how to make CLEAR TAIL LIGHTS

In this video i show you one of the techniques to clear lens swap your tail lights.
Specifically plastic welded tail lights.
The all chrome tail lights are definitely going. To be a car trend of 2021 that i am excited to watch and be apart of.
Buy me a coffee:
www.buymeacoffee.com/ZacCook
Tools Used for the clear lens swap:
Dremel - amzn.to/2uDjjbO
Dremel Flex Tool - amzn.to/38mRpPV
Dremel Quick Release - amzn.to/2tUUcB2
Dremel Diamond Bit - amzn.to/2uFPmaZ
Face Shield - amzn.to/2YJZHOO
Safety Glasses - amzn.to/3tqPKUf
Caulking Gun - amzn.to/3tqQ1qf
Goop Adhesive - amzn.to/2YKhwNr
Silicone - amzn.to/3arn98Q
Ntxglow.com
Ntxglow
Tiktok.com/Ntxglow
Custom lighting course -
www.flyryde.com/a/2147499808/...
time stamps:
0:00 short intro
0:03 what lights you need
0:23 cut or bake open
0:31 tools used
0:47 my cut strategy
1:07 clean the edges
1:21 getting rid of the red from the inside
2:40 prepping the clear lens
4:00 installing the clear lenses on the oem housings
6:29 sealing the tail lights
7:15 Why paint the edges
8:12 finished set
8:33 install led bulbs
----------------------------------------------
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Im Zac and I like to build/make things.
Tools that i use everyday to build lights:
Dremel - amzn.to/2uDjjbO
Dremel Flex Tool - amzn.to/38mRpPV
Dremel Quick Release - amzn.to/2tUUcB2
Dremel Diamond Bit - amzn.to/2uFPmaZ
Plastic & metal adhiesive - amzn.to/37cIwXS
Wire Strippers - amzn.to/39thgWI
Soldering Iron - amzn.to/2SFCw4q
Solder - amzn.to/2HgX7qA
Heat Shrink - amzn.to/38qFyAA
Heat Gun - amzn.to/2UJjwVx
Zep - amzn.to/39pqTpd
RetroRubber - amzn.to/38fmsNz
Impact drill - amzn.to/3bASPbN
Videos Shot on:
Canon Rebel T6 - amzn.to/2SGrCf7
Phone Tri-pod - amzn.to/2HceVTX
Amazon prime 30-day free trial link:
amzn.to/3bsdM8t
*These are all affiliate link, I do get a commission from each purchase made from the links*
#ntxglow #clearlens #clearlensswap

[@benland9446]

1:03 wow that was clean

[@zaccook]

Yes! Finally someone noticed it lol i was pretty proud of that

[@zaccook]

Yes! Finally someone noticed it lol i was pretty proud of that

[@benland9446]

and 6:12

[@automotivemachinerytechnic412]

I'm trying to get some clears for an Alero

[@copewitdopee]

Great video I'm looking forward to making my car in the future always loved the clear taillight look on any car it looks so unique

[@zaccook]

Thank you! that's going to look awesome

[@michaelearvin5221]

Edits lowkey underrated lol

[@zaccook]

Thanks! I’m still learning but was able to throw some fancy stuff in there

[@trenadalemize839]

Original 🔥

[@SofaKingSteezy]

This is a great idea, I honestly would have never thought of this.

[@Zentrify]

Honestly really nice to see someone shield their face and eyes properly when doing stuff like this

[@avinashyadav1018]

This is really great man,I saw your other taillights video as well, keep it up

[@zaccook]

Thank you!!

[@iamdenioz]

That look so sick!

[@HawaiiZR1]

Great video and skills! Thank you.

[@16.chapel]

king for this!! Thank you bro 🔥

[@MC4D.]

Take the round red lens from the "altezza" style lights and then put the red OE covers on them. Light up round along with the turn signals and reverse lights. It'll be a cool experiment and I bet some one will buy them lol

[@eliumizumi4894]

or aristo taillights

[@alexramos1399]

Very helpful and edits 🔥

[@mia_mtz12]

How did you get the larger part of the tailight off? I cut it all around and tried to pry it up and it cracked a bit. The two inner pieces I had no problems and got them done but the outside ones didn’t work out.

[@joyeli9904]

hi! do you have recommendations for clear lens for the em2 sedan? all i can find is the coupe ones which is annoying 🙃i love this video and i’m really excited to try and make my own clear tails for my civi :D

[@larsonbeez_]

thank you so much🙏 gonna try and do something like this with my prelude

[@Trap..house.]

