Sold at any hardware store, $2 a roll. Black shiny flexible plastic screening which is the perfect width for the inside of the clear plastic GT tailight lens. Cuts with a scissors and easily conforms to the curve of the lens.
I had the inside of my lenses tinted for a long time, but after a while the tint started to turn purple like all cheap tint film so it had to go.
Just guttergard alone looked ok, but it didn't give the blackout look I was goin for. I also got some sheer black polyesther fabric from a fabric store. Like $5 for a yard.
I cut the guttergard to the size and shape of the inside of the clear lens, a little big on all sides so you can't see the edges from the outside.
Then I streched the black fabric over the lens pod and snapped the pod back in the lens. It keeps the fabric tight streched over the colored lenses and gives a nice background to the mesh.
Fabric is sheer enought to let the taillights shine out, but in the light of day until you hit the brakes they look like blackouts.
The guttergard is very shiney so when the sun hits it over the black fabric, from any more than a few feet away they look totally like carbon fibre.
Cheers
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07:56 PM
Woody Member
Posts: 407 From: South Lyon, MI Registered: Jan 2003
You know, that would look really sweet on a gunmetal-gray or a silver-charcoal car.
I have some ideas for tail lights that I'm going to try out after I finish my center-console project. I'm thinking of something with a lot of wide slats like the testarosa has for the notchbacks.
------------------
87 Quad 4 HO convertible
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06:14 AM
PFF
System Bot
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
Looks cool! And although at first glance it resembles my taillights... they really are quite different! I like 'em
So you still have the colored lens in there? I'd love to see some night pics!
BTW- for those who aren't familiar with the references to my taillights, check here: Progress & Initial info, and Finished pics & info. I am working on something new... but I won't be spreading info until I get farther along
Looks cool! And although at first glance it resembles my taillights... they really are quite different! I like 'em
So you still have the colored lens in there? I'd love to see some night pics!
Colored lenses are still in there. At night they look pretty much like the always did, except for the diamond shaped mesh overlay.
I got the idea from late model T/A's with the large honeycomb mesh over the tailights. That would look bitchin on the GT lenses. This was as close as I could get for now. I haven't really had a chance to inspect the T/A tailights up close, but it looks like that pattern might be painted on the inside of the lenses
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05:27 PM
Tabs31 Member
Posts: 2049 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Nov 2001
THAT IS THE S---!! Please post a more detailed "How to" on this mod. Also how long did this take you?? Thanks for the inspiration--Nathan
There isn't anymore to it than that. Light pods come out by 3 long screws. Inner pod and outer lens held together by plastic clips around the edge and some waterseal black goo. Unhook the clips and pull apart.
The guttergard is the exact width of the inside of the clear lens, you only have to cut it straight up on one end and along the outer down curve of the lens at the other. Cut it, stick it in between light pod and lens and push em back together. If you want to add the black cloth, wrap it over the face of the lens pod before you push it back together. The lens pod will hold the mesh to the inside of the lens with no kinks or wrinkle. Idiot proof.
Took an hour to do both
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01:05 AM
White88GT Member
Posts: 656 From: Watauga, texas, usa Registered: Nov 2002
i wonder if using the metal/chromo looking guttergaurd would make a big difference. OR do you think it would just look cheezy? anyway, nice job, looks awesome!
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01:42 AM
Rare87GT Member
Posts: 5062 From: Wichita, KS USA Registered: Oct 2001
i wonder if using the metal/chromo looking guttergaurd would make a big difference. OR do you think it would just look cheezy? anyway, nice job, looks awesome!
