilliant shine. Looks just about as good as factory paint. This was my first time doing any painting project I learned alot during the process. I have a few imperfections but they are not noticeable to the eye. One tip also if you are going to do this yourself make sure you use a exacto knife and green painters take and take your time so you can get a straight line it will look great afterwards.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/3/3/2/photo1.jpg
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/3/3/2/IMG_0019.JPG
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/3/3/2/IMG_0018.JPG

[ImpalaSlayer]

now you gota do the reverse lights :D looks good man. taping those things off is a pita!

[NATEHAWK]

Yea im going to get to the reverse lights soon......

[2,4shofast]

Your lights turned out really well! Good work:cool:

[03Farmmarauder]

You Can wet sand Black paint before you clear and then after clear coat you sand again but the other DTR and silver you CAN NOT sand the base coat because when you spray the clear it will crack the paint.

[ImpalaSlayer]

You Can wet sand Black paint before you clear and then after clear coat you sand again but the other DTR and silver you CAN NOT sand the base coat because when you spray the clear it will crack the paint.

uhh you can definitly sand silver or dtr. it will not crack. only way it will "crack" is if you put laquor on top of enamal

[CRUZTAKER]

If you had used Niteshades they would have come out glossy as hell.

I have no idea how the rattle can works.

Good luck though, it's an awesome look. :up:

[lastdaze04]

What are Niteshades?:depress:







If you had used Niteshades they would have come out glossy as hell.

I have no idea how the rattle can works.

Good luck though, it's an awesome look. :up:

[CRUZTAKER]

Nightshades (search that word here to find ALL the info) is the product designed for this purpose.

It allows light to pass through albeit a bit diffused even after enough coats to make the lenses appear black.
After several washed it loses its rough feel and turns to a glass finish.

It's great if you want black as it is only avaqilable in black. $7.99 an 8oz spray can. Two is more than enough.

Those wanting DTR or Blue must use paint.

[NATEHAWK]

Your lights turned out really well! Good work:cool:


If you had used Niteshades they would have come out glossy as hell.

I have no idea how the rattle can works.

Good luck though, it's an awesome look. :up:

Thanks alot both you guys.....

[MyTMerc]

Excellent Work! It's looks great!

[CRUZTAKER]

Thanks alot both you guys.....

I'm not disparaging you in anyway.

I like that you chose to leave the 3 lenses unpainted.

I went a different route and did the bottom most lens as well since there is no bulb behind it, and the niteshades allow the light from the upper two bulbs to pass through it anyway.

I screwed up and got lazy with the backup lamps and tinted them entirely.

When I replace that panel which is currently damaged, I will tint them as everyone else did by masking.

Again....AWESOME JOB!

[2,4shofast]

I screwed up and got lazy with the backup lamps and tinted them entirely.

I will tint them as everyone else did by masking.



I used niteshade on the entire lens but I agree that if I had to do it again I would mask off like others have done...

lastdaze04 I have posted a few pics of niteshades on my car if you wanted to search for them, or you can just see them on my cardomain page.

Again Natehawk...awesome job bro the lenses make your marauder inserts really stand out!

[hot-rauder]

Nate, looks like me and you are opposites now, i only have my reverse lights done... i took off my s55 tailights and traded my brother for his stock MM tailights.lol looks good though.... you did an excellent job.

old

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z302/blkmarauder/DSCN2214.jpg


switching

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z302/blkmarauder/65410025.jpg

now- ya ya the car is dirty...it happends when its a daily driver in new england

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/rocknthehawk/060.jpg

[hot-rauder]

I used niteshade on the entire lens but I agree that if I had to do it again I would mask off like others have done...

lastdaze04 I have posted a few pics of niteshades on my car if you wanted to search for them, or you can just see them on my cardomain page.

Again Natehawk...awesome job bro the lenses make your marauder inserts really stand out!


this yours?

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z302/blkmarauder/DSC01054.jpg

[Local Boy]

OK guys I'am sold.... This will be the next project after the "Resurrection"...

Here's a thought though...

Has anyone painted just the raised area of the lens ...not the "indented portion"...

I'm thinking that if I leave the "indented" portion of the light unpainted ...it will give the light a 2 dimensional look to it...and provide a little more light to come through...

What you guys think???

ALOHA

[ImpalaSlayer]

what do you mean Randy? im not quite sure what your sayin.

[Black_Noise]

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z302/blkmarauder/DSCN2214.jpg





another rear badge delete.... looking good!!

[Local Boy]

This is really hard to explain...The littlte edges that is directly surrounding the strips that is not painted... There is the raised portion that is painted, then the light "indents" (only word I have to describe it) into the brake strips...The surrounding strip of horizontal lens directly surrounding the brake strip...

Does this make sense...?

Thanks, my friend...

ALOHA

[Zack]

Blue S-55's
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/4/BlueMarauders022.jpg

[ImpalaSlayer]

i think so like the lil 1/4 inch edge that is horizontal when the light is on the car. it sort of tapers down to nothing on the out side edge

[Local Boy]

Exactly!!!

How do you think it will look if I left that little edge unpainted, along with the brake strips??

Do you think it will give a 2 dimensional look to it???

ALOHA

[DOOM]

Hey nate i gotta see it in person.

[ctrlraven]

Good work Nate, they turned out very well.

[ImpalaSlayer]

i duno Randy it may look kinda funky could always try it and if it looks weird get the edge painted.

[Local Boy]

Yeah...It's 50/50 shot that it will be cool or terrible...

I think I will stay with the common approach...

Thanks Brutha, for your insight...

ALOHA

[2,4shofast]

Sure is, when I get home I can take some better pictures when the car is actually clean:o


this yours?

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z302/blkmarauder/DSC01054.jpg

[hot-rauder]

Sure is, when I get home I can take some better pictures when the car is actually clean:o


why did you not do the reverse lights as well? i like the look of it, but i am satisfied with my stock looking MM now... i have been slowly changing everything that was done to it back to stock lol

[NATEHAWK]

Nate, looks like me and you are opposites now, i only have my reverse lights done... i took off my s55 tailights and traded my brother for his stock MM tailights.lol looks good though.... you did an excellent job.

old

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z302/blkmarauder/DSCN2214.jpg


switching

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z302/blkmarauder/65410025.jpg

now- ya ya the car is dirty...it happends when its a daily driver in new england

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/rocknthehawk/060.jpg

Yea I might just leave it like it is. I think im going to take out the ruby bed inserts and get me another set of SS inserts. I just like that black and chrome looks.

[hot-rauder]

Yea I might just leave it like it is. I think im going to take out the ruby bed inserts and get me another set of SS inserts. I just like that black and chrome looks.


i just got chrome inserts..... now to get rid of my red.:D

[2,4shofast]

why did you not do the reverse lights as well?

I got short notice orders to the sandbox, I will be doing the reverse lights as well when I get home.

[marauder410]

i was stuck in between doing eithier the al black nightshade so the light can go thru

or do the s-55 treatment with the acual paint

but i do know when i do mine im going to do both the reverse lights and the tailights

but i just decided im going to do the s-55 paint treatment since i like that alittel better than thr whole entire light nightshaded

so im going to do both reverse and tailghts in the s-55 treatment FTMFW :D

i wonder if any has ever done the s-55 tailight treatemnt and then did the nightshade on the other 3 lenses left red ????? i might be the first t attept this a combo nightshade and a s-55 treatemnt on both reverse and tailghts :eek::eek: