Retrofitting tail-light lenses
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Retrofitting tail-light lenses
I just spoke to my Corvette guy here in the UK. It looks like I won't be able to convert my '68 reverse lights to double as indicators.
I need to order replacement lenses from a later car to install, then I'll convert those to use yellow lightbulbs.
Not quite sure which lenses I need to buy to retro-fit to my '68, and would value any advice you guys can offer:
69 TAIL LIGHT LENS W/BACK-UP CENTER
70-71 TAIL LIGHT LENS W/BACK-UP CENTER
72-73 TAIL LIGHT LENS W/BACK-UP CENTER
Do I need to purchase a whole new housing for the light, or will it fit into the existing housing?
Thanks for any advice you can offer!
I need to order replacement lenses from a later car to install, then I'll convert those to use yellow lightbulbs.
Not quite sure which lenses I need to buy to retro-fit to my '68, and would value any advice you guys can offer:
69 TAIL LIGHT LENS W/BACK-UP CENTER
70-71 TAIL LIGHT LENS W/BACK-UP CENTER
72-73 TAIL LIGHT LENS W/BACK-UP CENTER
Do I need to purchase a whole new housing for the light, or will it fit into the existing housing?
Thanks for any advice you can offer!
Last edited by MatthewClement; Oct 19, 2004 at 08:32 AM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
I don't particularly want to replace them, but replacing them is the neatest solution to my problem. Vehicles in the UK are required to have amber turn signals, and rewiring the reverse lights and fitting amber bulbs is the normal solution to this problem.
The reverse lights on the '68 are too low and too close together to meet regulations, so my only choices are to fit aftermarket blinkers (ugh) or to fit '69 lenses and amber bulbs (much neater, and still looks close to stock).
Do I need a new lamp assembly, too, or just the lenses?
The reverse lights on the '68 are too low and too close together to meet regulations, so my only choices are to fit aftermarket blinkers (ugh) or to fit '69 lenses and amber bulbs (much neater, and still looks close to stock).
Do I need a new lamp assembly, too, or just the lenses?
Last edited by MatthewClement; Oct 19, 2004 at 08:33 AM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Hershey Pa
To join this discussion, my question is how do you get the lenses off the white plastic housing part.
I need new lenses but don't want to buy the whole assembly. They seem to be bonded in a way that removing them would destroy the whole assembly.
I need new lenses but don't want to buy the whole assembly. They seem to be bonded in a way that removing them would destroy the whole assembly.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 1
From: "Too Low, Too Fast, Too Loud" TX
I know the late model..80-82's are bonded together. But do know of a few guys that have beeb able to open them up for addition modding. Good luck with your work bro! Matthew, I know this might sound far fetched..but so do yellow blinkers..could you swap your lights? What I mean is have you reverse light housings in the outter most pod..and have you braklights in the inner most pods? Would look something like
this... ( O ) (__) corvette (__) ( O )
. turns...brake............brake...turns
think they would be able to be swapped..don't you..and would this be far enough apart?? Joe..
this... ( O ) (__) corvette (__) ( O )
. turns...brake............brake...turns
think they would be able to be swapped..don't you..and would this be far enough apart?? Joe..
Last edited by 81' Corvette Guy; Oct 20, 2004 at 12:21 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Connecticut
81 guy, the 68's didn't have backup lights in the inner tail lights like the later cars, just four red tail lights. The backups were down next to the license plate.
Matthew, I don't know if the inner bulbs were dual filliment or single. That would affect if you need to change the housing.
That's a nice solution to your problem.
Joe
Matthew, I don't know if the inner bulbs were dual filliment or single. That would affect if you need to change the housing.
That's a nice solution to your problem.
Joe
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Newcastle
A 78 Trans Am passed me as I was walking down the street this morning (I'm in the UK) and it still had it's red indicators, but it had a couple of tiny amber lights beneath the bumper. The sort of LED things you can get for choppers, bright, but when no lit virtually invisible.
I have the red lights on my 'vette and have no plans to change them, but if I had to, I think I'd stop the original lights from flashing and rig some of these additional ones, rather than mess with the original lights...
I have the red lights on my 'vette and have no plans to change them, but if I had to, I think I'd stop the original lights from flashing and rig some of these additional ones, rather than mess with the original lights...
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
I've been working closely with Tom Falconer of Claremont Corvette over here, who I gather is the man to talk to about these things. His preferred solution is to rewire the reverse lights -- he does it regularly to all the cars he imports, and I like the way it looks. I've seen too many American cars with 'add-ons' over here, which I think look terrible.
I'm a little shocked at the $57/each that Ecklers wants for the lenses, though!
Need to purchase a right-hand mirror, too -- not to meet legislation, but so I don't get clobbered pulling out into traffic!
I'm a little shocked at the $57/each that Ecklers wants for the lenses, though!