Very good video thank you !

[@chasethompson7392]

Not sure if your still looking for something but miror tint for windows would be perfect for flat spots instead of chrome wrap, it has zero orange peel might just need two layers 😊

[@zaccook]

smart!! ill have to give that a shot

[@sevenkuunia]

hi ! when you spray paint the lenses do you use primer and clear coat ?

[@barbecuesauceeyebrows8254]

Awesome video and beautiful job. It looks so good that i wanna try it myself. Any advice finding those style tail lights for corolla 2013?

[@germalthomas4556]

Silver out line amazing 🔥

[@keanudotario9850]

Bro I’m looking to do this but have your lenses yellowed because of the quality or are they ok?

[@Fifthcell]

1:05 I saw that edit. Nicely done

[@zaccook]

Thanks 😅

[@xemex1807]

Do you do suburu head lights and tail lights ????

[@verifiedgxd6482]

Can you do a 2005 Nissan Altima headlight and taillight and how much you charge?

[@Chuylml]

What metallic silver paint did you use for the outer edges?

[@juliangarcia6073]

Exactly?

[@ach5084]

On older 90s style yellow side markers is the tint from inside and is it a coating or the entire plastic . I was trying to clear out my 95 s10 grill side markers from the outside. I haven’t yet to split the lense off . The 94-97 s10 clear grill side makers are impossible to find anymore

[@zaccook]

O that’s cool! I wish they still did that but now we have to cut them off 🙄

[@ach5084]

@@zaccook my question is on this type of turn marker that I need too modify and make clear . WhAts the best method to remove the color ? If you Google 1994 s10 grill turn signal lense. I can split the top cover off with heat but I’m not sure how they do the Amber coloring on older stuff maybe it’s solid thru ? Only idea is too wrap the lense and heat gun mold/wrap with that foggy clear light fixture grate acrylic . That seems too be the only sure way too make a lense clear if the colors don’t remove with chemicals

[@512SolidSnake]

Can you clear "smoke" lens?

[@gavinharrolle6755]

How could I do a 2008 Subaru Legacy I’ve been looking everywhere but can’t find clear lenses or any custom tails in general so I came to someone who knew how to do stuff like this

[@boatx22]

Fire vid 10/10

[@zaccook]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@ChopikleGaming168]

How do you know if it’s plastic welded or not?

[@ethannnn667]

how’d you get the paint to not bleed

[@daviddoan2986]

How did you remove all of the little bits of red plastic on the tail lights when you cut the lens out?

[@zaccook]

I just cut it more. You can use the dremel as a sander and sand all the red off

[@josiahflores2191]

If i don’t have shoo goo, where can I go to pick up some strong adhesive glue? I live in suburbs of chicago so any places you may think may have what i’m looking for please let me know 🙏🏻

[@zaccook]

I also like the "goop" automotive adhesive which I have seen at AutoZone and o reilly amzn.to/3KDqP9U

[@eddydmusic]

How did it take you to do all this? I am about to start doing it but I want to have an idea how long its gonna take me

[@zaccook]

You can do it in a weekend for sure but definitely expect several hours of work on it

[@rodneyabada]

How much for a pair shipped to LV, NV?

[@imchino9325]

What kind of paint do you use for the trim? Thinking about doing this with my STI GV

[@zaccook]

It’s a matallic silver, i can’t remember the paint code that we gave our painter. But i know that they sell matallic silver in a spray can Walmart or Home Depot and I’m sure that will be close

[@imchino9325]

@@zaccook thanks for the answer , I thought it was something more fancier haha I will update on final result once finished!

[@Swirlyworm]

Do you sell these by any chance

[@cju0292]

Bro what you use to stick de new glass in ?

[@zaccook]

amzn.to/3GP1lVk

[@jewshestiii]

Did you apply small drops of adhesive on each corner to get it on first? And then when applying the silicone are you filling in the cracks and then wiping off any silicone that escaped out the crack? Will silicone get into the headlight if I apply too much?

[@zaccook]

for sure do the corners! but you can do a line of the adhesive around the corners and edges (or anywhere that appears to be lifting) then for the silicone I do trying to get down into the crack of the light. silicone is really just a feel thing, once you do it once or twice you can tell how much is to much just by watching it when you apply it onto the light DEFINITELY wipe away the excess lolol thats the difference maker for nice builds lol

[@jewshestiii]

@@zaccook thank you so much for answering my question! I honestly thought about just purchasing from your website, but I was wondering could I ask to have the outlines painted in black not silver?

