Customs Help! Ideas for 3” tail/marker light lens

I need a lens 3” diameter. Can be amber, clear, or red. 2 or 4 mounting holes equidistant around the perimeter with 2.5” mounting screw spread.
This is a custom application for the ‘55 and ‘56 Dodge front grille marker lights.
Anybody know some source that is hamb friendly? Slight bullet shape is preferred.
Let’s see what y’all got!

 

Ya Jim, caught that after I replied. Deleted now.

 

I think 50s Buicks were 2 hole lenses..

 

Old pickup trucks, but I don't have any to measure.

 

Maybe one of the 56 Chevy guys can measure one of their tail light lenses. Another one to check is the 61-67 Corvette tail light. They also sell clear same shape back up lenses for those. Again I have no idea on their size but someone should be able to measure and you might be able to adjust the od of those a tad.

 

The 58 Chevy lens (used on the 61-67 Corvette also) is a hair too large, and holes are in the wrong place, but it's close.



If you don't need a reflector, just find Moriarty's thread on making lenses. Perfect for a custom car.

 

Buy some acrylic sheet in a color you want (amazon) then cut your circle . Find a small bullet to glue to the circle. I found Buick red bullet lenses were about 1.5 in in diameter

 

If you want to a law stickler ,red acrylic sheet wont p*** as there is no pattern to reflect light. What are the cool tail lights up top from ? Do you plan to have turn signals?

 

There are translucent materials out there you can cut whatever out of
https://www.c****plastic.com/products/2423-red-transparent-acrylic-sheet

 

Thanks for the replies.
I’ve tried ‘61 Chevrolet car, no good.
The lights on top are ‘62 Monterey wagon.
I was trying to find something of that era, just having trouble dimensionally.

 

I might try heating some sheet and rolling it like a cinnamon roll. Maybe a triangle shape so it forms a cone?
Not good at converting my idea to words but looks pretty cool in my head!

 

I’ve seen heat used to form plastic over a formed shape.
The stuff I posted was 1/8 thick. I’ve seen thicker material out there. Would probably need that if using a deep form

 

'59 Edsel?

3-9/16" O.D. at the base flange, 3-1/16" O.D. at the outer end, 1-3/4" tall:

 

Lens and surround, 33-36 Ford, don't know exact diameter.

 

Can be amber, clear, or red.

Some long dormant brain cell of mine tells me that red lights are not legal on the front of vehicles, except for emergency vehicles. You might check local laws before you spend money.

.bjb

 

Thanks for looking out but these are for the rear of the truck. Not front of the Dodge anymore.

 

You can get acrylic sheet to soften and will lay over a shape (laminated timber, made into a cone shape on a lathe).
It will soften at about 90degrees Celcius in your oven on low. Just remove it when it looks about right and let it cool, then trim any excess bits off. You can even make a male/female mould and soften the sheet then clamp in between.

 

Nice work, and lots of reasonable suggestions. Maybe contact a tail light lens vendor like
http://www.taillightking.com/ who knows their inventory? In hindsight, I suspect you're thinking it might have been a good idea to access the lenses before building the housings? I, myself, usually don't plan that far ahead.

 

I was thinking '54 Ford. 3" diameter but 3 holes not 2.

 

Don't have one to measure, but you might look at 54 Buick also.

 

Mostly good suggestions, I like the Ford shape.
The reason I’d like to find something that already exists rather than make my own is the brake lights above them. Homemade looks off next to OEM.

 

Sure would like to see more of that truck.

 

When I looked at the pictures; I thought exhaust tips, enough lights on top already.

 

These are some kind of mopar, I forget which

 

While I dont know the sizes but some ideas that might work:

40s-60s Motorcycle? Like a Harley, Indian, or something, they usually had 2 bolt lenses for turn signals.

55/56 Pontiac Reverse Lights

49-52 Chevy car reverse lights


reverse light for a 60-66 Chevy C10 fleetside truck



I think looking at clear reverse lights might land something that will work over a red tail light lens.

 

Big trucks quite often have a plethora of lights to choose from to outfit their rigs. If you can find something close but slightly undersize, you can tunnel the whole light into your bumpers, rather than find just lens that will bolt in.
Found these, 2 3/4" (ignore the billet base, should be invisible if tunneled) Beehive Tail Lights | Order Bullet Beehive LED Tail Lights With Billet Base Online from Watson's StreetWorks

 

Thanks for the suggestions everybody. I have some H-D turn signals that will work for now but it’s to see these other options.
I originally thought of exhaust tips but the routing would be very involved and would need holes or notches in the bottom of the rear fenders.
On another topic, maybe we can start a kind of database on here to help prospective customizers. Like listing options based on shapes and sizes? Including mounting?

Here’s a couple recent pictures:

 

Truck is gorgeous.

Triumph Spitfire from the early to mid 60's.
3 and a fat 1/8" dia.
not quite 2" tall
2 1/2" across the screw holes
diameter is slightly reduced below the line just up from the bottom
could easily be shortened up to about 5/8" if need be

 

Bet a 56 olds would be pretty close

 

Look fantastic in a 53 ford so they have got to be close to 3”