Need to purchase a right-hand mirror, too -- not to meet legislation, but so I don't get clobbered pulling out into traffic!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
Mathew,
for what it's worth, think yourself lucky that you haven't got the later style that 81 Corvette Guy mentioned (Hi Joe
). Check out the price of the '81 lights 
What I did on mine was to fit the red lenses on the outside with a double filament bulb (brake/tail) & used the red/clear lenses for the inner pair & stuck yellow bulbs in for indicators. For backup I had to bolt an ugly light inder the bumper (along with a red fog light ) as I haven't got the backup lights that yours has. What I'm trying to find is a light unit with a red outer lens & a clear or amber centre, but fitted with dual bulbs. These could then be used for tail/indicator or tail/backup.
Uriel, I wanted to run 4 tail lights so was going to fit some of those small custom bike indicators under the bumper, next to the backup & fog lights. I figured that if those natty little chrome indicators are legal on a bike then they'll be OK on a car. The problem I ran into was that indicators also have to be at a minimum height & the car would fail it's MOT if I stuck them under the bumper.
for what it's worth, think yourself lucky that you haven't got the later style that 81 Corvette Guy mentioned (Hi Joe
). Check out the price of the '81 lights What I did on mine was to fit the red lenses on the outside with a double filament bulb (brake/tail) & used the red/clear lenses for the inner pair & stuck yellow bulbs in for indicators. For backup I had to bolt an ugly light inder the bumper (along with a red fog light ) as I haven't got the backup lights that yours has. What I'm trying to find is a light unit with a red outer lens & a clear or amber centre, but fitted with dual bulbs. These could then be used for tail/indicator or tail/backup.Uriel, I wanted to run 4 tail lights so was going to fit some of those small custom bike indicators under the bumper, next to the backup & fog lights. I figured that if those natty little chrome indicators are legal on a bike then they'll be OK on a car. The problem I ran into was that indicators also have to be at a minimum height & the car would fail it's MOT if I stuck them under the bumper.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by UKPaul
Mathew,
for what it's worth, think yourself lucky that you haven't got the later style that 81 Corvette Guy mentioned (Hi Joe ). Check out the price of the '81 lights What I did on mine was to fit the red lenses on the outside with a double filament bulb (brake/tail) & used the red/clear lenses for the inner pair & stuck yellow bulbs in for indicators. For backup I had to bolt an ugly light inder the bumper (along with a red fog light ) as I haven't got the backup lights that yours has. What I'm trying to find is a light unit with a red outer lens & a clear or amber centre, but fitted with dual bulbs. These could then be used for tail/indicator or tail/backup.
for what it's worth, think yourself lucky that you haven't got the later style that 81 Corvette Guy mentioned (Hi Joe
). Check out the price of the '81 lights What I did on mine was to fit the red lenses on the outside with a double filament bulb (brake/tail) & used the red/clear lenses for the inner pair & stuck yellow bulbs in for indicators. For backup I had to bolt an ugly light inder the bumper (along with a red fog light ) as I haven't got the backup lights that yours has. What I'm trying to find is a light unit with a red outer lens & a clear or amber centre, but fitted with dual bulbs. These could then be used for tail/indicator or tail/backup.As far as I can tell, brake/reverse lights for the '81 are $10 cheaper per side than my '68 - check out this product on Zip's website.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
Hi Mathew,
Yes, reverse lights aren't required. Mine initially didn't have one but it was impossible to see behind in the dark. As I keep it in a garage that has mature trees & a ditch opposite the entrance, I thought it would be a good idea to fit one, otherwise it could have got expensive & embarassing
A friend runs an MOT testing station & I also work next to one. Both places have told me that a fog light isn't required pre '82, but I recently read in VetteNews (or the CCCUK site) that the MOT requires fog lights on anything post '80?
Two light units (red outer lens, clear inner, originally backup now indicators) cost me £80-00 after all the postage, etc That's a lot of cash for 2 plastic mouldings Somebody said that Corvette rear lights were based on Ferrari ones, judging by the price of the stupid things I wouldn't be surprised if they were made by Ferrari!
How long have you had the Vette?
Yes, reverse lights aren't required. Mine initially didn't have one but it was impossible to see behind in the dark. As I keep it in a garage that has mature trees & a ditch opposite the entrance, I thought it would be a good idea to fit one, otherwise it could have got expensive & embarassing
A friend runs an MOT testing station & I also work next to one. Both places have told me that a fog light isn't required pre '82, but I recently read in VetteNews (or the CCCUK site) that the MOT requires fog lights on anything post '80?
Two light units (red outer lens, clear inner, originally backup now indicators) cost me £80-00 after all the postage, etc
That's a lot of cash for 2 plastic mouldings Somebody said that Corvette rear lights were based on Ferrari ones, judging by the price of the stupid things I wouldn't be surprised if they were made by Ferrari!How long have you had the Vette?
