zeeboost Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I've always liked the style of the Z32 lights, it's just their convex shape that makes them a PITA to look "proper" on a Z. However, I think Dan Juday and new240z pulled them off very well. I ordered these taillights a week ago and told my bodyshop to call me when they received them - this way I could hold them up to the rear and figure out the best way to attack this. A couple of days had passed after the projected shipped date, so I called them to check in on it. Once I asked him if the taillights came in, he told me that they already had one molded in and were working on the second one. Well crap...so I drove down there to find this: *Note, there's still a little bit of tape at the bottom of the taillight, so that's why it looks a little rippled. They used the factory taillight cutouts to mount these in, but IMO they're too low - I think I'd like them raised a bit. Plus, the way they angled the light gives it a funky-looking curve...so I'm not sure what to do here. They keep assuring me that once the rear is painted black, they won't look as awkward. Also, they said they could smoke the taillights a bit to help blend them in, which I'm not too sure about anyways. If someone could photoshop the rear of car black, minus the bumper, I'd appreciate it. Opinions are welcome, obviously. I have mixed feelings about it - it's like, I see potential, but don't think it'll look decent with their current position. Since everyone's posting paint pictures, I might as well add one - they have the engine bay sprayed: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockerstar Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I don't see any pics, but it sound like it definitely has some great potential! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 (edited) Something along these lines...? I left the light position the same. Edited September 5, 2009 by Drax240z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeboost Posted September 5, 2009 Author Share Posted September 5, 2009 Well, it does seem to hide the awkward lines a bit more. Could you do another and leave the bumper primered? Thanks Drax! *edit* I just re-read the original post, and by, "If someone could photoshop the rear of car black, minus the bumper, I'd appreciate it" I meant to photoshop the rear of the car above the bumper, and leave the bumper itself alone and primered, as I'm planning on painting it silver. I can see how easy it is to mis-interpret that, though - my mistake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeboost Posted September 5, 2009 Author Share Posted September 5, 2009 I don't see any pics, but it sound like it definitely has some great potential! They should be showing up - try to copy and paste the picture url in the browser - see if it loads up that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DekThaiG35 Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 Interesting, What was very interesting was that I had the same idea as your but when I did my photo shop on the rear of my car it looked so bad ass but guest what...the scale was wrong. Now I see you put it on and they were quiet big...I'm not so sure anymore if I like it. 50/50 at the moment. I may have to look into other tail light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeboost Posted September 5, 2009 Author Share Posted September 5, 2009 They don't look as good as I envisioned them, but mainly due to the curvature (sp?). I actually like how they scale up to the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Juday Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I guess I'll sign in on this one. First thanks for the kind words reguarding my rear end. "Awkward". This is what I struggled with as well. The rear sheet metal of the S30 (and S130 as well) is just not shaped like the rear of the Z32. I tried several interations, positioning the taillights for weeks before I gave up. They all just looked awkward, pasted on. In the end I cut the entire rear sheet metal off below the hatch and formed a new rear end around the taillights. The trick for me was to start with the lights, get them straight and level, and make the rear end fit them. Not the other way around. Sorry, I know this is not what you want to hear, especially after the body shop has jumped ahead of you (how often do you hear that?). Lot's of guys have asked me about this swap and I've discouraged everyone. It's a ton of work to make it look right. And if your paying a body man, a ton of money too. I'm very happy with the end results. But knowing what I know now I wouldn't attempt it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheOrteganator Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 I think it's an interesting idea, but it will look a million times better if you use real JDM Z32 tails instead of the cheap eBay knockoffs. Not sure if your body shop told you these were the real ones or what but the ebay knockoffs are not well liked in the Z32 community, and there's a reason for that. They look quite different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yetterben Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 not my thing at all. But to each his own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeboost Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 I guess I'll sign in on this one.First thanks for the kind words reguarding my rear end. "Awkward". This is what I struggled with as well. The rear sheet metal of the S30 (and S130 as well) is just not shaped like the rear of the Z32. I tried several interations, positioning the taillights for weeks before I gave up. They all just looked awkward, pasted on. In the end I cut the entire rear sheet metal off below the hatch and formed a new rear end around the taillights. The trick for me was to start with the lights, get them straight and level, and make the rear end fit them. Not the other way around. Sorry, I