Step 1.
Remove wire harness and (4) screws in the back (red squares)


Step 2.
Remove foam pad



Step 3.
Place taillights in oven for 5-6 minutes at 300 degrees (place newspaper under taillight… the rack gets very hot and it’ll melt anything it touches)

Separate the Taillights very carefully, I used a screwdriver to pry it.


Step 4.
We’ll be working on the outer lens (orange and red) Mask the sections with painters tape which you don’t want to remove.

Dremel out the orange section. Cut out only where it bends (look at the photo)

Sand edges with 80 grit sand paper



Step 5.
Reassemble the whole taillight and place it in the oven for 5-6 mins at 300 degrees, when glue is heated, ziptie the whole taillight together.

Let taillight set for 24 hours. Then remove zipties.


Step 6.
Mask area with painters tape to protect the area of the lens that you don’t want to cover with the epoxy.

I used (3) types of sealants
(1) Devcon Plastic Welder
(2) PC-7 Epoxy
(3) Bondo Filler


(1) Mix Devcon Plastic Welder and spread as needed (working time is only 4 min)
(2) Mix PC-7 and spread as needed (I use this to cover the most) don’t be afraid to use a lot because we’ll be sanding it down in the next step.
Let Plastic Weld and PC-7 Set for 24 hours.

 

Step 7.
Sand and shape with 80 grit paper, I used a palm sander, dremel (for corners and details), then hand sand with 200 grit paper.

Mix Bondo Filler and spread to fill in cracks (working time is only 3 mins)
Sand with 200 grit until smooth.


Step 8.
Clean lens of all dust.

Paint sanded areas black. I used Krylon Plastic Paint

Let paint dry for 24 hours.

Remove upper masked area (painters tape)


Step 9.
Place the plexiglass over the taillight and heat the plexiglass with a heating gun to mold it into the shape.



Step 10.
Place the plexiglass over taillight, Mask the plexiglass and use a dremel to cut out the shape that is needed.


Step 11.
Mask area with painters tape to protect the area of the lens that you don’t want to epoxy.

Mix Devcon Plastic Welder and spread as needed (working time is only 4 min)

Mix PC-7 and spread as needed (I use this to cover the most) don’t be afraid to use a lot because we’ll be sanding it down in the next step.

(Let Plastic Weld and PC-7 Set for 24 hours.)

Step 12.
Sand and shape with 80 grit paper, I used a palm sander, dremel (for corners and details), then hand sand with 200 grit paper.

Step 13.
Mix Bondo Filler and spread to fill in cracks (working time is only 3 mins)
Sand with 200 grit until smooth.

Step 14.
Clean lens of all dust.

Paint sanded areas black. I used Krylon Plastic Paint

 

FINISHED RESULTS.










This was my first shot at it, so I’ll be cleaning it up alittle, still not where I want it but you get the idea. I think that the black border around the clear is to thick and it needs to be smoothed out more.

Good Luck and I’m glad I can contribute to Club Lexus , after it’s done for me, it’s the least I could do!

Thanks,
tann

 

bravo, they look a little rough but damned if that isn't how those takakaira lights are made hehe.

good job bro

 

excellent post. Though its very involved, a big for the write up. The rear end of your car looks stunning with these lights . Now only if i could find a dremel....

 

EXCELLENT!!

The black lines around the white lense look less obvious on a black car. Wish mine was black.

 

about how much $$$ and time did thos whole thing cost?

 

ahhh its finally here..... looks good

 

OH MY GOD!!! that is amazing. some here will nitpick at the minor details, but i think you did an amazing job. deffinatley the best DIY write up on CL. i would never have thought of this. i think i may snag a spare set of 93 tails if i cant find my stock ones and see what i can do. i love me red/clear 95s, but the lenses are cracked, so this may be a fun little project. thanks for the in depth write up.

 

Great job dude. I did this last year, but I did not like the fact it still ended up looking like a DIY job so I never posted pics. I think you did it cleaner than I did though because after I figured it would never look factory I gave up and got sloppy. LOL.

I'd definitely make the black lines as small as possible. Also, use the plastic weld to try and mold around the bottom of the plexi to smooth it into the case better. I think the black lines are the only thing messing up the look right now.

KILLER job, and great effort. Looks excellent.

 

looks awesome, i might have to try that

 

Nice job, man.

It's very hard to do something on this forum that hasn't been done before and you've definitely
done a great write up for the rest of us who might want to try it.

Looks like a mountain of work and time. GALLL DARN! You've taken custom tail lights to another
level. Overall, the tail lights look great. I would agree with OLT that the black line between the
clear and red would look better if it were narrower.

Excellent work.

 

great job on the writeup tanner...

 

Reeeal nice. HS a lot of work, but the result is, I think, worth it. Minor stuff not noticeable to anyone but probably you anyway. (Or us freaks)

 

wow nice job! talk about devotion! great contribution!