Chrome tail lights on a budget

[grittracing]

Not really liking the way my tail lights look and saving to go FFO and not wanting to go under the knife just yet. i got a brain storm a few weeks back, to buy time till I think of a custom tail light idea.

In college art professor called me the "Mylar king" I guess I am! lol. did my tail lights for under $20 a sheet of mylar from the local sign shop. and some alcohol and paper towels and a lot of patients. took about a hour for both.

NOTE : if you havent removed your tail lights lately I wouldnt attempt without tissue for crying, tail light studs break easy. I had already broke mine when I took my car
a part for paint. I also have no idea how well this will hold up or long it will last. it is sign quality mylar.i would recomend finding a old tail light to practice on 1st

before



after

[Danno]

Not bad.

[azygoustoyou]

I was watching the car shows last night. I think it was my classic car. Jay Leno was on showing some new technology. They have this substance that all you do after prepping whatever your working on no matter what it's made of you pour the liquid onto the part. It dries and looks exactly like chrome and just as good as chrome. He said it cost about $8 a bottle. I don't know what the stuff was called though.
Here is the link. If you scroll down on the pic's, you'll see Jay holding a chrome gas tank. It the stuff I was talking about. I'm sure if you search you can watch the episode. Season 15 episode 18
http://www.myclassiccar.com/episode/15/18/

[Fiat88]

That looks pretty good! One question do the 2000 tail light lenses pop off or are they glued on?

[azygoustoyou]

They aren't either. They sit next to the rubber seal and are tightened. The studs come out of the lenses. Problem is is they usually rust and break when you take them apart. Just be careful.

[grittracing]

i didnt take the lenses off i tool the hole tail light off cleaned it and put the vynal mylar on

[akavinn1]

ithink they sell the same stuff that jay leno was showing at eastwood . i would love to find some one who does it i think all you need to do is know how to spray

[azygoustoyou]

The stuff Jay Leno was using is a liquid and all you do is prep the item then pour this stuff all over it and let it dry. It then looks like chrome. I wish I knew the name of the stuff. He couldn't say the name on the show apparently.

[DocGraphics]

Those look great!

I work in a sign shop & hadn't even thought of using the chrome mylar like that.
I plan on covering the inserts for my arm rests but hadn't thought of using it on anything larger.

Did you uses anything over it to seal it as I know the mylar does scratch up over time?

[v6spider]

Outstanding idea! Is the technique similar to doing windows? With soapy water and a small squidgy?

Rob

[grittracing]

no water needed just like putting a bumper sticker on

[wikkid]

Leno has a video out there with the german guy who rep's the chrome spray. You have to clear coat it after to protect it. The name of the company is on the video, but they are a little hard to find by searching.

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 30&t=12460

[akavinn1]

I think eastwood carries that stuff

[Fiat88]

They aren't either. They sit next to the rubber seal and are tightened. The studs come out of the lenses. Problem is is they usually rust and break when you take them apart. Just be careful.

Brady I was actually referring to the tail light assembly itself. Are the lenses removable?

[htchevyii]

Not really. They are glued or fused on and the chances of removing them without destroying are slim.