know this is not what you want to hear, especially after the body shop has jumped ahead of you (how often do you hear that?). Lot's of guys have asked me about this swap and I've discouraged everyone. It's a ton of work to make it look right. And if your paying a body man, a ton of money too. I'm very happy with the end results. But knowing what I know now I wouldn't attempt it again. I agree, if I could do it again, I think I would've left the tail lights alone, or slightly modify the factory ones. What happened to your progress pictures that were posted on here? They've been a red X for quite some time now. I think it's an interesting idea, but it will look a million times better if you use real JDM Z32 tails instead of the cheap eBay knockoffs. Not sure if your body shop told you these were the real ones or what but the ebay knockoffs are not well liked in the Z32 community, and there's a reason for that. They look quite different. What's the difference between the real JDM tails and the cheap knock-offs? I would imagine both still have the same curve to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSM Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Just a tad to narrow for my taste. Maybe it will grow on me or maybe its just the white. The space above the light is just too big to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheOrteganator Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 What's the difference between the real JDM tails and the cheap knock-offs? I would imagine both still have the same curve to them. I doubt anything is different with the curve of the lights, although some Z32 owners have experienced fitment issues with them it really doesn't matter in that respect when you're custom fabbing them in anyway. I'm just referring to the visual appearance of them. No real way to describe it so I'll just show you pictures instead. Real OEM Nissan Tails: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-300ZX-Z32-90-96-JDM-TAIL-LIGHTS-LAMP-NEW-99-JSPEC_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem53dc9b57f3QQitemZ360183453683QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-NISSAN-300ZX-Z32-TAIL-LAMP-3PC-SET-TAIL-LIGHTS-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem483671f4b8QQitemZ310151083192QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories vs. the knockoff eBay copies http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1990-1996-Nissan-300ZX-JDM-Tail-Light-1991-1992-1993-94_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem53da5b19e9QQitemZ360145689065QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories The real tails just have a better look to them in my opinion. Not trying to hate and be a jerk pointing out your cheap knockoffs but I'm just saying I think it would look better if you are willing to spend the money on the real ones and swap those in instead of the knockoff lights. I used to own a Z32 so I've seen people buy the knockoff lights a million times without realizing and then wondering why theirs look different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeboost Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 Ah, I see now. I agree, I think the real JDM lights look better, but I don't know if I'm going to stick with the taillights...I think with the JDM lights it'd be like polishing a turd. I guess if someone wants to try to photoshop the JDM lights in there, be my guest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Juday Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 ... What happened to your progress pictures that were posted on here? They've been a red X for quite some time now. ... That's been several years and a few computers ago. When I did the swap I had a Mac and a nice photo program. It was easy for an old guy like me. Now I've got PC's and no motivation to learn a new way of manipulating pictures. Eric over at Zparts.com has some pics of my car in progress but I can't find them anymore when I go there. Sorry. If you think I can be of help PM me and we can yak off-forum. Here is a finished shot from John Washingtons site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheOrteganator Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 ^^ You know I actually don't hate that. Not my personal style BUT as tail light swaps go it looks good, it's rare to stick a tail light where it doesn't belong and make it look good. OP- keep going with your project. Even if it doesn't quite turn out as you originally planned you're this far in already and having a custom piece of work like that has a cool factor you can't even put a value on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeboost Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 Dan, thanks for the offer - if the body guys run into a problem and I don't know how to handle it, I'll probably throw a PM your way. Projected outcome: I still need to rotate the bumper a little clockwise, and unfortunately paint doesn't have this feature. This is how I've been planning it - bumper stays silver, rear is black. Cheesy mockup with the real JDM tails: I need to rotate the taillights a hair counter-clockwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hughdogz Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 No reverse lamps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeboost Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 Actually, 2 options: a) I believe there are two bulbs in the top lens - running lamp and brake lamp. We were thinking about wiring the turn signals in with the brake lamp, so that would leave the bottom lens completely open to be used as a reverse light, or... cutting an extra provision in the bottom light for a reverse bulb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hughdogz Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 I think this will turn out badass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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