[@brycema3405]

Do you make them for people if so how much how would I get ahold of you?

[@JBworkz]

Hey Zac! I've watched this video I don't know how many times, when you say you broke a lense, do you just order a whole new set? or is there a way to order just one when its something like Spec D

[@zaccook]

Unfortunately i usually just buy a whole set 🤦‍♂️ If your lucky you can find someone selling a used set or just a single but we want to get them out as quick as possible so we just bite the bullet and buy a whole set

[@abigaillahrmer7087]

Aluminum duck tape works great for reflective, sticks easy and lays flat

[@user-zb8op4wu9z]

My tail lights have key hole on it how to it take it off without breaking 05 4dr Honda Accord

[@zaccook]

depends if its butyl sealed you should be able bake it but if not you can cut it

[@youngrichter3988]

What if for the red parts that you wrapped over instead you got a junk yard tail light or headlight and broke it open and cut out the dimension you need to overlap the red section or cut out the red section and replace the red section with the chrome? 2:13

[@adamaguilar9944]

Hey I plan on clearing my accord tails what paint would you recommend?

[@zaccook]

I like the rustoleum metallic silver. amzn.to/3DyeJeI

[@famouscash7979]

Alright so how did you take out the red reflectors ? I rewatched it like 2 millions times but it looks like you just popped them out but I can’t do that with mine :(

[@zaccook]

Oh the sides? they are held in with a chrome retainer that has tabs that go through the back of the housing. they are very annoying to pop out.

[@user-ps5jx1gs5p]

How much to do a set for me

[@250tsar]

Is it legal having clear lights in most states?

[@josiahflores2191]

do you need a caulk gun to get the silicone out?

[@zaccook]

Yes but the caulking guns are cheap like 10 bucks

[@QCHype]

where do you get red led bulbs for the braking lights i can't find any for my car

[@QCHype]

just finished the clear tails and need the bulbs now

[@zaccook]

nice! they sell them at autozone or most parts stores. if not there then you can find them on amazon.

[@Comeonnowdawg]

How the hell did you get the reflector out

[@ThatOneChannelinAZ]

Nice Transition @1:04

[@trevormock5105]

What was the silver paint u used on the outside

[@zaccook]

I take em to a painter for metallic paint and clear coat. But i think you can get metallic silver in a spray can at Walmart or Lowe’s

[@unkownprophet442]

How can I order a set ?

[@DaiLLSpoken]

So is this illegal? Like would you get a ticket even if you use red led light for brake and a yellow or amber led for turn signal?

[@zaccook]

Really it depends on your region, and it can depend on the officer at the time. USA DOT says that you have to red reflectors on the back of the vehicle somewhere. So technically does not have to be in the tail lights but the are supposed to be somewhere.

[@MenofCourage]

Nice

[@KrookedMob]

How much you charge to make them?

[@svenraets]

make me 2 sets mk4 jetta ones please with black surround

[@zaccook]

lets do it!! shoot an email

[@jakem.8608]

What do I do if I can’t find a clear lens?

[@royazeem172]

Hi bro.. where can get the clear cover plastic?

[@zaccook]

I talk about it hear 0:03 but you can buy the clear altezza style tails on eBay

[@Imkrema]

I need that same set hm

[@StatesMusic]

Not sure itll work on my ‘84 Mercedes 190 but I’ll save this for future build

[@michaeldacosta9576]

Have you done it? I wanna do it on my w205 c300

[@oruisuu9131]

@@michaeldacosta9576 planning on doing on my w204 as well hahs

[@izwaniz7223]

did the oem clear lens available on ebay ?

[@zaccook]

Yes we use the “altezza” tail lights from eBay and just cut the lenses off. Sometime they are sold out though

[@colton7373]

Sadly all the clear lens tail lights are out of stock on every website for the g37 sedan 😔

[@Averagedestiny2addict]

There are no aftermarket parts for a 2017 legacy. It’s impossible to find parts

[@amFiretrash]

What happens if your car doesn't have ANY after market taillights/headlights to buy?

