Got the rear all blacked out YAY!

I JUST did this on another car and you can absolutely get those lights shining like new. All it takes is compound & polish on the clear. By hand it will take a while but with a polishing machine it's easy. I masked off the circular reflector and tinted the rest of the lens with VHT tint, then with 4 clear acrylic top coats - looks matte, but the clear says, "crystal clear".

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Starting with 800 grit sandpaper and sanding the clear coat down to 2000 grit, then Meguire's ultimate compound, then swirl remover, then plasticX - all by machine polisher:

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So you can definitely get those shined up if you want! I was thinking you wanted it matte, because the black trim is also matte.
 

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J3FF3R$0N said:
^^ Lights still look too matte but a nice look overall
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Yeah they do have a matte look and im going to try to correct it by polishing it or adding another good coat of clear.

---------- Post added at 01:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:32 PM ----------
jumbosrule said:
I JUST did this on another car and you can absolutely get those lights shining like new. All it takes is compound & polish on the clear. By hand it will take a while but with a polishing machine it's easy. I masked off the circular reflector and tinted the rest of the lens with VHT tint, then with 4 clear acrylic top coats - looks matte, but the clear says, "crystal clear".


IMG_3135.jpg

Starting with 800 grit sandpaper and sanding the clear coat down to 2000 grit, then Meguire's ultimate compound, then swirl remover, then plasticX - all by machine polisher:

IMG_3155.jpg

So you can definitely get those shined up if you want! I was thinking you wanted it matte, because the black trim is also matte.
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I really like how those shine and im a big fan of miatas too. have always wanted a 94 or newer with a turbo kit and all carbon fiber cutted out.

thanks everyone for the compliments ill post another picture today of the final shot with the tape and news paper off.
 

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Nice. What did you spray up by the upper brake? Mine doesn't have anything chrome up there.

Also, do you plan on doing the door handles and lower rocker panel runner?

Copperhead
 
"LittleGagne" said:
Your fx is fresh bro


Sent from my iPhone
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Thanks man its still a work in progress. next goal is to trim front and rear fender and run a 15mm spacer up front and a 30mm in rear to give it a mean stance.

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Copperhead said:
Nice. What did you spray up by the upper brake? Mine doesn't have anything chrome up there.

Also, do you plan on doing the door handles and lower rocker panel runner?

Copperhead
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I asume your talking about the third brake light? if so I used the vht knightshades also. the dorr handles in going to keep the same I actually like them and i get alot of compliments on them with the wheels how they match. and I was going to pain tthe lower trim to match but i seen pictures and its to much copper something just dont look right.

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gto said:
looks pretty cool. You have pics of lights on?
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Ill post some today and thats a promise
 
nice to see another kansan on the forum. Looks good man, I did vht on mine too, layered the clear coat on and then wet sanded and polished. Looks great. Just 3m di-noc'd the trim too haven't posted pics yet.
 
The tails definitely looks awesome. I am curious though how it affects illumination of the tails when the brakes are pressed. Do you have plans of installing back the tail logo?
 
05fx35black said:
nice to see another kansan on the forum. Looks good man, I did vht on mine too, layered the clear coat on and then wet sanded and polished. Looks great. Just 3m di-noc'd the trim too haven't posted pics yet.
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what kind of polish did you use? I cant get rid of the spray paiint texture that comes with the rattle can spray,lol.

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Cruiser said:
The tails definitely looks awesome. I am curious though how it affects illumination of the tails when the brakes are pressed. Do you have plans of installing back the tail logo?
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yes i do have plans putting the back logo on but them dang things are so expensive :tdown:

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ocal21 said:
Did you have to take off the upper and lower trim before painting it? If not what did you do?
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Yeah i did take it off i have some picturs saved and editing them slowly on how to take them off. I will post it in the DIY section. keep checking :tup:

---------- Post added at 11:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:17 AM ----------
kidfx35 said:
How did you remmove the rear part of the roof rails?
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if your talking about the third brake light i just masked it off and used an exacto knife and cut it out. was nt hard at all. but if your talking about the roof rails and how they are off, i actually bought it with the roof rails off.

---------- Post added at 11:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 AM ----------
Special K said:
I love the blacked out rear, looks great. Love the color too...
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thanks special k

---------- Post added at 11:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:20 AM ----------

got some pics for yay

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Looking good. Nice pic of headlights process. Hey, I wouldn't trust the jack. Where are your jack stands. Always play safe...
 
that's a great job on the headlights i would just be afraid of taking them apart and then putting them together again. I would be afraid of messing up
 
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