Clear tail light - Garnish

[topdzl]

Hey
I want to get clear tail light on my vt but I need to do something about the garnish in between!
so I wanna know if there's anyway to get the stock garnish cleared - i don't want to place the later models garnish - to suit the tail light, or if there's anyone who sells clear garnish.
I need your help guys, any ideas would be appreciated.
cheers

[09WNS]

never heard of a clear VT garnish mate
i would say to get a VX or Monaro one paint it to your body colour

al that aside
i would like to know if there is a clear garnish too please
for my future plans on my VT

[topdzl]

I'll let you know mate.

There's one more thing, does anyone know if the paint on the garnish or tail lights is on the outer side or inner side? knowing that would give me an idea to mingle with it.

[Trav Man]

If your refering to the transperant red on the garnish depending if it was moulded red plastic or not as I don't know but if they are but if not they would be painted on clear plastic on the inside.
I suppose the only real way to find out is to pull one appart and have a play with it.

Trav man

[jazza15]

This might help with what you are trying to do: How to change series 1 VT Lights to Series 2 for only $3.99

[STEALTHY™]

If your refering to the transperant red on the garnish depending if it was moulded red plastic or not as I don't know but if they are but if not they would be painted on clear plastic on the inside.
I suppose the only real way to find out is to pull one appart and have a play with it.

Trav man

They would be moulded red plastic, NOT painted.

[topdzl]

They would be moulded red plastic, NOT painted.

I was hoping not to hear that haha, I'm gonna try to contact the company which made the tail lights maybe they would do it for me!, otherwise my only way is a custom made garnish.

[LittleMissVE]

What do you mean by garnish? (I have never modified my car) Are you talking about the reverse light bit on the back? (The bit that the VX's don't have?)

[09WNS]

What do you mean by garnish? (I have never modified my car) Are you talking about the reverse light bit on the back? (The bit that the VX's don't have?)

yeah it is the bit with the reverse lights
the Monaro's don have it or the lower moedl VX's

[topdzl]

hey 09WNS I just e-mailed the manufacturer of the clear tail lights, just waiting for them to reply, I don't think they're selling it but I hope they would custom make it for us!

[STEALTHY™]

hey 09WNS I just e-mailed the manufacturer of the clear tail lights, just waiting for them to reply, I don't think they're selling it but I hope they would custom make it for us!

You not getting your hopes up are you? It costs $1000s for the moulds they use, chances of them custom making one are extremely slim, and if they did do it, they expect that YOU would cover the cost of it.

[Tsunamix]

theoretically, it's the same mould as the existing, with Clear acrylic used instead of red tint acrylic. Problem is, they will want a run of XXXX qty to make it worthwhile to do the custom color.

I want a VT rear Garnish in Black with red highlights, to tie it to a set of LED Altezza Rear brake light clusters that have a black background.

[STEALTHY™]

theoretically, it's the same mould as the existing, with Clear acrylic used instead of red tint acrylic. Problem is, they will want a run of XXXX qty to make it worthwhile to do the custom color.

I want a VT rear Garnish in Black with red highlights, to tie it to a set of LED Altezza Rear brake light clusters that have a black background.

Your assuming that the company who makes the aftermarket tail lights (that he contacted) is the same company who made the original tail lights/garnish.....

Chances of that are very slim (s is seen in the quality of aftermarket lights)

[billy bob]

Theres a company on ebay that sells that garnish bit. "performance lamps"

[2DIE]

Check out this link, its pretty sweet

Project VT 2 Monaro

some random pics





Looks alot nicer than standard right?

[09WNS]

hey 09WNS I just e-mailed the manufacturer of the clear tail lights, just waiting for them to reply, I don't think they're selling it but I hope they would custom make it for us!

cool mate
just have to wait n see what they say
and see how much it will cost

2DIE
that looks sweet mate
had a look on ya link too

[tigass]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but....doesn't part of the rear light have to be reflective? That is, when light hits it it's supposed to bounce back? The standard vt brake lights have a small section underneath the indicators and these clear lights don't have it making them illegal to use?

[R1DG3Y]

you could pull it off, tape up the reverse lights, then paint it the same colour as your car?

[STEALTHY™]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but....doesn't part of the rear light have to be reflective? That is, when light hits it it's supposed to bounce back? The standard vt brake lights have a small section underneath the indicators and these clear lights don't have it making them illegal to use?

Yes, absolutely correct. Most people however, dont care, and still use them.

As much as i hate monaro lights, its good to see 2DIE has put the VX bumper on to match, which has the reflectors in the bottom (still not a fan of that look, much prefer series 2 VT lights)

[Tsunamix]

Hey Stealth, Actually I'm not assuming anything.

If they have a die for ANY tail light mould, that is the right shape and construction, changing the color of the acrylic used (or polycarbonate depending on quality) is not an issue.

I worked in plastics for 5 years, and at one stage made a custom garnish from refrac red trans sheet (thats the dimpled diffuser stuff) and trans blue, over a chrome background. Looked crap. But then so did the magna i put it on. I have actually considered splitting open a standard garnish and painting the dark red areas of the garnish with a black. If I knew how to soften the glue enough to get it open...

Cheers

[STEALTHY™]

I'll try and explain a little better.

He contacted the company who make the CLEAR tail lights. This company is NOT the company who made the Factory VT/VX garnishes. They wouldn't have ANYthing that is that shape.

His best chance is finding out who made the factory items (hoping it wasn't holden themselves, i know they have their own blowmoulders for some plastic parts) and asking them. But the company making the aftermarket 'lights' wont have anything in the shape of a 'garnish'

[09WNS]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but....doesn't part of the rear light have to be reflective? That is, when light hits it it's supposed to bounce back? The standard vt brake lights have a small section underneath the indicators and these clear lights don't have it making them illegal to use?

the clear ligts in the 1st pic has the reflecter in the same place

and most after market rear lights have reflectors
just not the VX
and VZ n VE on some models have extra reflectors on them in the bumper like the VX

[STEALTHY™]

the clear ligts in the 1st pic has the reflecter in the same place

and most after market rear lights have reflectors
just not the VX
and VZ n VE on some models have extra reflectors on them in the bumper like the VX

No, the bumpers reflectors are there because they dont have them in the lights......

[ch1mp]

ok first of all anything is possible. i'm pretty sure you can order custom garnishes from autobarn but i'm not 100% but it doesn't hurt to ask them. i wanted an altezza garnish at one stage and mentioned it to them and they said they might be able to organise something but i never followed it up and changed my mind. second, i have once seen a VT with a black garnish and tail lights. custom. not home made. so i would say that your clear garnish will be very possible if you have the $$ for it. i wouldn't suggest getting a clear garnish though because you will very likely be able to see all the bolts and joins of the boot underneath, not that ive ever taken mine off so i'm not 100% sure about that either. Lastly, breaking the seal on headlights or tail lights is a tedious job and unless you have training, and very hard to re-join. my uncle use to be a panel beater and did this many times and it frustrated the hell outta him and he used an oven to melt the seals in 5 seconds. then to put it back together you need a special sealant glue. to do it at home you need a heat gun.also i don't believe that the tail lights are pained inside. i'm fairly sure its coloured molded plastic. but ye if you buy commodore magazines they have dozens of customise names and stuff advertised. but ye, anything is possible. hope this helps

[topdzl]

ch1mp that was a good positive vibe hehe, do you have any idea of the approximate price autobarn would charge for a custom garnish?
I haven't got any e-mails from the tail lights company yet :S but I'll e-mail them again.
If there's anyone who's interested in a clear vt garnish I could manage that with one of the companies to give us a good price. Please let me know guys.