[@zaccook]

Oh dang, you can try to make your own lenses or find a company to make them. Either way it’ll probably be a couple grand

[@connor9840]

make your own clear lense with clear polycarbonate i believe. lay down some silicon on the edges & heat form the plastic onto it and clamp. then just clear coat i think

[@thatem288]

Hey man, if you could really get back to me I’d appreciate it. So I just ordered my clear lenses from eBay and they get here Monday. Kinda scared to do it lol. But my question is, instead of using a dremel can’t I just break the plastic off?

[@zaccook]

The red lens yes technically lol. the main issue you'll have is around the edge the red lens could break off in chunks making the lens sit up off of the back housing all weird. but that is how I have taken the lens off several times haha then I just trim the rest of the plastic around the edges to make it sit flush. ALSO, I know the lens from eBay that you got, its a pretty solid set. 7/10 from me but I have seen the silver material that they use on them break down after about 6 months or so (changes to a yellow ish color) and at that point you may need to mask and spray the outside of the lens to cover that up. it happened on full 1 set of civic coupe tails (using the ebay lenses) and 1 side of civic sedan tail lights (using the ebay lenses)

[@thatem288]

@@zaccook eBay lenses was all I could find :( . Is there anything precautions I could take to prevent that from happening? Also thank you so much for the reply. Helps a lot 🤝

[@thatem288]

@@zaccook ?

[@kevinmaya7709]

can i see that em2 tho?

[@vadersf30]

have you ever done Bmw f30 tail lights

[@zaccook]

working on it now!

[@blitzy_yt2964]

How much would u charge me for a set of these ?

[@passmeglxcky8923]

so what if my car doesn’t have aftermarket support for the taillights

[@zaccook]

your kind of stuck unless you want try this route but its tough! kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5uTk2Cof5ljobssi=P-D7AFPgp-gzB51z

[@williammfp1567]

Hello friend, is there a way to pass the lens link?

[@zaccook]

Hey! These are just the cheap altezza style tails for the civic. The links change all the time on eBay so i didn’t post it because they change about every 2 months

[@gillmoresgarage9730]

What if no one makes clear lenses for your car can you or someone you know make them?

[@zaccook]

I know that illumaesthetic is planning on getting their clear lens team going in February. I would follow them on ig or fb so that you can see when they announce the come back of their lens manufacturing. If you don’t want to go with them you might be able to go with klearz but they don’t normally do “larger” lights They normally stick with reflectors and small truck tail light lenses

[@gillmoresgarage9730]

@@zaccook I want someone to make clear lenses for the 2019-2021 kia forte because underneath the red lenses it's a really cool white an black on the GT model and I know a lot of people willing to buy them as well.

[@Gelsa78]

Can someone tell me if this is illegal to drive in cali with clears?

[@zaccook]

You legally have to have a red reflector in the rear of the vehicle somewhere. That’s why several Lexus cars have clear tails because they put the reflectors in the bumper. But I’ve also never heard of someone getting pulled over for having clear tails

[@unkownfather498]

Is this legal in cali? Cuz i want clears so bad but i dont want a ticket😭

[@zaccook]

no idea hahaha seems like a lot of stuff is not legal in california lolol

[@DangerDave95]

The correct way to fix hyper flash turn signals after installing LED bulbs is to replace the flasher module with an adjustable LED flasher module. Plug and play. No need for the old school resistors.

[@zaccook]

Right but it does depend on the car, a lot of newer cars have the flasher module/ relay integrated inside the bmc 😑 like the bk1 genesis is a relay but the bk2 is inside the bcm and can’t be replaced. Cars are getting to many modules in them nowadays

[@DangerDave95]

@@zaccook true that. But I have seen that the newer integrated flashers accept LED because that's what the car came with.

[@jaimea2722]

Looking on doing the opposite, hate clear tail light lenses, my Mazda RX8 comes with clear lenses and I want them RED !

[@zaccook]

amzn.to/3RJ9yRy

[@gamepotato4211]

which civic did he do these for

[@zaccook]

I’ve done them for a few different civics. The Ntxglow ig has them posted up

[@rybalchenkofamily]

Step 1: Have aftermarket lights. LMFAO

[@zaccook]

How else are you going to get a clear lens?

[@walterlucas400]

Quero fazer no meu como eu faço

[@ThantiK]

Honestly about 90% of the way through I was like "woah, those look like CRAP"...but I was pleasantly surprised at the final result.

