mnf-150

I have a pair of carbon fiber tail lights on our truck right now, I dont like them really. They were on the truck when we bought it from our friend. We dont have a lot of money for new or aftermarket tail lights. But I have one stock tail light. I have noticed a lot of you guys have tinted your tail lights really dark. I was thinking about getting another stock tail light and smoking/tinting them. However, I dont want to do really dark. I just wanted to smoke/tint them a little so they are just a little darker than stock but have a glossy finish as well. Kind of like the new body style F150 FX4 tail lights.

Does anyone have a how-to or a step-by-step? I know a lot of people use that VHT nightshade stuff. I would also like to do the samething to our Grand Prix if it turns out how I want on the F150.

Note:I looked in the how-to section and that how-to on smoking tail lights is not what I want to do.

Thanks for any help, tips, or feed back.
Brad

Bill's03F-150

If u do the vht nightshades u only want to do one coat. I did two and I think it's too dark.



You can kinda see how dark they are. If you want a better pic you'll have to wait till morning when the sun comes up.

All I did was use alcohol to clean the lights and then apply the nightshades. U can clear coat that if u want it shiny. I didn't clear coat mine.

I know other guys use tint film to do theirs that way they can peal it off if they don't like it

mnf-150

Thanks for the tips. And btw, you have a really nice and clean f150. I haven't really seen any with your color combination. It looks really good. And I like how the truck sits. If you could maybe post a pic of the rear or a little better pic of you tail lights that you be great. I haven't really heard of anyone using window tint on their tail lights. That's a new one for me. Is that nightshade stuff expensive?

01SilverCrew

I did mine on my old Ranger and my third tailight on my F150 so far, doing my tails probably today or soon. Take them out, clean with soap and water, wetsand, clean again, wipe down with a degreaser or paint thinner, clean again with water and soap, then let dry. Once its dry start spraying on light coats of VHT. I think I did three on mine and its perfect for me. Two light coats will probably do.

XC_Racer_129

I did a nice light coat on my tails. Everyone tells me they look like factory until I park next to another F-150. Then you can see the difference.

I used nite shades with these steps:

- Clean the surface well with soap and water (always the first step of painting)

- Take some fine sandpaper or scotch brite and rough up the surface a little bit, although I didn't have any when I did my ford tail lights and I didn't have an issue.

- Tape around the reverse light if you still want to see

- I layed the lights flat on the table and held the can about 12 inches above and put a very fine coat of tint on. I went over the lens twice. I found out quickly that applying a fine mist of paint is the best way to get an even coat.

-Repeat last step for as many times as you want until you get your desired darkness

-Put a few coats of clear over the tint. I think I did 3.

-I left my clear coat natural, it leaves like a matte finish. If you want to make the lights shiny, just get some rubbing compound and a buffer and buff the lights.

I also put one light coat over my reverse lights. It made it not so white.

There are tons of How-to's online about this so that's always a good source.

digdeep0169

i did inexpensive GTS light covers for the tails - but sprayed VHT on the 3rd brake light:

mnf-150

XC RACER 129:
I think I want our tail lights to look like yours. But I heard that you cant buff tail lights if they have been treated with VHT Nightshade because it will mess up the finish or pull the finish off. I heard that I could spray a few coats of clearcoat over them once VHT Nightshade was applied to give them a glossy finish. But yours look good to me. I might consider leaving them alone if I can get them to look simular to your tail lights.

digdeep0169:
I completely forgot about the third brake light. I will be doing that too.
I normally dont like black trucks/cars. But your look really nice with the badges on the tailgate painted black and the covers on the tail lights. The mix of chrome and black is just right for my tastes. I know how hard it is to keep black looking good. From your pic, it doesnt look like there is a mark or blemish on the paint. Good job.

Thanks for the tips. If anyone else has tinted their tail lights in any way, please feel free to post pics. I just would like to see how dark eveyone has gone.
Thanks again.

A7X

Here's a set a member mailed to me to tint for him... (2 coats, vht)



Edit: here's another of his



I also have mine done with one fine coat... Looking for a good pic of them

A7X

Found one

mnf-150

A7X:
Did you use simular steps to what was said earlier or did you do it a little different? Yours look good. Maybe a little on the dark side but I could live with that. And our truck is green so that might help them not look so dark.The flare side style lights you pictured first are a little too dark for what Im looking for. How did you get them to be shiney/glossy?