Jimmy Mac 1999 SC300
03-25-17, 05:38 AM
#152
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myLEXsc400 (03-25-17)
03-25-17, 06:40 AM
#153
Moderator
EDIT: There are a few videos of the process on YT, if anyone is interested..
03-25-17, 08:48 AM
#154
Lexus Test Driver
everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I've heard different opinions about the tail lights, the color, chrome emblems, wasting money on new trim and headlights, the wheels, why it's not turbo yet... the list goes on. But I like my car a lot and everyone that has seen it in person loves it. So I'm good with it. It makes me happy to see it everyday. And it's not done yet so I have that going for me
Oh man, didn't mean it offensively. I'm sorry if i came off as a douche, was just trying to give a bit of constructive criticism, but it's not my car, and you're right, you should do what makes you happy. People will always complain about anything you do to your car, same happened with my build over the years with my turbo SC. People questioning why I was dumping stupid money into a car that's worth just a couple grand. I really do like your car, so I check this thread often for updates. Looking forward to seeing the new wheels you're going with.
03-25-17, 08:56 AM
#155
Actually, this is a common mod in the 300ZX world. In order to make the tail lamp assemblies look more "domestic", the guys who have done this will gradually heat up the tail light assemblies in an oven or by using a heat gun (not my preferred method) and separate the lens from the housing. Then you remove the yellowed lens and insert a piece of material cut from a fluorescent ceiling fixture lens and glue the whole thing back together. They use low heat, so as not to warp the lens or housing. I'll have to see if I can find the thread that discussed this over on 3ZC.
EDIT: There are a few videos of the process on YT, if anyone is interested..
EDIT: There are a few videos of the process on YT, if anyone is interested..
I assume it's a similar procedure for the rear lights for the people who took them apart to black out the chrome trim inside or to modify anything else.
I wonder if there is a chemical to make the reverse sections clear again (if those can even be removed individually from the housing without hacking everything up) as I am not a fan of using non-oem materials (like some people use to make their own clear side reflectors on the front bumper or to clear out the 95-96 lights that seemed to be very common back several years ago, not so much today. It just looks cheap in my opinion.
03-25-17, 09:40 AM
#156
Yup, people do that all the time with SC and other Lexus lights as well. I baked my front headlights when I took them apart to do a TSX projector retrofit. Not difficult to do at all.
I assume it's a similar procedure for the rear lights for the people who took them apart to black out the chrome trim inside or to modify anything else.
I wonder if there is a chemical to make the reverse sections clear again (if those can even be removed individually from the housing without hacking everything up) as I am not a fan of using non-oem materials (like some people use to make their own clear side reflectors on the front bumper or to clear out the 95-96 lights that seemed to be very common back several years ago, not so much today. It just looks cheap in my opinion.
I assume it's a similar procedure for the rear lights for the people who took them apart to black out the chrome trim inside or to modify anything else.
I wonder if there is a chemical to make the reverse sections clear again (if those can even be removed individually from the housing without hacking everything up) as I am not a fan of using non-oem materials (like some people use to make their own clear side reflectors on the front bumper or to clear out the 95-96 lights that seemed to be very common back several years ago, not so much today. It just looks cheap in my opinion.
03-25-17, 09:49 AM
#157
Moderator
03-25-17, 05:56 PM
#158
Oh man, didn't mean it offensively. I'm sorry if i came off as a douche, was just trying to give a bit of constructive criticism, but it's not my car, and you're right, you should do what makes you happy. People will always complain about anything you do to your car, same happened with my build over the years with my turbo SC. People questioning why I was dumping stupid money into a car that's worth just a couple grand. I really do like your car, so I check this thread often for updates. Looking forward to seeing the new wheels you're going with.
03-25-17, 07:25 PM
#160
Why do you want to put on brand new lights?
Don't get me wrong, I like new stuff too, but that's a waste of money. The only argument I can make for brand new taillights is if the reverse sections were not yellowed and pure white. But every new set of lights I've seen pictures of also looked yellow to me.
I may be wrong because I have not seen new lights in person, but on pics they all look yellow, used or new. I can correct any set of lights to look absolutely brand new to have not a single scratch, swirl mark, hologram, nothing. Good enough for me. A little yellow aint never hurt nobody.
Don't get me wrong, I like new stuff too, but that's a waste of money. The only argument I can make for brand new taillights is if the reverse sections were not yellowed and pure white. But every new set of lights I've seen pictures of also looked yellow to me.
I may be wrong because I have not seen new lights in person, but on pics they all look yellow, used or new. I can correct any set of lights to look absolutely brand new to have not a single scratch, swirl mark, hologram, nothing. Good enough for me. A little yellow aint never hurt nobody.
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97-SC300 (03-25-17)
03-25-17, 11:10 PM
#161
no offense taken. Seriously. I was at a bar earlier and a guy outside was snapping photos of my car. It was cool. I didn't mean for it to happen. He just thought (I'm assuming) that it was an awesome car and took some pics of it. My buddy nudged me and I saw it happening. I smiled. I hope the photos surface here somewhere.
Usually when I meet the people that take pictures of my car they only ask for my instagram name.
03-26-17, 06:13 AM
#162
I've only seen 1 photo of my car surface online after all these years and it was kind of depressing. It was a black and white photo of my car in an empty parking lot parked under a light in a dimly lit parking lot.
Usually when I meet the people that take pictures of my car they only ask for my instagram name.
This is what new vs used looks like.
Usually when I meet the people that take pictures of my car they only ask for my instagram name.
This is what new vs used looks like.
03-26-17, 07:20 AM
#164
Correct. They turn yellow with time from UV exposure. Similar to how the headlights will yellow with time. Unfortunately, the reverse light is textured, so the usual method of wet sanding, polishing, and coating the lights won't work to restore them.