Painting center taillight [Merged 11-6]

[HighPsi92GST]

iv seen it done...theres even a thread on here about doing it

 

[aaronm_2003]

Sup guys? I'm tryin to get my center piece of my tail lights painted to match my car. How did you do it to yours? Did you take it apart and paint the inside? Or sand down the outside and paint it? Thanks!

 

[Game Over]

On my old eclipse, I took it off, peeled the letters off, cleaned it with rubbing alcohol, and painted the outside myself for $4. On the eclipse I got now, I just niteshaded all three pieces, but this time, I masked around the letters.

 

[rodwa4]

i hate the stock center tail light on my 94 talon, i'm too broke to buy after-market lights, so is there any way that i can just paint the center piece to match the car? or buy just the center piece from say, altezzas?

 

[bigemrich]

Although this has been covered innumerable times, I will go over it one more time. Take out the center light, which requires removing the rear center interior panel. It comes out with about 10 10mm nuts. I taped off the reverse lights, and sanded it roughly. Sprayed it twice with filler primer, sanding after each, and then sprayed on the color, sanding each time, with progressivly higher grit. Throw on a few coats of clear, again sanding VERY LIGHTLY, and let it dry. Slap it back on there and voila, new rear end.
Search if this isnt good enough.

--Kyle

 

[SpYYder]

you should do it carefully.

 

[rodwa4]

sorry i searched and didn't turn anything up, also, can anybody post some pics? and how hard is it to match the car's color?

 

[Patterson]

hey guys, I have a little question about this subject. I, personally, am not a huge fan of the center section taillight piece. I saw a kid that painted his the same color of the car and then replaced the eclipse emblem. I thought it looked bada$$. Anyway, Do you think that autozone would carry spray paint to match the factory green color? I know you stated that they did for the white and the silver, but what do u think about green? I was going to get a can from Mitsubishi but if i can save a few bucks i will. as always, thanks for your help.

 

[Wht90AWD]

Any 1G guys with some input on this?

 

[trapspeed]

Wow this thread is back from the dead. I made it nearly a year ago. And to tell you the truth I doubt they'd have the paint to match the Eclipse green. Why don't you just take it off and bring it to a paint shop? Just get your color code. I heard it's only like 30 bucks for them to paint it.

 

[cuttheduck]

When I was looking at a duplicolor book a few years ago in an auto place, the only 2g eclipse color they had in their was green. It should be there.

 

[Talesin]

I have a white 1G, getting the rear bezel off is pretty easy. The front is just the standard garnish, which I may remove anyway.

Regardless, I'm talking with a buddy who does vacuform plastic, and he says it'll be no problem to fab a new one... including embossing 'ECLIPSE' or 'MITSUBISHI' across it. Combine that with blackout (or maybe whiteout?) taillights, and it should look pretty hot.

 

[EclipseSH21]

I know for Subaru Imprezas you can get a kit for painting the sideskirts, its pretty much DIY. I want the center section of my tails painted to match the car, but the body shop I talked to said it would be costly to do, as they'd have to order a lot more paint than is necessary for the job- so I was wondering if anyone makes a 'kit' (primer, color-matched paint in spray cans) for painting the center section of the tails?? Or is there anywhere to order just the small amount of paint necessary for the job? TIA.

 

[jaxon23]

http://duplicolor.anthonythomas.com/match2/match_maker.cgi
1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Manufacturer's Color Code Color Name 1/2 oz Scratch Fix 5oz Spray
P85 Phoenix Red 8801204 Not Available
PGE Monarch Green Pearl MT01203 8801201
X13 Black NGSF100 DS100

 

[goalieman24]

so if your car isnt one of those colors...... S.O.L

 

[CyberEye]

Go to UAP/NAPA or some other car parts store that sells paint. Bring them your paint code (get it from teh dealer if you do'nt konw it) they can mix you up some paint and put it in a spray can for you.

 

[n0c7]

Go to UAP/NAPA or some other car parts store that sells paint. Bring them your paint code (get it from teh dealer if you do'nt konw it) they can mix you up some paint and put it in a spray can for you.

Ya its about $30CDN per can and once you've sprayed it give it a wetsand and a power polish and it'll look beautiful.

 

[UnderTheDeepest]

just painted center piece on my talon. comments? opinions?

 

[Morel]

I did this recently when I painted my car.


Check my gallery for the results.. I think it looks much nicer when it matches the rest of the car IMHO.

But if you like it, then thats all that matters!

Did you properly prep the plastic? Sanding it up real good, then primer? cause if you just painted it, it won't stay on very long

 

[Game Over]

Looks better matching the color of the car, unless you're going to black out the tails.

 

[UnderTheDeepest]

i wetsanded but didn't primer. it matches the top of the car at least. that's what i was going for. thought about blacking out the tails but i have enough trouble with the cops already

 

[HighPsi92GST]

I like the first picture better !

Although all black tails would look good.

 

[spartan]

this is my idea (p.s.), but I don't know whether or not to leave the plate surronding black, or if the talon letters even come off?

 

[pr0]

Looks alright but what is up with that farter?

 

[UnderTheDeepest]

i'm pretty sure the letters don't come off but i considered painting them red but thought it looked fine as is. i thought also about doing the all red look and then maybe redding out the tails as well. i didn't think it would come out as well on these talons which are red w/ the black top. i'm tryin to go for the red with black accents on the body. the door handles are already black and i'm planning on blacking out the tails, corners, and head lights. will post more pics as these things take shape

by farter i'm assuming you're bad talking my muffler. it was on the car when i bought it and nobody's said anything negative about it 'till now. i like the way it sounds and am not overly concerned with its appearance.