How to reseal Taillights

[Red88]

I have my taillights pulled apart for my LX. I am repainting the car, finally.
I am repainting the inside with Chrome spray. I have polished them and they look great. I need to know how to seal them back up. Can I use butyl rope seal like you use for a windshield. I want to make sure it is not going to be permanent, just in case I have to pull them apart again in another 22 years. Thanks in advance.

 

[Lawbreaker5.0]

Did you throw away the rubber seals?

 

[aar0s]

I think that he's talking about where the lenses meets the housing. Ive had some luck with the butyl tape but also ive used black form a gasket, just goo that stuff in there. just make sure that your metal tabs are all in good shape and not broken, those are what hold the lens on.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Well....I did this to my notch 2 years ago. The left side I used buetel tape but it sucked because the tape was too thick and it wouldn't hold the lens tight because there was not enough room for the tape to spread around. It got water in it. The right side I sealed it with a 3M weatherstrip adhesive (black in color). Obviously, it's a liquid form so I got some clamps to hold the lens together til it dried.

It was a much tighter fit with the adhesive and it never leaked or spread apart like it did with the tape. But like I said, the tape is too thick. My store said 3M only makes it in 1/4" and 3/8". Even the 1/4" was too thick.

 

[Flavadave4]

I would like to do this tail light resto but am afraid to pull the lenses off the housing and break something. Just heat them up and carefully tear?

 

[stykthyn]

heat them up with a blow dryer and gently pry them off. FWIW I have taken the lenses without heating them up and not broken one yet, but I am not sure how much of that was luck.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Yep, get a heat gun (not a hair dryer) and heat them up evenly. Don't get too close of you will melt the plastic. Evenly heat it up, evenly pull the lens apart. Start by lightly prying with a wide scraper tool or putty knife then get your finger tips in there and work them out and heat as you are pulling. I've done it a couple times.

Painted silver backings inside, black trim repainted flat black and the lenses were wetsanded with 1500, 2000 and buffed to gloss.

 

[Flavadave4]

I have a heat gun, I will try it this weekend. My clear lens is nasty looking!

 

[Mustang5L5]

I used butyl tape. Didn't have any issues

 

[Red88]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I had considered the 3M weather adhesive. I guess I did not notice the metal tabs you are talking about.
I did not have any problems pulling the assy apart. Just slow steady pressure and they came right apart. I do know that is some gooey stuff they use at Ford. I bought some Duplicolor Chrome spray paint. I will be trying it this weekend. As far as polishing the lens, I cleaned them up with Purple Power and made sure not to let it stay on to long. I used Mequires PlasticX and a mini ball to buff them out. Then I just waxed them with some Carnuba and they are good as new.

 

[aar0s]

dude, you cant miss the tabs when you go to peal the stock **** out, they couldnt be more in the way. its possible that for some reason yours dont have them anymore. If you havent put it back together yet might not be a bad idea to track some down.
79-93 Mustang Taillight Lens Clip at LRS - Same Day Shipping!
cant remember how many are on each side but there should be a flat spot on the inside lip where it should be.