Tail light mod on the cheap.

Here is a little mod I learned a few years back that is cheap and can give your jeep a slightly different look. Now granted the end product isn't factory perfect, it's more of a 5 ft mod...looks better from 5 ft away.

I'm going to show you how to go from this:


To this:


This can be done with a quick trip to walmart or the hobby store.
Here are the supplies:

Tail light (duh)
Masking tape
Razor blade
1 3oz spray can of Tetors Transparent Candy Apple Red ($3.99) Can be found with the model cars in the toy section.
1 3oz spray can of Testor High Gloss Clearcoat ($3.99)
Cleaning supplies (paper towels and windex)
A scrap piece of poster board for any over spray you may have. (Newspaper would work as well)

Step 1) Clean the tail light thoroughly


Step 2) Following the black edges around the amber section of the tail light tape off the housing


Step 3) Tape over the reverse light portion of the tail light. Make sure to work out any air bubbles around the edge. Use your finger nail, small flat head screw driver, or any firm crisp edge, and work the tape down tight against the edge made by the reverse light portion of the lens.


Step 4) Depending on your lens you may have enough room between the two portions of the tail light for your razor blade to fit through. Use your razor blade and trim the tape to the size of the reverse light and remove the rest of the tape. (Now for you 96+ owners make sure not to cut to deep with your razor blade. Just give enough pressure to cut the tape. Too much and you will score the lens)


Step 5) Now your ready to start painting. Apply the candy apple with even light coats, allowing time for each coat to dry. This will help keep from having a spotty finish on the tail light, as well as prevent drips/runs in the paint. Here are a few pictures between coats. Keep applying light coats until you reach your desired darkness. This took me about 6 coats for my end result.


Step 6) Apply a light even layer of the high gloss clear coat to help protect the paint, as well as give it a bit more of a sheen. Once it has dried remove the tape.
Here are a few more shots of the finished product.

Wow! Man, I don't know about seeing it in person, but it looks really good on my screen. Granted, I've had a drink or two, lol, but I can't tell that its not factory by looking at it on my computer.

I love mine painted, makes a big difference with the red body:



The only not-so-great thing is breaking a taillight, and having to paint a replacement.