C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

1968 Reverse Light Location

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 30, 2019 | 01:05 PM
  #1  
1972stngray's Avatar
1972stngray
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
 
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
Default 1968 Reverse Light Location

Can anyone provide me with the precise location of the 1968 reverse lights relative to the rear bumpers? See measurements A and B on the attached picture.

I'm converting my '72 reverse lights to the '68 style and need to know the precise location for the reverse light assembly cutout. Thanks!

Reply
Old Apr 30, 2019 | 04:09 PM
  #2  
oldgto's Avatar
oldgto
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 983
From: Orlando FL
Default

Reply
Old Apr 30, 2019 | 06:28 PM
  #3  
Boomer880's Avatar
Boomer880
Instructor
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 193
Likes: 70
From: Chicago
Default

Ran out and took these. Both sides were about the same.

Reply
Old May 1, 2019 | 01:22 PM
  #4  
1972stngray's Avatar
1972stngray
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
 
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
Default

Thank you Boomer880, very much appreciated!!
Reply
Old May 1, 2019 | 02:36 PM
  #5  
RickDett's Avatar
RickDett
Racer
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 358
Likes: 22
From: Brigantine NJ USA
Default

I always liked the location and look of the reverse lights on a 1968, to bad they changed it. When you brake do all four rear lights light?

Rick
Reply
Old May 1, 2019 | 03:17 PM
  #6  
Paul Borowski's Avatar
Paul Borowski
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,444
Likes: 461
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Default

Originally Posted by RickDett
I always liked the location and look of the reverse lights on a 1968, to bad they changed it. When you brake do all four rear lights light?

Rick

...yep, if they're working properly.
Reply
Old May 1, 2019 | 11:21 PM
  #7  
ronarndt's Avatar
ronarndt
Drifting
 
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
Default

When I got my 68 convert the PO had fiberglassed over the reverse lights (????) Not sure why. He had left the entire bulb holder assembly in place behind his modification, so I just had to carefully cut away the fiberglass, sand and repaint the area and install bulbs and glass lenses.

Reply
Old May 1, 2020 | 03:54 PM
  #8  
doorgunner's Avatar
doorgunner
2026 Loser of the Year
Supporting Member
10 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,573
Likes: 7,015
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Default

Derek....thanks for the link to this thread...just what I needed.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-6

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
Old May 1, 2020 | 05:30 PM
  #9  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Default

You should know that the backup lights in the '68 Corvette "sucked"!! They are located very low and the bumperettes block a lot of the light. It's almost impossible to see anything with those pitiful lights.

Someone who has a '68 may have refit them with LED bulbs which could be much brighter; but it would be good to know if that [alone] makes a big difference in how well things behind are illuminated. From my standpoint (I had a '68 coupe in the early '70s), the location of the lights was the real problem.
Reply
Old May 1, 2020 | 07:21 PM
  #10  
carriljc's Avatar
carriljc
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,711
Likes: 1,371
Default

Does anybody sell a 68 lower rear panel for 68s? Mine got replaced in the mid 80s and I probably wouldn't go do it, but I am curious. I'd probably get one of those license plate surround things if I ever wanted to put in reverse lights.....

Last edited by carriljc; May 1, 2020 at 07:21 PM.
Reply
Old May 1, 2020 | 10:57 PM
  #11  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Default

I think you would be better off buying one of those license plate holders with a built-in LED backup lamp. Higher up, centered, good area of light coverage and you don't have to cut holes in your car.
Reply
Old May 1, 2020 | 11:18 PM
  #12  
derekderek's Avatar
derekderek
Race Director
 
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
Default

Originally Posted by carriljc
Does anybody sell a 68 lower rear panel for 68s? Mine got replaced in the mid 80s and I probably wouldn't go do it, but I am curious. I'd probably get one of those license plate surround things if I ever wanted to put in reverse lights.....
you can get anything if willing to overpay enough...
https://redirect.viglink.com/?format...Fp%2F655151652
Reply
Old May 2, 2020 | 12:52 AM
  #13  
doorgunner's Avatar
doorgunner
2026 Loser of the Year
Supporting Member
10 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,573
Likes: 7,015
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Default

Originally Posted by derekderek
you can get anything if willing to overpay enough...
https://redirect.viglink.com/?format...Fp%2F655151652
Derek...you didn't read the fine print at the bottom....the valence is Gold-plated
Reply
Old May 2, 2020 | 01:33 AM
  #14  
carriljc's Avatar
carriljc
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,711
Likes: 1,371
Default

haha...yeah, that's about ridiculous. thanks.

Originally Posted by derekderek
you can get anything if willing to overpay enough...
https://redirect.viglink.com/?format...Fp%2F655151652
Reply
Old May 2, 2020 | 04:52 AM
  #15  
derekderek's Avatar
derekderek
Race Director
 
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
Default

Good pic of location and what back side of hole looks like.

Last edited by derekderek; May 2, 2020 at 08:30 PM.
Reply
Old May 2, 2020 | 05:51 PM
  #16  
doorgunner's Avatar
doorgunner
2026 Loser of the Year
Supporting Member
10 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,573
Likes: 7,015
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Default

Originally Posted by derekderek
Good pic of locatiokn and what back side of hole looks like.
you da man!
Reply
Old May 4, 2020 | 08:10 PM
  #17  
loup68's Avatar
loup68
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,034
Likes: 503
From: myrtle beach sc
Army
Default

Most good fiberglass manufacturers should have a 68 rear valance panel. Try Corvette Image. The lamps are held in by an extra fiberglass piece that is glued to the back of the panel, on each side.
The back-up lights came from an Oldsmobile Cutlass. But the new reproductions being made are for the Oldsmobile and do not have the correct wiring plug with the ground wire in it, as far as I know. Lou.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 1968 Reverse Light Location

Old May 5, 2020 | 01:24 AM
  #18  
carriljc's Avatar
carriljc
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,711
Likes: 1,371
Default

Wow. Great info. If the repros are available, then a wiring plug is not big deal.

Originally Posted by loup68
Most good fiberglass manufacturers should have a 68 rear valance panel. Try Corvette Image. The lamps are held in by an extra fiberglass piece that is glued to the back of the panel, on each side.
The back-up lights came from an Oldsmobile Cutlass. But the new reproductions being made are for the Oldsmobile and do not have the correct wiring plug with the ground wire in it, as far as I know. Lou.
Reply
Old May 5, 2020 | 05:30 AM
  #19  
doorgunner's Avatar
doorgunner
2026 Loser of the Year
Supporting Member
10 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,573
Likes: 7,015
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Default

Originally Posted by carriljc
Wow. Great info. If the repros are available, then a wiring plug is not big deal.
Brace yourself....the pushbuttons on the doors of the '68 Vettes came from overstock parts from Chevy trucks and were adapted to Vettes (per a very old locksmith who rekeyed my car)
Reply
Old May 5, 2020 | 01:15 PM
  #20  
carriljc's Avatar
carriljc
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,711
Likes: 1,371
Default

That would mean that it should relatively easy to replace the broken one on my driver side.
There's a whole bunch of truck fans out there so they should be a market for parts.

What trucks / truck models?


Originally Posted by doorgunner
Brace yourself....the pushbuttons on the doors of the '68 Vettes came from overstock parts from Chevy trucks and were adapted to Vettes (per a very old locksmith who rekeyed my car)
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:13 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE