cdn_R050
New Member
Hey guys,
Tried this today and it worked out perfectly I'm very happy with the results, especially since the cost of jdm tail lights are expensive and will only go up, and this cost me zero dollars, since i had all the tools and material already, which is also awesome.
94-97 integra tail lights, jdm and usdm are the same, if you open them up you will see that the 4 openings in the tail light housings are all painted silver, and that the outside trim area is black. That's why 94-97 tail lights look darker, 98-01 tail lights, usdm or jdm have all silver housings, the openings and trim area. But the lens on the 94-97 tail lights are the exact same as the jdm 98-01, the only difference is the housing between the 2.
Required items:
-94-97 integra tail lights
-Oven big enough to house one tail light
-large flat screwdriver
-silver engine block paint (or any silver paint, but I chose one that can handle heat, to withstand the heat from the halogen bulbs)
-masking tape
-gloves
-clear automotive silicone or any silicone you choose.
1. First remove all the wiring from the tail lights, so you are left with a bare tail light.
Also it's probably a good idea to clean the lights before putting them in your oven.
Also, IMPORTANT!! there's a small screw at the end on the turn signal side, be sure to remove this screw or it will crack the lens when you separate the 2.
2. Pre heat oven to 200°f and place tail light in oven in the center rack for 7 minutes, no more no less.
3. Put on some gloves, I used some winter gloves that were thick enough to insulate my hands from the heat but thin enough that I could still work.
4. Remove tail light, and with large screwdriver and thin cloth place screwdriver into the wedge where the tail light lens meets the housing, and twist the screwdriver to get the 2 pieces to start separating, I started at the reverse signal end, I noticed that at least on my tail lights that they were already separated at that end by a small bit so it was easier to get separation there.
5. Once you have some separation you should be able to pull the 2 pieces apart with your hands, that's what I did.
6. Repeat procedure for second tail light.
7. Once you have 4 separate pieces, give them a good cleaning to get the built up dirt in all the corners out.
8. Mask off outside edges of tail light housing.
9. Spray tail light housing with silver paint, that should be straight forward enough.
10. Pre heat oven to 200°f again.
11. Once paint has fully dried, take one matching housing and lens and place them in the oven for 5 minutes, be careful that the lens doesn't rest on any of the painted surfaces or it will take the paint off with it.
12. After 5 minutes, remove tail light (while wearing gloves) and apply bead of silicone around the gap on the housing where the original glue still is.
13. Carefully press together the lens and the housing, making sure to line up the tabs on the lens and housing, and press together.
14. Lay the tail light face down on a soft surface, Place a object with some weight on the back side of tail light, if you have clamps then clamp them together.
15. Let sit for at least one hour.
That's it, when finished you should have tail lights that look identical to the jdm version, but cost you a fraction of the jdm ones.
I included a pic showing the differences in tail lights for dcs to show the guys that aren't fully informed on the small differences between the lights.
Tried this today and it worked out perfectly I'm very happy with the results, especially since the cost of jdm tail lights are expensive and will only go up, and this cost me zero dollars, since i had all the tools and material already, which is also awesome.
94-97 integra tail lights, jdm and usdm are the same, if you open them up you will see that the 4 openings in the tail light housings are all painted silver, and that the outside trim area is black. That's why 94-97 tail lights look darker, 98-01 tail lights, usdm or jdm have all silver housings, the openings and trim area. But the lens on the 94-97 tail lights are the exact same as the jdm 98-01, the only difference is the housing between the 2.
Required items:
-94-97 integra tail lights
-Oven big enough to house one tail light
-large flat screwdriver
-silver engine block paint (or any silver paint, but I chose one that can handle heat, to withstand the heat from the halogen bulbs)
-masking tape
-gloves
-clear automotive silicone or any silicone you choose.
1. First remove all the wiring from the tail lights, so you are left with a bare tail light.
Also it's probably a good idea to clean the lights before putting them in your oven.
Also, IMPORTANT!! there's a small screw at the end on the turn signal side, be sure to remove this screw or it will crack the lens when you separate the 2.
2. Pre heat oven to 200°f and place tail light in oven in the center rack for 7 minutes, no more no less.
3. Put on some gloves, I used some winter gloves that were thick enough to insulate my hands from the heat but thin enough that I could still work.
4. Remove tail light, and with large screwdriver and thin cloth place screwdriver into the wedge where the tail light lens meets the housing, and twist the screwdriver to get the 2 pieces to start separating, I started at the reverse signal end, I noticed that at least on my tail lights that they were already separated at that end by a small bit so it was easier to get separation there.
5. Once you have some separation you should be able to pull the 2 pieces apart with your hands, that's what I did.
6. Repeat procedure for second tail light.
7. Once you have 4 separate pieces, give them a good cleaning to get the built up dirt in all the corners out.
8. Mask off outside edges of tail light housing.
9. Spray tail light housing with silver paint, that should be straight forward enough.
10. Pre heat oven to 200°f again.
11. Once paint has fully dried, take one matching housing and lens and place them in the oven for 5 minutes, be careful that the lens doesn't rest on any of the painted surfaces or it will take the paint off with it.
12. After 5 minutes, remove tail light (while wearing gloves) and apply bead of silicone around the gap on the housing where the original glue still is.
13. Carefully press together the lens and the housing, making sure to line up the tabs on the lens and housing, and press together.
14. Lay the tail light face down on a soft surface, Place a object with some weight on the back side of tail light, if you have clamps then clamp them together.
15. Let sit for at least one hour.
That's it, when finished you should have tail lights that look identical to the jdm version, but cost you a fraction of the jdm ones.
I included a pic showing the differences in tail lights for dcs to show the guys that aren't fully informed on the small differences between the lights.
