What Color Paint On the Tail Light Bulb Housing With Pics

[Daveh]

Hi Guys,

Can some one tell me if the tail light bulb housings (the portion you see in the trunk) get body color paint or black or a different color?  Thanks

[Cuda Cody]

I think they were originally plated?  Right?     Dark yellow zinc dichromate wash for 1970 & 1971 Barracuda and a natural finish (kinda silver galvanized look) for Challengers.   

[Daveh]

Ok let me rephrase that.  What color would everyone appreciate the plum crazy the same as the car or satin black?  I know it's ultimately up to me but I don't like the yellow and would like something that people are going to say that's cool.   

[Cuda Cody]

I like the look of the tri color silver sheen that somewhat looks factory.  But if I had to pick out of Black or body color Purple, I will always pick anything BUT the body color.  Body Color in places that it shouldn't be always looks cheap and as if someone did not take the time to remove the item to restore it properly.      

[Daveh]

That's exactly what I was thinking.  Like it was all painted on the car at once and they didn't care to remove anything.  Great minds....  Well at least yours Cody.  Thanks

[anlauto]

If you're personalizing your own car, then it comes down to your own personal taste.

Personally, I think anything but the factory coating (or at least a dull silver colour) will look like crap....but that's my personal taste.

[MoparDave]

Dave I would just spray them a satin silver tone. and roll with that.

[Daveh]

Thanks Everyone I went with painting them ( not purple  and they turned out great after I got off all of the splatter paint that the P.O. put on. 

[70/6chall]

I used Krylon Dull Aluminum for the taillight buckets inside trunk and also on the rear side marker light buckets after giving them a good cleaning. They actually turned out pretty nice.    Thanks,   Al

[anlauto]

I used Krylon Dull Aluminum for the taillight buckets inside trunk and also on the rear side marker light buckets after giving them a good cleaning. They actually turned out pretty nice.    Thanks,   Al

I use that a lot as well

[73TopBanana]

can you post photos?

[Burdar]

To the left side of the picture you can see part of my 73 tail light housing.  The body shop that painted my car sprayed them with a dull silver for some reason even though there was nothing wrong with the original finish.  I was able to remove the paint the body shop had sprayed on it which left the original finish behind.  It looks much better than paint IMO.  Just an FYI, there was a lot of original weatherstrip adhesive on the top sides of the housings.  The factory was pretty messy when it came to gluing down the trunk weatherstripping.

If I had a set of housings where the original finish didn't look good, I think I'd lightly bead blast the surface and spray with a satin clear.  If that didn't look dark enough, I'd have to experiment with some other finishes.

[73TopBanana]

Awesome...printing it and into my photo "how - to" album
great job!

[70rtse]

Painted mine but they look bright silver think they were more dull from factory