Cracked open my Dorman tail light board to start game planning how I want to mod the sockets to work with the pigtails I've got. Think I have an idea that works, but I may have an issue with the connector pins, since I need multiple connections per pin, and don't want to have a bunch of solder joints. Spent a few hours on Mouser last night, and think I found some that can be modified to fit. They're just too long in the contact area, which can easily be addressed.
Got the tail lights scuffed, cleaned up, and taped off. Once again was taught the lesson that cheap materials mean you get what you pay for. I had a roll of Harbor Freight painters tape, and usually never had to use much at a time. It wanted to fight me coming off the roll, with the sides separating and starting to tear before I wanted it to, so had to monitor that
And as you can see from the first pic, it would start to lift in spots, so had to keep pressing it back down.
Laid down 4 coats of flat black. After scuffing the first one, I started having second thoughts, and considered since I am planning to Niteshade them, leaving the inside gloss black probably would have been fine. But I'm really digging the flat look here.
Let the paint set for a bit, and then pulled the tape. Only a little bit of the butyl got paint on it, on the driver's side light, but I don't think that will be an issue. The tape lifted on the edges of the reflectors, and a little paint got on those too, but no one will notice that.
Will be leaving these in the garage to cure overnight. PCBs, LEDs, connectors and control modules are in route, should be showing up in pieces over the next couple of weeks.