Tail Lights

[Racepedals]

I've been looking at various tail lights and could not find anything I liked. I did not want to use trailer lights so while looking for an alternative, I saw an Chevy HHR which has 2 lights per side. I went to eBay and for $52 (included shipping), I was able to buy 4 of these lights. Has anyone ever used these? I plan to install them on the fenders as I believe that looks better but would require a extended mount, of which I am in the process of trying to figure out.

Lights 01.jpg

Lights 02.jpg

[Laminar]

I like the idea a lot, I've looked at Chevy Cobalt taillights before as they're a nice departure from generic trailer lights but they still fit the style.

[blackfabian]

I like them! what's your plan on the mounts? fiberglass?

[Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F]

I like them and tried to figure out a good way to make them fit and look good. The slant makes it more of a challenge since nothing is slanted that much on the back of the car. Best I could think of is to shape blocks of green hobby foam used for plastic flowers as a buck to pull a mold from. It would arrange the lights the same way as on the HHR and bolt to the fenders, covering the back of the fenders all the way up to the top of the radius. Might as well make them part of the fender for a seamless fit since the studs wont have a flat surface inside a standard fender.

[Racepedals]

The slant is about 22 degrees. I've started looking at options. I took a 4" PVC coupling, cut it at 22 degrees and the fit works out pretty good based on the OD of the coupling. From there, I have to extend the coupling and cope it to fit near the top of the fender. My plan is to then make a mold to build the fiberglass housings. Just another detail on my build that will consume more time that I first thought.

[john hennessy]

the green stuff used for flower arrangement is called oasis.

i contemplated the rear light choice for some time, and settled on landrover units but i frenched them in, don't forget you need rear reflectors which may or may not be built into the lense.

[N. Versailles Cobra]

The mounts I made for my H/F trailer lights had about the same idea as you are contemplating. I used two small Tide or Bisquick cardboard box bottoms for the shape. Positioned them on the curves fenders at the place that was high enough to be legal and resulted in the face of the lights being perpendicular to the road. Taped them in place while fiber glassing the "box mold" with about 3 layers. You might look at round cardboard bread crumb cans for size. hope this helps.
Don

[ianrobb]

Bringing this one back from the dead.

I was looking for rear lighting options for my Haynes build, and noticed that the Mercedes G-Wagon(pre 2018) tail lights are a similar form factor to Britax lights. I found several different styles, LED and non LED. Not exactly locost, since the cheapest ones I found were over $100/pair, but some may like the styles offered.

Any other Britax size/shape lights I should be looking at?

[tibimakai]

I'm considering these, but I'm far from dealing with them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BVV ... BGO5V&th=1

[mainlandboy]

I ended up using forklift tail lights on my build. Quite a few cheap options on Amazon.

[tibimakai]

I'm trying to do something similar:

[RTz]

3D printing can work well for the housings. There are plenty of companies that will print a file for you if you don't own a printer. Heck, I would even consider doing it for a Locost member.

[tibimakai]

Looks very nice. Which lights are those?
We have a bunch of 3D printers at work, for me the CAD is the issue.
I may make the housings out of PVC plumbing fittings, or even from metal pipe as well, will see when I get there.
Now I'm making the brake and fuel lines.

[RTz]

If your company has printers, is it fair to assume they have CAD people? Befriend one and share your project or offer to buy them lunch or pay them, or trade for some of your work. Most of the CAD people I know enjoy working on something different or special.

I found those at a Harley dealer. Likely re-branded and could be found elsewhere for cheaper.

[tibimakai]

Yes, I could ask my coworker the CNC guy(I'm the old school manual machinist/supervisor). But, for example I'm having an issue making something over the shifter, it is pretty complex part because the trans shifter housing is fairly tall.
I can't ask somebody else make constant modifications, and bother them with all this changes.
I should be making these at home, at the car. Same as when you make a fit check with metal parts.

Question for you, did you make the trans tunnel height the same as the side of the top of the frame or, lower? I'm considering rising the tunnel height the same at the frame height(15"). Thank way, that shifter "cover" could be made easier and nicer to blend in.
We are way off from tail lights here.