[@zaccook]

Gets worse before it gets better lol

[@cordellshaffer8357]

what if you can’t find any clear lenses or tails at all

[@zaccook]

Some people use clear acrylic and melt it to shape but that’s always tough or this style here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5uTk2Cof5ljobssi=rBp1M9kA7rrHVQer

[@ronswanson9327]

it's gonna sound so dumb but i still don't know how the brakes show when the lenses are all clear, i wanna make clears but i'm scared with no red lenses it won't show my lights

[@zaccook]

I gotcha. You just buy replacement bulbs that are led and red They sell them at most auto parts stores

[@ronswanson9327]

@@zaccook Thank you so much man no one ever gives out clear answers in this community anymore lol, you just solved all my curiosity

[@Chomp-10888]

Fucking awesome bro🤙🔥🔥

[@Superb_Owl80]

Or you can just get an led flasher relay, no tapping into wires, and it plugs into the factory flasher relay location. I've been doing this for years.

[@zaccook]

Depends on the car basically after 2010 most (not all) cars do not have a replaceable flasher relay

[@Foreignwrists]

What if they don’t make clear tails for my car

[@zaccook]

Unfortunately there’s nothing you can do about that There are plastic companies out there who manufacture plastic items but the average quote i got a set of lenses was 2500

[@FittedLabs]

damn u and your camera tricks lol

[@zaccook]

Haha 😂 I’m getting better!

[@automotivemachinerytechnic412]

If I gave you some taillights would you be able clear swap them

[@fittedlabsgaming2247]

@@automotivemachinerytechnic412 ask zack, hes the king.

[@automotivemachinerytechnic412]

Yeah that's who I was trying to reply to

[@automotivemachinerytechnic412]

I was trying to have that done to my Alero

[@RioZLander]

just build a harness that hooks in before the factory plug with resistors that's how i got sequential signals and LED tails on my 2012 Camaro and skirted the hyper flash problem. i came here hoping i could get some tips on making custom clears for a car that has no aftermarket XD the 2012 gallant. my search continues (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

[@jojodominguez6597]

How much if I just pay you for some ? 😂

[@Victoriaa187]

I was gonna ask the exact same thing! Lol how much for a set ready to go? Lol

[@LVTHORAscending]

Like the before better.

[@Fifthcell]

Cool. Why watch this video then?

[@short-circuitz]

Why not throw in the oven and just pull apart?! Then no need for paint, no cut marks?!?

[@zaccook]

because they are plastic welded, most tail lights are plastic welded together. literally no butyl or permaseal just plastic welded to plastic

[@DonZuniga707]

Here's how to clear your tail lights....buy aftermarket. Thanks asss

[@zaccook]

How else are you supposed to get a clear lens?

[@Dginny865]

I just noticed this was for a civic and not a legacy….

[@LukeVMH-Games]

why would you do this instead of just put the clear ones you got “aftermarket”

[@LukeVMH-Games]

the only reason we all need clear lens is because there is not aftermarket taillight. if there was one we would just use that

[@zaccook]

Some people want clear oem tail lights and the want totally clear tail lights with zero red anything on the inside. So the aftermarket tail lights for the civic have the red pieces on the inside so you would have to open them anyway

[@LukeVMH-Games]

@@zaccook the only people desperate enough to look up a way to do this are people who DONOT HAVE A AFTERNARKET OPTION PERIOD

[@LukeVMH-Games]

for my e46 convertible there is NO company that makes any sort of clear taillight whatso ever

[@Nunya1765]

I learned: find someone else to do it 👍

[@zaccook]

Haha 😂

[@bedhead-tb4qg]

not helpful

[@zaccook]

Welp

[@johng2779]

Wait a minute did this guy just take a. Stock lense n a aftermarket one n change the lense off the clear aftermarket one n put it on the stock one. What sence does that make . Why not use the clear one instead of doing all that. So if you can't get a clear lense like 90 percent cars don't have how is this even true. More b.s. The title sounds like he's going show you how to change to a clear lense. You need to add Civic to your title brah. False advertising.

[@zaccook]

Trying to read this gave me a headache lol

[@shjmo]

cuz the “clear” aftermarket ones aren’t fully clear, + oem housing will always have better fitment, it isn’t that hard to think before you comment 😐

[@Deeznuts92.]

Fire bro 🔥 what would something like this cost me ? I have an em2 coupe . You have ig ?

[@equisnrolly]

Thanks so much dawg, finna use this process to make clears for my rolla 🫡