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Technical Tail light help

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by '29 Gizmo, Jun 22, 2024.

  1. '29 Gizmo
    Joined: Nov 6, 2022
    Posts: 1,165

    '29 Gizmo
    Member
    from UK

    I am making a new tail light panel for me 28 RPU. It came with a crudely made (but functional) 1/4 plate panel. I am trying to retain this feature as part of its history but want to upgrade the design. It uses 4" truck lights and stratolite lenses. I am keeping the light units but I am looking for a lens with a built in reflector in the middle. Does such a thing exist and if so is there an online source. Just want to replace the lens and keep the original housings.

    I am in the UK so rummaging around in a truck junk yard is not an option.

    The pics show the original installation and new design.

    20231218_133322.jpg 20220915_121011.jpg 20220915_121014.jpg
     
  2. 19Fordy
    Joined: May 17, 2003
    Posts: 8,356

    19Fordy
    Member

    '29 Gizmo and lothiandon1940 like this.
  3. I’m no help, but you are certainly making a silk purse out of a sows ear, please share more.
     
  4. hrm2k
    Joined: Oct 2, 2007
    Posts: 5,434

    hrm2k
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I like your idea for the tail lights . I used the same trailer lights that you are using. I added the blue dot to each. I used a 4 inch piece of exhaust tubing to make my Frenched tail lights on my V8 Corvair. Turned out like this.
    [​IMG]
     
    '29 Gizmo likes this.
  5. '29 Gizmo
    Joined: Nov 6, 2022
    Posts: 1,165

    '29 Gizmo
    Member
    from UK

    The truck is being painted now so I'll post finished pics in the next few days hopefully. This is the mockup. I need rear reflectors to be 100% legal but I didn't want to spoil the look.

    Screenshot_20230816_145145_Gallery.jpg 20231115_160921 x.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2024
    clem, dwollam, NoSurf and 2 others like this.
  6. MMM1693
    Joined: Feb 8, 2009
    Posts: 1,531

    MMM1693
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Also go to www.iowa80.com and go to the chrome shop. They deal in lights and chrome acc for big trucks. There is a lot of stuff that we can use.
     
    hrm2k and '29 Gizmo like this.
  7. Jim Bouchard
    Joined: Mar 2, 2011
    Posts: 1,284

    Jim Bouchard
    Member

    WOW!!! I really like your panel. It really looks nice and well thought out.
    A few minutes of poking on the web, I found this.
    IMG_4247.jpeg
    I think this is what you’re looking for.
    You may have to modify it to fit in your housings. Or maybe those housings will work better.
    I’ve had luck in the past looking at Betts lights and Grote lights. Both trucking suppliers.
     
  8. '29 Gizmo
    Joined: Nov 6, 2022
    Posts: 1,165

    '29 Gizmo
    Member
    from UK


    That's great thanks.. looks like just the job.
     
    Jim Bouchard likes this.
  9. Those are universal big truck and trailer lights. You can look at Napa, Trucklite, Grote, Etrailer, regular incandescent is getting harder to find with options.

    Or you can go old and make it fit (not mine):
    light.jpg
     
    '28phonebooth and '29 Gizmo like this.
  10. '29 Gizmo
    Joined: Nov 6, 2022
    Posts: 1,165

    '29 Gizmo
    Member
    from UK

    So this is the finished tail light panel. Not got reflector lenses yet so I will get some magnets to stick some accessory ones to so they are removable when showing the car. I have never seen trailer lights used on a RPU before so it was a bit of an experiment. It's a bolt on panel so I can change it out I'd I find something better

    20240630_084954.jpg
     
    X-cpe, 34 GAZ, SS327 and 5 others like this.
  11. Looks pretty good, nicely finished off without being cartoonish. Any chance we can see the rest of the truck? I have one in the lineup. Might try for something like this one on the left. A71F500C-D15A-410E-8194-2DBA66AF474C.jpeg
     
    sdluck and X-cpe like this.
  12. '29 Gizmo
    Joined: Nov 6, 2022
    Posts: 1,165

    '29 Gizmo
    Member
    from UK

    It's mechanically stock apart from reverse eye springs and tube shocks. I wanted to retain the vintage feel and history of the car. Just doing my own thing basically.
    20240703_075503.jpg 20240630_105540.jpg 20240630_105510.jpg
     
    Jim Bouchard, X-cpe, vtx1800 and 4 others like this.
  13. chrisp
    Joined: Jan 27, 2007
    Posts: 1,293

    chrisp
    Member

    That looks neat.
     
    '29 Gizmo likes this.
  14. Thanks- doing your own thing turned out well.
     
    '29 Gizmo likes this.
  15. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 8,567

    RodStRace
    Member

    That's really nice!
    I'm usually not a fan of PU rear panels, they visually make the back look heavy and hide the mechanical goodies, but yours is stylish and really fits. Hope you can get the reflector lenses so it's legal and visible. Drivers here are oblivious to anything that isn't painted in a bright color with 1K candle power lights.
     
    '29 Gizmo likes this.
  16. THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Joined: Jun 6, 2007
    Posts: 6,071

    THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Member
    from FRENCHTOWN

    Worked for me, but since it was a strip application the reflector feature wasn't needed.
    truckster01.jpg
     
    '29 Gizmo likes this.

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