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Technical Finding the perfect taillights

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by lostone, May 29, 2023.

  1. lostone
    Joined: Oct 13, 2013
    Posts: 3,547

    lostone
    Member
    from kansas

    Working on my 31 tudor and trying to find the perfect taillights for it.

    What I'd like to find is something like the 1948 ford standard passenger taillight with the stand. But I want to find something with enough stand height to cut the stand to fit the contour of the Tudors rear panel.

    I checked out the 50's vw taillights but there is not enough stand height to cut it to fit the rear panel. Right style just not enough meat.

    I hate buying parts to "see" if they'll fit, I've already started to build a pile of those parts.

    So by chance does anyone have a pair that they could measure the height of rhe stands at the shortest and longest ends of the stand and the distance between those 2 other measurements?

    Or maybe an old stand that might be junk that I could play around with to see if it's possible?

    Looked at other options but I like the way the oval style of the stands look, I think they flow rather well with the roundness of the model A tudor body if I can find something to work !

    .
     
  2. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 20,070

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    I’d think there would be plenty to cut on the 46-8 ford tail lights to make them fit. But you’d barely have to cut much at all if you mounted them vertically
     
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  3. CSPIDY
    Joined: Nov 15, 2020
    Posts: 943

    CSPIDY
    Member

  4. X 2 for Tim's idea.
     
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  5. lostone
    Joined: Oct 13, 2013
    Posts: 3,547

    lostone
    Member
    from kansas

    Yes I want to mount them horizontally like they are factory.

    I "think" there may be enough material but I thought that too with the vw ones also ! Lol

    ..
     
  6. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 20,070

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Are you trying to keep the bucket itself outside of the metal? Like keep it inside the “stand” ?

    otherwise don’t see why you’d need over an inch to match a mostly
    Flat panel?
     
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  7. lostone
    Joined: Oct 13, 2013
    Posts: 3,547

    lostone
    Member
    from kansas

    I want to mount it on the corner, about 2" or so below the upper belt line.

    So I want it out at the edges of the panel and I want both taillights to be flat with each other across the lens.

    I tried to give an idea in my pic of the location, my photoshop Kung Foo isn't great but gives an idea.

    @Tim

    . 20200913_143618.jpg
     
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  8. lostone
    Joined: Oct 13, 2013
    Posts: 3,547

    lostone
    Member
    from kansas

    My thought is, is to replicate the original style of the taillight and stand, so that it looks and mounts just like it does on the 1948 ford fender only on my tudor.

    So yes it will have to wrap around the corner of my panel alittle bit.

    .
     
  9. deuceman32
    Joined: Oct 23, 2007
    Posts: 541

    deuceman32
    Member

    upload_2023-5-29_18-58-26.png So the 46-48 taillight housing mounting edge is shaped to fit the compound curve of the rear fender. To mount them on the outer corners of your 31 rear panel you may want to swap them side to side with the housings upside down to better match the inward slope of the panel, if that makes sense. Anyway, I measure 3/8" on the short side and 4+3/16" on the long side, from the bezel mounting surface.

    upload_2023-5-29_19-1-8.png
     
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  10. deuceman32
    Joined: Oct 23, 2007
    Posts: 541

    deuceman32
    Member

  11. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 20,070

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    I’m out of town for a while but that should work I’ve got an A sedan and plenty of 46 tail light stands to measure / template. If someone doesn’t beat me to it I’ll compare them for ya
     
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  12. lostone
    Joined: Oct 13, 2013
    Posts: 3,547

    lostone
    Member
    from kansas

    @deuceman32 thank you so much for the pics, I didn't realize they tapered that much top to bottom vs side to side.

    @Tim I would greatly appreciate that! It would make it sooo much easier for me !

    .
     
  13. mr.chevrolet
    Joined: Jul 19, 2006
    Posts: 9,274

    mr.chevrolet
    Member

    how about 48/9 chrysler? they have a nice curve to them
     
  14. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 20,070

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Ok measurements you already have and how the template sits more or less. IMG_7834.jpeg IMG_7835.jpeg IMG_7836.jpeg IMG_7837.jpeg The top where the housing meets the fender while slanted is more or less a flat plane/ line IMG_7838.jpeg IMG_7839.jpeg This ^ edge however is curved. The template straight edge is if the top line stayed straight and wrapped right over IMG_7841.jpeg IMG_7840.jpeg placement comparison
     

    Attached Files:

  15. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 20,070

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Sorry for the duplicate thumbnails not sure what’s going on there.

    my kiddo promptly lost the template and I made another though this one is about 1/4 short on the surface where the bezel and light mate so you’ve really got more front to back room than this shows. IMG_7848.jpeg IMG_7849.jpeg I made a wire copy of the curve with the end landing at the vertical T strip that is on both sides

    looks like you could make it work and have about a 1/2” or so between the body and the back of the bezel
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2023
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  16. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 20,070

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    I think these are the Plymouth lenses referenced in a previous post I don’t think they have enough curve to work but I could go lay them on the car if you want IMG_7847.jpeg IMG_7846.jpeg
     
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  17. lostone
    Joined: Oct 13, 2013
    Posts: 3,547

    lostone
    Member
    from kansas

    @Tim THANK YOU !!

    That helps me out a bunch !! It actually looks doable and with that it looks like it's worth pursuing. Now I have a idea to run with !

    Thank you again Tim and for the great pics and measurements!! Greatly Greatly appreciated!!

    .
     
    Tim likes this.
  18. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 20,070

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    No problem
    Sorry for the delay
     

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