Turbocoop

iTrader: (3)

I did the interior pieces last weekend, it was pretty easy with the 3M DiNoc stuff- but you HAVE to have a heat gun to get it to fit the curves. Im gonna do the fake CF pieces in the doors soon...

Now the taillights were a different story. First of all, I accidentally ordered eagle eyes lights- I sent them back because they looked like shit. Then a week or 2 later I finally got my DEPO 07-08 base lights and cut them up. This was like a week long process because I live in the barracks on a military base and I dont have a nice big garage to work in. I had to cut the lights apart on my lunch break at work, then I had to go to the hobby shop across base to paint the parts black... They went together pretty easy, but having them sit around for a week back and forth from my car, to my room, to work, to the hobby shop, etc... wasnt good because they got some shit in the lenses. Its not noticeable unless youre close up, but Im a perfectionist when it come to my car so it bugs me. Oh well... I have to take them off and re-seal because after I washed it today they were leaking a little. I dont know how because I epoxied the absolute shit out of them??? Hopefully the 30 packets of silica I put in there will help a bit

So- this is the first and last time I will be doing custom taillights myself. I shouldve listened to everyone else and just sent them to Ack to get em done, but Im poor cause Im in the military.

I removed the diffusers, painted the bezel gloss black, tinted the turn signal lens, and put carbon fiber over the reflector. Ill take some shots in the dark a little later. On to the pics:

mY sLOW UA6

Not really into the tails but the rest looks awesome, and its an original A-Spec OMG!

1qwik6

iTrader: (1)

can i have your steering wheel please

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Those look excellent Turbo, especially for your color TL! They are very similar to the one's I just got from Ack. Mine go on Sunday.

TheDingo

I like the tail lights. thanks for sharing

sleeper24

I like the interior!! Maybe it will be my future mod.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Nicely done sir Hopefully I can see that beast in person sometime!

Nice plaid shorts

Slpr04UA6

Low mileage for an '04! 38725...or is that 88725?? Looks Great! 6mt as well!

Turbocoop

iTrader: (3)

Yeah its 38K miles, I got lucky as hell finding it. The price was even better...

The silica packets are doing wonders- the insides are completely dry already, Im still gonna take em back off and try to seal em better though.

turn signal

with brakes(sorry shitty pic)

without brakes applied

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

That CF looks sick!

arn809

nice job I really really like what you did with the tail light and carbon fiver vinyl...

insxtc

very nice, the trim piece really give the interior new life. great work! by removing the rear led brake light diffuser make it brighter?

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Why does it piss me off that you're in the military and poor...wtf. Could there be a more important job?

Anyway, thank you sir, for your service and dedication to modding. I tried to cut open an old cracked spare set to practice and what do you know...it sucked...I couldn't figure out where cutting it would make me not cringe or crack lense when pulling apart. SO. I gave up...

IMO, like with headlights, while open, humidity is introduced...it just needs to be reacclimated...I think resealing will be a waste of your time and not necessary...if you still have the problem in a month, maybe, but give it some sun/night cycles first.

J.

RU_JELLY

iTrader: (1)

im loving the tails, and so jealous of the original aspec! any tips on wrapping the interior pieces? I wanna do mine soon

UA6

I'd get pulled over all the time if I had those tails. Nice interior work though. Flows really nice and it looks really clean.

JD TL-S

iTrader: (1)

Great Work
Sweet !!!

Turbocoop

iTrader: (3)

Yeah, the LEDs look smaller and more defined when the lights are on and brakes arent applied, but when you hit the brakes they are bright as hell. I like how it looks

I agree, but Im going to college for free and getting a lot of experience that will hepl me when I get out so it works out. Plus im getting promoted nxt month too

Im not gonna cut em back open, I think ill just spray soapy water around th epoxy and blow air into the turn signal bulb hole and see if there are any leaks (just like you do to find a tire leak). If theres no leaks around the edges its gotta be the foam gasket that seals the opening for the harness plugs, and Ill have to double em up or something. I think they will be ok because I put 15 silica packs in each one, I jsut dont want water to keep pouring in every time I wash it or it rains...

Turbocoop

iTrader: (3)

When doing the interior I just took all the pieces out of the car and brought em inside, including the steering wheel pieces. You have to use a heat gun, you will never be able to get it to fit good and smooth without one. I got mine for $15 at harbor freight and it works perfect. For the little compartments that open up under the radio- take two little screws off the top of em, youll see em when you take the dash part out. Then you can remove the little fake CF metal covers and put the overlay on them.

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

Wow what a interior... nice
Why don't you get LED's for interior

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

Looks really good man! What a PIA to have to do all that running around on the base to get that stuff done, but well worth it in the end!

Turbocoop

iTrader: (3)

I was thinkin about it, I might do it eventually. I just dont have the time or money right now.

Im gonna take the lights back off tomorrow and see if I can re-seal em and fix the fitment issues. Has anyone ever had problems with the LED boards after some water gets in there? Thats what Im most afraid of- one light has about a 1/4" of water in the bottom cause its raining tonight...

AckTL05

iTrader: (18)

When you take the tail lights off in the upper corner where the water runs down the trunk there is a small tab...cut that flush to the quarter panel (what I make all customers do), because it allows for one the tail light's seal to be compromised when you put them on and two allows water to run down and get into the tail light...try cutting that tab off and resealing that area, you will notice it ripped it up...hope that helps..

Also, put some sealer in that area so the water runs over it like a bridge and doesn't get around that area..it could also be from too much of a cut and its not flush against the bumper and getting in around the gasket in the back...you can also put some sealer there..

When I open and close them there is a guide line I follow and when I seal them I actually put spacers in between them so there isn't too much of a gap compromise, its a custom job so its not 100% but I am a perfectionist and no one is perfect...its a long process...

AcRightLINY

Interior looks sick!! nice work!!

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

I posted some info about LED's I used.
Might be helpful.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...8#post13719378

Trunk bulb type is same as interior.
And again, work you did is just amazing...details are perfect. I loved it

Turbocoop

iTrader: (3)

I know exactly what youre talking about- I cut the tab some, but not all the way flush so Ill do that. I also looked at that upper corner and thought about putting some liquid gasket there to divert the water over the light instead of down behind it, and I was gonna put some on the foam gaskets too.

I wish I had the money to pay you to do em, cause this is getting to be a pain in the ass... Thanks for the pointers though

ChristianRE

I Like! Nice job!

Turbocoop

iTrader: (3)

Well I took em back off and I think I took care of the problem. I didnt tighten down the 4 nuts on the back enough and water got in through there on the passenger side. On the drivers side I found a small gap in the epoxy that I missed. I drained the water and dried it out, and sealed up the back gaskets with silicon and double sided tape. If that doesnt do it I give up. Oh I also put silicon at the top near the trunk edge like Ack told me to... Heres some pics to clarify:

water in the pass side-