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Technical 39 tail light help

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by ydopen, Nov 6, 2013.

  1. ydopen
    Joined: Mar 14, 2010
    Posts: 249

    ydopen
    Member

    I have repro 39 tail lights that are flat on back. My 31 roadster rear panel is curved so there is a gap top and bottom.Do I need different lights or is there a way to fix this?
     
  2. We held the glass lens up on the body and traced around it with a sharpie,,the did a little hammer and dolly work,,probably took less than a hour to do both lights. HRP
     
  3. scrap metal 48
    Joined: Sep 6, 2009
    Posts: 6,121

    scrap metal 48
    Member

    Use the rubber gasket if the space bothers you.. It should hide it...
     
  4. Like above you could use a gasket to fill the gap.. or possibly try and find an original housing for the light and use that with the repro bezel and lens?

    I installed '39 lights into my '28 Roadsters rear panel which has a bit of a curve to it and simply used a template i got with the lights, traced it (it just had a big oval shape for the guts of the housing to go through, and the top and bottom mounting holes), cut it out with a air saw and used a dremel to finish it off and bolted it straight to the panel.

    If you can find an original that'd be the easy way, but i'm sure using a rubber gasket will also be fine. You may find as you bolt it down tight it might flex just enough to curve to the shape of the panel?
     
  5. ydopen
    Joined: Mar 14, 2010
    Posts: 249

    ydopen
    Member

    Thanks for the responses. I have a rubber gasket,cut the holes with an air saw, and the lights look good. I will work on the fit or use an original base. I will start by bolting them down and see what happens.
    John
     
  6. pasadenahotrod
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 11,775

    pasadenahotrod
    Member
    from Texas

    The factory 38-39 Ford teardrops are flat on the back too. They mount on a dead flat pad at the rear of the fenders.
     
  7. ydopen
    Joined: Mar 14, 2010
    Posts: 249

    ydopen
    Member

    Thanks. I did not know then originals were flat.
    John
     
  8. pasadenahotrod
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 11,775

    pasadenahotrod
    Member
    from Texas

    Early replacement/reproduction 38-39 taillamps had a small round "can" projecting out the back slightly shorter than the originals large rounded rectangular can.
     
  9. fortynut
    Joined: Jul 16, 2008
    Posts: 1,038

    fortynut
    Member

    You can always 'French them in' using your own fabbed-up can, or buy one already done from a vendor such as Midnight Prowler. A nice touch if you're willing to go the extra mile. Not too deep, just enough to sink the edge for something so subtle it'll take an extra look to realize that's what has been done. Just sayin'.
     
  10. 19Fordy
    Joined: May 17, 2003
    Posts: 8,313

    19Fordy
    Member


    Did you mean to say, "Night Prowlers"?
    http://kustomcarparts.com/tag/night-prowlers/
     

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