Took about 2 hrs today to VHT my tails... they look FANTASTIC.

Now.. I could have done it at school in fall with professional clear, but, for 12$ it looks just about the same! Sorry for the craptacular picture.. took it on my phone. Will grab a few of them on the car in a day or two once it gets nice and I can wash the car.




*****EDIT*****
Basically, the lowdown if anyone plans on doing this themself.. it's simple and TAKE YOUR TIME.

Materials: 1 can VHT Niteshade, 1 can duplicolor truck/suv clear, place to spray them, masking materials, 1500 grit sandpaper, 3M Flexible sandpaper pad.

Start by removing them, clean the surface well (wax & grease remove, or wash surface with warm water and dawn dish soap). Allow to dry.

Take a piece of the 1500 grit and your 3m pad, lightly scuff the surface of your tails, the plastic will look cloudy when you're done. After, tape off the edges of the light that aren't getting painted.

Shake up your VHT well, spray 2-4 seconds on some spare newspaper or away from yourself and the tails outdoors to get the material started. Apply a light coat over both, allow to dry about 5-10 minutes. Be sure to check to make sure it dried enough, it should look "dry to the touch", don't touch it though. Spray another coat, light or medium depending on how dark you want it (you'll be sanding the surface after, so if you want a light look, put a med coat on.. if you want darker put a slightly darker coat on).

Allow it to dry roughly 30-40 minutes, long enough so you're able to touch the surface, and you won't smear the VHT. Take some of your extra 1500 grit sandpaper & the 3M pad, sand them fairly smooth.. coming out of a can as it is, you'll most likely have some kind of orange peel texture to the VHT. Sanding them will make it look GREY and clouded, this is OK. When you're done and satisfied with how smooth it is, wipe it down with a cloth very well, be sure to get in any small grooves that the sanded dust would sit.

Shake up the clear can, put a quick "spotty" coat on, give it about 30 seconds, and follow up with a light coat. Allow the clear to dry about 10 minutes, follow up with another light mist... and a light coat 30 seconds after. Wait about 10-15 minutes, and do your final coat. You can put a med coat on, I like to mist and wait 30 sec, then throw a medium coat on. Let them dry (overnight would be best), otherwise an hour or two should be enough time. If you have dust specs, lint, anything like that in your clear, wetsand and buff would get them nice and shiny and remove the imperfections (dust, lint etc).

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They look good, I've seen these turn out horribly with VHT but yours don't look too bad at all!

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Watch your thoughts; they become words
Watch your words; they become actions
Watch your actions; they become habits
Watch your habits; they become character
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny

Awaiting Flip's Approval. lol

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thats the perfect way to do it for vht

he actually didnt go too dark aswell

but just make sure you wax them w/ good wax before you throw them on the car

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They have clear on them, they look just as good as professional.. minus a few dirt nibs. Not even noticeable.. gotta give it time to thoroughly dry, can't wax so soon .

Installed them a little bit ago, they look great.. tomorrow is suppose to be sunny, will try to grab a few shots.


*Edit-> for spelling.

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^^^ i know

but you don't want the sun to wear em down right off the bat

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Awesome job

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2007 Black on Black GP-Smoked Led tails,SPO spoiler and grills,tint,d+s rotors,autostart with alarm,Hai

Great job. I seen alot of people screw there tails up w/ ventshade and I jus tell them they should of just paid Flip but, that is a very nice job and its a light tint which I like.

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so you only did 1 coat of vht? must have been a dark coat

and u really dont have to wait 30-40 mins for the vht to dry. takes about 10-15 mins

they turned out really good, good job

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http://www.cardomain.com/id/Warbeaver" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They look very nice!!

I like when people try it themselfs..

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Never argue with an idiot, he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

those look good man.. real nice

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98 GTP-Mods? Yeah, lots of them
01 Regal GS-DD, but looks good.

Those look great. Most the time they look like crap.

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K&N CAI/Flips Custom Headlights, Tail Lights, Reverse Light,Brake Light/Front STB/Magnaflow Exhaust

2008 Grand Prix GXP

I did a light mist coat and let that dry for about 2 minutes, followed by a medium/heavy coat. I made sure to wait around 45 minutes because I wanted to sand imperfections out before I cleared them!


Thanks everyone!

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ok your such a tease. no car pics yet?

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Nice work!!!

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2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP Competition Group

Looks good Dac!
I dont want to rain on your parade but I noticed you were from Minnesota, I am also. I also have my tails smoked on my GP and have my windows tinted. I got pulled over this morning by a state patrol and was given a ticket for my taillights and a warning for my windows. The officer was very respectful and courteous, not a dick like some cops can be. He simply told me that my lights are to dark and Minnesota statue states that they must be visible from 500ft away. I dont know how much the ticket is right now and Im hoping its not to much. I think I"m gonna sell my tinted ones and get LED's.
I just wanted to give ya a heads up that the troopers are crackin down on this stuff!

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2007 GT S/C, 20% tinted windows, SPO Grills, SPO tips, Smoked Head light covers, Smoked Tails, Color matched fascias. 8K Hids Lows and fogs. Don Rome Brackets with STB's Front and Rear. Comp G sway bar, Moog End links & Trailing arms.
2003 Yamaha Banshee lots of goodies.

Yeah, I've only been pulled over by state troopers for window tint, I got pulled over once about a month ago in Rogers for window tint, just a verbal warning for that. I have a general idea where state troopers like to drive on highways around here.. they're plenty visible, they look dark, can't even tell when they're on at night and during the day when the sun is on them directly they look like a dark cherry red.

Window tint ticket I got a few years ago was about 110$, it would probably be roughly the same.

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i love my flip'ized altezzas, but im VERY tempted to take a stab at doing the wifes tails. they are all bubbled and crap anyway, so it cant get any worse, right? lol.

those look like they turned out damn good.

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'97 GT Coupe,
'97 GTP Sedan,
'97 GTP Coupe,
'96 Yukon

http://www.moradpartscompany.com
http://www.fquick.com/grandprixfamily
http://www.westcoastpontiacs.net

Those look great I did a set on one of my old cars and they came out good also, tacking time is a must when doing these.

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Looks great, I have to get around to doing mine sometime to cover up the bubbling on the inside that is starting.

I did it. To my car took them off. If u want message me

very nice job, i gotta redo mine or get up the jack for masta flip to take a stab haha, sun got to em last summer lol, very nice job though and i agree, heat and taking your time are the two most important factors :]

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BRAP BRAP BRAP nuff said

talk about a trip down memory lane

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I have a can of VHT, a can of clear, and a spare set of tails in my work shop...almost motivated to get up off my butt right now and go do this... LOL

Ok wait, comfy chair... forget it. LOL

Maybe Friday when Im off...

Looks good man, and you got Flip's approval... nice!

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2004 GTP Comp G. The Daily Driver.
JULY 2011 GPONA COTM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uNwgZGrvJ0
1992 GTA Trans Am. The Toy.
2003 VW Jetta. The Spousal Unit.

Nice job! Going to get down to trying my hand at some old tails I have sitting around aswell when I can find the time. Lots of these small jobs piling up on the to do list!