I'm going to try it soon..probably next week. Will let everyone decide then
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11:32 AM
Apr 4th, 2003
87FieroGTx Member
Posts: 2630 From: Bath, New York, USA Registered: Jun 2001
------------------ Patrick Szewczyk 1987 Fiero GT, 5 spd, sunroof CDF clutch, Koni's all around, Ground Control coilovers in the rear, lowered 2" -dropped spindles-front, poly bushings: control arms-sway bars-cradle-motor-dogbone, rear sway bar, pioneer cd player, 180 stat, 176-166 fan switch, MSD Coil, Rodney Dickman's short shifter, bushings, etc..., 11.25" big brakes w/Ebrake, k&n filter, I have a 3800SC SII that's goin in soon w/ 3.25 pulley, comp cams vs cam, ported heads, haltech engine mngmnt, WCF headers, stainless exhaust, + 17x7.5 MiM Venezias wheels + 225/45/17 and 235/40/17's ---------------Also have a 1996 3800 Series II 25k MOTOR FOR SALE.
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07:17 PM
Aug 6th, 2003
GTFiero1 Member
Posts: 6508 From: Camden County NJ Registered: Sep 2001
I just did this today, used 2 layers of black pantyhose for the blackout
Hey that's a cool idea! Hmmm.... I'll have to cruise down Dort Hwy and score some that aren't torn up although the torn look might turnout cool. I'll see if I can find some in red or other colors!
"Hey baby, you don't mind if I keep those pantyhose because those'd look great on my taillights."...."Sure hon, whatever makes you happy."
Hehe, sorry. Seriously, the meshed look looks good guys.
[This message has been edited by Tigger (edited 08-07-2003).]
I was thinking the same thing as you Tigger, I was thinking of spraying some red, or white to match body color.
When you do this, do you sandwich the pantyhose between the lens cover thing and the gutter guard, or do you put the gutter guard between the hose and the lens?
------------------ 88 Fiero GT 78 T-Bird
AIM: phool88fiero
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12:10 AM
PFF
System Bot
Smoooooth GT Member
Posts: 8823 From: Lake Palestine, Texas Registered: Jun 2001
I was thinking the same thing as you Tigger, I was thinking of spraying some red, or white to match body color.
When you do this, do you sandwich the pantyhose between the lens cover thing and the gutter guard, or do you put the gutter guard between the hose and the lens?
Guttergaurd goes directly under the clear outer lens. The nylons or whatever material you choose goes over the lightpod and under the gutterguard or you won't see the mesh.
Glad it worked out for those who tried. For the cost and the end result, it's hard to beat.
I haven't checked in on this thread since my last post back in April. Visceral, you are right, we have the same wheels. MIM Venezia's, 17 by 7.5. Not for sale. Discontinued I think. I'm afraid of doinking one and not be able to replace it. I love those wheels. Haven't seen better for a Fiero.
[This message has been edited by 88GTNeverfinished (edited 08-08-2003).]
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12:42 AM
2Fast_Fiero Member
Posts: 1106 From: Tijeras, NM USA Registered: Jul 2003
Kinda reminds me of the Prototype Z71 Silverado that was gonna be produced until it became a 4x4 Truck. They had it in one of the car and drivers, and the tail lights were just gray, so you couldn't see any color unless the light was on, it looked bad a55.
Glad it worked out for those who tried. For the cost and the end result, it's hard to beat.
definatley, $2.00 worth of guttergaurd from Lowes and $8.00 worth of pantyhose from Acme.
If someelse does this with panyhose also, id recommend using 2 layers if you dont think its quite dark enough, the light will still shine through just fine
another thing you could do thats more work is to get some thin clear plastic and heat it some to form the shape of the taillense (like Minngreen did with his diffuser), then use spray tint and spray it, then put that over the red lense and the guttergaurd between the blackout and the outter clear lense again. Not too sure howwell spray tint lets things shine through though
[This message has been edited by GTFiero1 (edited 08-08-2003).]
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01:58 AM
GTFiero1 Member
Posts: 6508 From: Camden County NJ Registered: Sep 2001
I'll have to cruise down Dort Hwy and score some that aren't torn up although the torn look might turnout cool. I'll see if I can find some in red or other colors! 
