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Tech..how to pick out the right tailites for your hot rod...

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Rocky, Jan 19, 2004.

  1. Rocky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 17,621

    Rocky
    Classified Editor

    It's always a chore to figure out just the eggsact tailights for your 32 five window. "Hiboy 32" was having brain spasms trying to come with ANY tailights for his coupe.
    Step one is to find a 32 five window coupe in the first place! Jeff found his in a field in Central Nebraska. ...even came with a donor car and a basket of parts...all rough
     

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  2. Rocky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 17,621

    Rocky
    Classified Editor

    Then, ya gotta have a motor for this pile-o-parts. The motor outa Rocky's old 51 Vicky should work ok...
     

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  3. Rocky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 17,621

    Rocky
    Classified Editor

    clean out a spot in the garage, right next to the trusty 50 F-1 and cut the livin***** out of the top.
     

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  4. Rocky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 17,621

    Rocky
    Classified Editor

    This way, you get a good feel for the holes that have been pre-hacked in the tailpan by some old rodder back in the 40's or 50's...tradition, man. Rool the*****er out in the drive in 10 degree weather and just stare at the back of the car......fire it up with the unmuffled flatmotor talkin to the neighbors....
     

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  5. skipstitch
    Joined: Oct 7, 2001
    Posts: 1,213

    skipstitch
    Member

    Oh...VEGA for Sure!!! Screamin' for VEGA [​IMG] [​IMG] Rocky, that coupe kicks****!!! Who cares if it has tail lights... ha ha ha... I vote this best TECH post!!!
     
  6. Rocky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 17,621

    Rocky
    Classified Editor

    Yeah, yeah, so it smokes a little bit. Take pleasure in knowing you got a REAL steel 1932 ford 5 winnder coupe-ay! Walk around back and look down the side, envisioning what a pair of round early 50's pontiac tailights would look like on your short while you enjoy the sight of "Lil' Boris'" artwork on your garage wall...DAMN! it's cold out here!
     

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  7. Rocky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 17,621

    Rocky
    Classified Editor

    Ok, here comes the "tech" part.....physically grasp the 51 Poncho tailights that Rocky has just brougth over in his Blitz black traditional Porsche with [ Grimlock striping] and deftly hhold the aforementioned tailights up the the holes previously mentioned as being hacked in the gennie 32 ford tailpan...frown heavily while looking....tilt your head to the right....then to the left... hmmmmmmmm too close to see very good...have Rocky snap a few photos so you can look at 'em in the warmth of your own home on the computer...
     

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  8. Rocky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 17,621

    Rocky
    Classified Editor

    Hey! This is a thrread about "Picking out" the correct tailights..not necessarily INSTALLING the tailights...
    You wnated tech? You got, uhhhh, tech. Kinda.
     

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  9. Model A Vette
    Joined: Mar 8, 2002
    Posts: 1,075

    Model A Vette
    Member

    Vega taillights! Wait a minute, my roadster resembles that remark!
     
  10. skipstitch
    Joined: Oct 7, 2001
    Posts: 1,213

    skipstitch
    Member

    Oops...shoulda said Pacer [​IMG] Ha ha...hum...(akward silence) [​IMG]
     
  11. Jkustom
    Joined: Oct 8, 2002
    Posts: 1,686

    Jkustom
    Member

    Guess I better start looking for a 32 5 window to call my very own.... [​IMG] -J.
     
  12. Rocky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 17,621

    Rocky
    Classified Editor

    Jeff's [32 hiboy] ex-racer 32 looks a helluva lot better than my old 5 window... I didn't even have a 32 frame for mine..had to make do with a model A frame.
     

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  13. hiboy32
    Joined: Nov 7, 2001
    Posts: 2,797

    hiboy32
    Member
    from Omaha, NE

    Now that the right tailights are in hand( thank you soooo verrryyyy much!) I might have to do the install this week. Yah, a whole new thread for the install.It has to warm up about 30 degrees before we git to partII, The install- how ta cover someones nicely chisled holes in your tailpan.

    Great tech post Rocky..
     
  14. continentaljohn
    Joined: Jul 24, 2002
    Posts: 5,864

    continentaljohn
    Member

    Hey Rocky, yep I dig the 51 lights as well! Some one installed them on the coupe on the right in the 1950's as well..I didn't know 1951s were a bit diffrent then the 1950s.
    Your coupe looks cool!!!
     

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  15. Rocky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 17,621

    Rocky
    Classified Editor

    51-52 lights were similar to 48-50's but they were bigger.I'm gonna use glass aftermarket '50 lenses in '48 bezels on the rear of my 41 Pontiac coupe.
     
  16. just steve
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 234

    just steve
    Member Emeritus

    What about us guys with 3-windows? Don't we get any help? [​IMG]

    I was gonna install 39 Ford taillights, but could only find room for 38.

    Steve.
     
  17. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,756

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    [​IMG]
    The only trouble with using the classic tail lights is they become trite. But when you find out somebody made the decision for you 50 years ago, you must bow to their wisdom. They look like a perfect fit to me.
     
  18. Fat Hack
    Joined: Nov 30, 2002
    Posts: 7,709

    Fat Hack
    Member
    from Detroit

    Nobody uses GREMLIN tailights anymore??? [​IMG] [​IMG]

     
  19. OK!! So i dont have a 32 but i have a 31 5w in my garage and im looking and planing if i could find some i will use 57-58 Eldorado biarritz or seville taillights, i will pot in a pic in a minut or so so u could se how they look!! Anyone now of any?? [​IMG]
     
  20. [ QUOTE ]
    OK!! So i dont have a 32 but i have a 31 5w in my garage and im looking and planing if i could find some i will use 57-58 Eldorado biarritz or seville taillights, i will pot in a pic in a minut or so so u could se how they look!! Anyone now of any?? [​IMG]

    [/ QUOTE ]

    I'm not sure if these are Caddy lights, but it probably gives you some idea.

    [​IMG]

    Rocky... I think that cold weather is messing with your brain! [​IMG]
     
  21. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,789

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    Hey Steve, stick with the '38 lights... They are much more traditional than the '39... and so much cooler! [​IMG]
     
  22. These are the Caddy lighs i min Brootal!!
     

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  23. Rocky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 17,621

    Rocky
    Classified Editor

    As a connesiour of fine tailights, I gotta say the 57 Eldo tailight is a handsome tailight. Very nice but I don't know of any for sale, sorry.
     
  24. hiboy32
    Joined: Nov 7, 2001
    Posts: 2,797

    hiboy32
    Member
    from Omaha, NE

    Well I finally installed them there lights.I really should do an install tech, but no digi camera.

    I had quite a problem deciding what to do on the install.
    If you looked at the photos, then you saw the nice holes someone made for the lights many years ago. The real problem is that they aren't centered, by 1/2 an inch. Well I decided, without anyones help, that I should just install the lights were the holes are. Them things look alot better than those holes. I know that most people think that I took the easy way out, but too bad, I think it ads character, crooked, but character.
     

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