black98

i have read different ones about the sanding and plastic polish but i have heard about something with nail polish remover. about how it removes the red but leaves the logo there. anyone have any info?

peterlawl84

iTrader: (12)

i just wet sanded it. even left it on the car to do it, then used a plastic polish and buffed it afterwards. took about 30 minutes.

IMJ

iTrader: (1)

i just wet sanded it out with 2000 grit sand paper and then finished it off with some scratch remover polish.... nothing was left behind.

PontiacFan

iTrader: (104)

(From some of my previous posts, ...)


I've done literally DOZENS of these things over the last couple years, ..., & have two in stock right now for sale or trade. $45 shipped if anyone is interested. $30 if you send me your old one first.

Yes, nail polish remover will remove the leftover red fading ink first.
I start with a 600 grit, keeping it wet, using a small 1/4 sheet sander.
Then on to 1200-1500 by hand, then finish by hand with 2000 grit, keeping them wet while sanding to wash away the contamination.
Then I use an old Black & Decker orbital polisher with Zaino's Glass Polish first, then on to the Zaino Plastic Polish.

They turn out excellent. Beautiful glossy shine. Had a guy one time, complained that it didn't match the taillights now because of too much shine! So he sent me the taillights to polish them also!

You'll get the same/similar description by most anyone else who has done it. Although some may not put that much work into it, .... You can also use other brands of polish. I've tried others, but didn't get the same quality results as I do with the Zaino process.

Good Luck!

(By the way, I do all this with the units screwed down to my temp workbench work surface. Not on the car.)

And yes, you can buy them from GM without the text & bird already. But they'll cost ya twice as much or more depending on the style you want.

All from GmPartsDirect.com
Firebird tail filler panel (from 93-97 Firebird V6) = 5977293---------------------$105.60 w/s&h&tax
Firebird tail filler panel (from 93-97 Formula) (plain black - no logo) = 5977294--$102.13 w/s&h&tax
Firebird tail filler panel (from 94 25th Anniv TA) (white logo) = 5977296--------- (Not available anymore)
Firebird tail filler panel (from 93-94 Trans Am) = 5978095----------------------$100.72 w/s&h&tax
Firebird tail filler panel (from 95-97 Firebird 3800 GT V6) = 5978095-------------$100.72 w/s&h&tax
Firebird tail filler panel (from 95-98 Trans Am) = 5977286-----------------------$95.65 w/s&h&tax
Firebird tail filler panel (from 99 Trans Am) = 5978095--------------------------$100.72 w/s&h&tax
Firebird tail filler panel (from 99 30th Anniv TA) (white logo) = 16525477--------$97.70 w/s&h&tax
Firebird tail filler panel (from 00-02 Trans Am) = 5977286 ----------------------$95.65 w/s&h&tax
Firebird tail filler panel (from 02 CETA) (silver logo) = 10312725-----------------$108.09 w/s&h&tax

RollTideTA

Ya know, before I got the white lettering on the back of my car and had it solid black, I got PM after PM about this stuff all the time... great thread & info! Even includes part numbers. This is sticky material if you ask me. Just my $.02

95formulalt1

iTrader: (13)

i wet sanded it but i didnt use a polish....what kinds can u use????? to make it look good??

RollTideTA

U can use tripoli compound to polish up plastics, but sounds like he has had the best results using zaino glass polish followed by zaino plastic polish. Mothers makes a plastic polish too, but I have never tried it.

95formulalt1

iTrader: (13)

mmm i have to give a try

LS69TA

iTrader: (30)

I've still got to do mine. The nail polish remover got rid of the pink lettering. That was my main priority at the time, but I still need to wetsand it and polish it.

dgformula2k

iTrader: (2)

You have a PM

BlackTA98 LS1

iTrader: (4)

Wet Sanded with a random sanding block i found in my garage then sprayed clearcoat on it, looks good as new

ravensfan

iTrader: (5)

Does sanding it down get rid of the lettering as well. I am planning on doing mine soon, and I just want it to be nice, smooth, black plastic black there

PontiacFan

iTrader: (104)

Yes, Wet-sanding is the way to get rid of the leftover embossed area from the text & the Phoenix.

They're very easy to change out. Remove wing nuts that are holding on the taillights, remove taillights, remove panel, replace panel, replace taillights.

I've got one more available if anyone needs one. $45 shipped in the US48.
Here's another view of mine, ...

TNTramair

iTrader: (15)

i got mine from PontiacFan and i can vouche for his attention to detail and quality of his work. top notch...couldnt be happier with it.

now im just tryin to get em to make me one with the key hole filled in.... he hasnt figured that one out yet.

http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...01_17_full.jpg

ws6manny

iTrader: (9)

I was wondering if you have any more Pontiac fan? i know its been awhile since a post.

PontiacFan

iTrader: (104)

Thanks for the good words TNT! Yea, I'd like to try the filled unit, but I can't hold on to them long enough to modifiy one! I bought one extra last month & I'm currently working with a local painter to airbrush on a true-fire Phoenix bird on it. As soon as that one is done, I'll list it up for sale too.

I'll have to pick up another unit & get busy on the fill-in project. The thing that I don't like tho, is that they would have to be painted black, so it would be a bit different than the polished unit. The polished units match the taillights in color, contrast, etc. so I'm not sure how well the painted unit would match. However, I know there are people here that have painted their center section & have no complaints.

'manny', you've got a pm message.

FH212

iTrader: (4)

I can also speak about PontiacFan's work if anybody's on the fence. He has done a lot of things for me (fuel rail covers,etc.....) His work is top notch, professional , and he stands by it.You wont find anyone better.

y2k_ta

iTrader: (80)

Mine is airbrushed on. The painter sanded off the factory bird and type, and then airbrushed the bird onto the black plastic. Then he just cleared it. I asked that he not repaint it black because I wanted it to match the taillights.

PontiacFan

iTrader: (104)

Looks great Scott! And it goes well with the silver bird/bird.
But the unit I have, has some stress features in the plastic from a crashed bird. So it needed to be painted anyway in order to save it.
Clearcoat thing like you did is a good idea tho.
Now ya need to polish the taillights to match that high gloss!

(Thanks to FH212 for more good words! I appreciate the great comments, but I'm just here trying to help other enthusiasts too!

y2k_ta

iTrader: (80)

Yeah, I was sceptical at first that my friend could pull it off without being able to see where the old logo was....but he did it. I left the color choices up to him, and he did it all without having my car there for reference.

Good eye on the taillights. The car wasn't detailed when I took that pic