3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Gettin rid of the amber in the tail lights?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 01:00 AM
  #1  
SpoolinRX's Avatar
Thread Starter
OFENSIV
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 714
Likes: 1
From: N/A
Gettin rid of the amber in the tail lights?

I am wondering if anyone has ever got rid of their amber color in there tail lights. I was wondering if anyone has made them red? I have never seen it. And if someone has done it, what did they do?
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 02:33 AM
  #2  
clayne's Avatar
PV = nRT
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,250
Likes: 0
From: New Zealand (was California)
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 02:34 AM
  #3  
SpoolinRX's Avatar
Thread Starter
OFENSIV
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 714
Likes: 1
From: N/A
how is makin the amber part to red, rice?
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 04:29 PM
  #4  
SpoolinRX's Avatar
Thread Starter
OFENSIV
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 714
Likes: 1
From: N/A
no one knows any more on this?
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 04:40 PM
  #5  
Sprockett's Avatar
Former Rotorhead
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 0
From: Midland, MI
Well I know how you COULD do it...

I know you can take out the taillight, then do something with a heat gun to loosen the adhesive (there is a site that says how to do all of this - but I'm not sure what it is anymore). Then you separate the housing from the lenses or something....well, it says on the site.

Basically, after you do all of that you can buy a can of model paint "Candy apple red". Make sure it's the transparent one. Then you tape off anything you don't want red, and spray a thin coat over the amber part. THIN COAT. You will have to do several coats...but make sure you leave enough time between coats for the paint to dry. You don't want to rush this - if you get drips it will look retarded (not sure - might look retarded anyway, but you asked). Anyway, after you get the amber to be red, you just reassemble and you should be set.
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 05:02 PM
  #6  
SpoolinRX's Avatar
Thread Starter
OFENSIV
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 714
Likes: 1
From: N/A
I was thinking that i could just put a red "jell" or "filter" (that’s what we call them in photography) (a transparent red piece of plastic) over the amber colored part. But i am wondering if the color would come out funny. Because if you took orange light and then mix it with red light, wouldn’t you get a funny color? I am pretty sure you would. Just like when you mix yellow and blue to make green. I think it would look like ***, with orange and red mixed. But i think am gonna try it and see what happens. Any more suggestions?
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 05:37 PM
  #7  
novadan67's Avatar
"It's not that simple"
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: Boise, ID
Well, if I were going to try this mod, I would NOT just paint over the amber part of the light. The only way to make it look "right" would be to replace the amber piece with a red one. You would have to somehow fab your own red peice or you may be able to find some tail light at a wrecking yard that you could make fit. If you want it to look good it is going to take more work than paint.
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 05:49 PM
  #8  
mpowers8's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
If you do there may be a problem with getting ticketed often, it is illegal in most states to have single colored reflectors and lights. The riceheads in Houston get ticketed on a regular basis for clear lights in the rear because the law says it should at least be an amber bulb.
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 06:53 PM
  #9  
Sprockett's Avatar
Former Rotorhead
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 0
From: Midland, MI
well, I wasn't saying "go ahead and do it"....he asked how, and that's one way how. I wouldn't do it.
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 07:19 PM
  #10  
novadan67's Avatar
"It's not that simple"
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: Boise, ID
Originally posted by mpowers8
If you do there may be a problem with getting ticketed often, it is illegal in most states to have single colored reflectors and lights. The riceheads in Houston get ticketed on a regular basis for clear lights in the rear because the law says it should at least be an amber bulb.
I don't think there is a problem with red turn signals (not that I would want to change mine), I have seen them on several cars which did not appear to be modified. I got curious so I did a quick search and found that it is legal to have red turn signals in some states (Arizona for example). I have not seen any that forbid it.
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 07:29 PM
  #11  
spoolin93r1's Avatar
Rotary Freak
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 0
From: Salem, IN
us law states rear signals can be anywhere from orange (amber) to red. you'll be safe and i think it would look pretty good
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 07:42 PM
  #12  
DCrosby's Avatar
No it's not Turbo'd
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,511
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles, Ca
Something that might look cool is all 3 circles on '99 spec lights red, and then turn on the driving lights, and have 3 red cicles, slightly illuminated (low) and then have the brakes on the center 4 and the turn signals increase in intensity on the corners
And yes, a lot of classic cars came with all red turn signals.. white is a different problem all together...
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 07:52 PM
  #13  
SpoolinRX's Avatar
Thread Starter
OFENSIV
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 714
Likes: 1
From: N/A
Enough talk if its legal or not. LOL Has anyone ever done it?
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 07:55 PM
  #14  
Scrapiron7's Avatar
STi Boxer power!
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,160
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Alteza lights!
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 07:56 PM
  #15  
rotorbrain's Avatar
fart on a friends head!!!
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,104
Likes: 2
From: sheppard AFB, TX
i like dcrosby's idea. . . mmmmmmm. . . that would be trick.

paul
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 08:29 PM
  #16  
InsaneGideon's Avatar
Still on 1st engine
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,176
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Originally posted by DCrosby
Something that might look cool is all 3 circles on '99 spec lights red, and then turn on the driving lights, and have 3 red cicles, slightly illuminated (low) and then have the brakes on the center 4 and the turn signals increase in intensity on the corners
And yes, a lot of classic cars came with all red turn signals.. white is a different problem all together...
Have the lights sequence from inside to out like those old American cars, whatever they're called.


SpoolinRX: Since your a pro photographer, I'll just remind you of what you probably (and should) already know. The stock amber lens removes all colors but "amber" from the "white" light from the bulb & reflector. It lets a little red light through, since it isn't an ideal single-wavelength filter. Installing a red lens in addition to the stock one will remove much of the "amber" light. So in effect the tiny bit of red light that escapes the amber filter is all you're left with, so it'll be very dim and a poor match for the rest of the stock red lighting.
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 08:34 PM
  #17  
SpoolinRX's Avatar
Thread Starter
OFENSIV
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 714
Likes: 1
From: N/A
Yeah i thought of all that but, i was gonna take a orange jell and and red jell and put them in front of one of my background lights and see what happens. But i didnt think about the dimmer problem. In doin it that way.
One other things i thought of was if the amber lens was flat i could go find some tail lights bigger then the lens cut out the red part and shap them to my cars lens. Maybe some Mazda tail lights out of a 323 or somthing. But i didnt really wanna remove the amber lens.

Last edited by SpoolinRX; Jan 26, 2004 at 08:39 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2004 | 10:53 PM
  #18  
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,274
Likes: 0
From: GLENDALE, CA
just replace the redlight with a red LED. when Mike (rotoboy661) came for me to do his 99 spec conversion, he has that lamp on there.
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2004 | 12:29 AM
  #19  
SpoolinRX's Avatar
Thread Starter
OFENSIV
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 714
Likes: 1
From: N/A
i am not followin you?
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2004 | 04:49 PM
  #20  
SpoolinRX's Avatar
Thread Starter
OFENSIV
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 714
Likes: 1
From: N/A
Any more suggestions?
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2004 | 07:56 PM
  #21  
DCrosby's Avatar
No it's not Turbo'd
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,511
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles, Ca
The red light produced by the LEDS, would still turn a bit warmer, since ornage and red are is roughly the same spectrum...
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:45 AM.