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Old Sep 20, 2006 | 06:13 PM
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Default Tail light question

Hi guys, can anyone tell me if all C3 tail light lenses are interchangeable?

I want to mod my tail lights by carving up the lenses, but don't want to carve up my good condition 82 lenses in case my idea doesn't work out.

Second hand 82 Lenses seem hard to come by, so if they're interchangeable, then any old thing would do for me to have a play around with.

If they ARE interchangeable, does anyone have an old set of tail light lenses they don't want?

Thanks...
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Old Sep 21, 2006 | 03:20 AM
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Originally Posted by saudivette
Hi guys, can anyone tell me if all C3 tail light lenses are interchangeable?

I want to mod my tail lights by carving up the lenses, but don't want to carve up my good condition 82 lenses in case my idea doesn't work out.

Second hand 82 Lenses seem hard to come by, so if they're interchangeable, then any old thing would do for me to have a play around with.

If they ARE interchangeable, does anyone have an old set of tail light lenses they don't want?

Thanks...
Anyone, anyone at all...?
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Old Sep 21, 2006 | 08:00 AM
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80-82s (possibly earlier) do not have lenses; the lights are complete units without separate lenses.
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Old Sep 21, 2006 | 11:03 AM
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i don't know when the tail lights changed, but the lights on my 79 were different than the lights on the 72. The 79 had plastic holders for the bulbs that twisted in from the back. To change bulbs on the 72 you have to remove the lens and unscrew the bulb from the inside.



Rick B.
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Old Sep 21, 2006 | 11:32 AM
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Hmmm.... thanks for that guys. I've never had mine out, so I didn't realise that.

I'll have to hunt down some stock 80-82 tail lights then
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Old Sep 22, 2006 | 09:44 AM
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one too many sandstorms for you. i was wondering why you wouldnt want my reverse lights and housings in perfect condx for 25bucks. now that you understand do you want them ?
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Old Sep 22, 2006 | 10:43 AM
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75 to 79 tail light housings are different that the 80-82 tail light housings. Both unscrew and then you twist the bulb plug out of the back of the housings. Here is the difference - 75 -79 Housings have almost a 45 degree angle where the bulb plugs into the back and the 80-82 have a zero degree angle (straight) to the plug socket. You can make the 75-79 housings work - I used a dremil tool to trim a notch out of the back bumper where the housing is inserted then held in place by two long screws. Also the screws on the 75-82 DO NOT screw directly into the rear bumper - there are two long nylon spacers that "plug" into the back bumper and the screws expand these spacers to make a solid fit - similar to how your liscense plates are held on. I have 79 tail lights on my 81 - I think the 81's with no aluminum trim rings look awful and liked the trim rings found on the 75-79 better. You can purchase tail lights from all the major Corvette parts houses - Mid-America, Corvette Central - etc.
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Old Sep 22, 2006 | 02:31 PM
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Originally Posted by rastadr
one too many sandstorms for you. i was wondering why you wouldnt want my reverse lights and housings in perfect condx for 25bucks. now that you understand do you want them ?
Righto mate, I reckon I will take them. But... do you have a PayPal account? How could I pay you for them? Shipping would be to 11413 zip code in New York.
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