93 cobra taillight lenses?

hrc1 said:

I have a 90 GT that i want to put 93 cobra taillight lenses in. Are they all created equal? I wanna find out where to get the best ones since i have hurd bad stories about some of the repo LX lenses. Any imput? Thanks!

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The original Tooling used by ford was sold and they can be found all over Ebay. Just make sure you get some that have ford imprinted on them.


This Is A Good Set

Or save yourself alot of money and go to a junkyard and pull some off of a 86 stang then put pinstriping on them like the cobra tails. Lots of people do this and it looks exactly the same but if you have extra cash its always easier to just buy them premade

I made mine. Got some 84-86 lights and painted the trim and painted some stripes. I didn't use the same dark color for the stripes as the 93 though. Also, on the original, the middle stripe on the lower section of the lights doesn't wrap all the way around. I haven't heard good things about the reproduction cobra lenses.

^^those look great!!!!^^

9T3SVT said:

Just make sure you get some that have ford imprinted on them.


This Is A Good Set

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Unfortunately, the stripes aren't painted on like the originals. I think you will be hard pressed to find some OEM lenses with the stripes painted on.

i got mine from blue oval industries off of ebay, and like said above the stripes are not painted, but my local junkyard had no good 86 lenses, and they wanted to charge a decent chunk for them also, so i just figured i'd spend the extra money and get a new set off of ebay. 160 shipped. not cheap but they look damn good.

I striped my own, too. I didn't like the striping on the originals, as they weren't a flat, solid color.

I got 85-86 GT lenses, shined them up, and put pinstriping on.

Haven't got a decent picture, though.

mansonozz said:

I striped my own, too. I didn't like the striping on the originals, as they weren't a flat, solid color.

I got 85-86 GT lenses, shined them up, and put pinstriping on.

Haven't got a decent picture, though.

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Dave,
isn't it the middle stripe on the bottom section that doesn't wrap all the way around? comes about 1.5" from meeting the far edge?

I bought reproductions from 50 resto. They look great and I have had them for about a year now. The only downfall is that the stripes are tape not paint. Take a look at my link below and see for yourself!

Yes, the center stripe on the lower section stops about 2" or so from the edge. I can't remember exactly what the distance is, but I striped mine with an OEM set in my hands. I lined them up accordingly

I haven't got any pictures that show that, sorry

edit: this pic is frmo Habiv's cardomain site:



You can see the lower stripe and how it is shorter. Also you can see how the lines are looking silver. The originals tended to do that with light hitting them, but would otherwise look gray/dull black. That's what I didn't like about the originals personally, I wanted a solid black stripe color. And I found this pic of my own:

86 GT taillights for free out of junk yard, I sanded the lenses w/ 400, than 600, than 1000, than 2000, and than buffed w/ medium compound, white padded and polish padded, than hand polished.... than cleaned them off, taped off those GOREGEOUS new lenses, (turned out near perfect and super shiny) and painted and cleared the black trim around the light - didn't know whether or not to pinstripe them - my pinstriper (if you don't know me nmy dad have a paint shop) said it would be like 20 bucks to hand pinstripe them, so it would be painted on, and i kinda like the taillights w/o the stripes... maybe later lol

Paul Perreca

Here they are

90 GT With Ford Lenses

I don't have any complaints with mine, but they're never in the rain or sun

Paul Perreca said:

86 GT taillights for free out of junk yard, I sanded the lenses w/ 400, than 600, than 1000, than 2000, and than buffed w/ medium compound, white padded and polish padded, than hand polished.... than cleaned them off, taped off those GOREGEOUS new lenses, (turned out near perfect and super shiny) and painted and cleared the black trim around the light - didn't know whether or not to pinstripe them - my pinstriper (if you don't know me nmy dad have a paint shop) said it would be like 20 bucks to hand pinstripe them, so it would be painted on, and i kinda like the taillights w/o the stripes... maybe later lol

Paul Perreca

Here they are

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Hey man can you tell me exactly how long that took and maybe pm it to me in a little more detail...

it took me as long as it took me lol i was workin at night, i can't remember.. longest part is waitin for clear to dry....
Detail:
Obtain 86 GT tail lights...

First step, clean them w/ degreaser (probably have wax from previous owner, and you don't want to sand the wax into the light)

Forget about saving the black edges, you'll be painting them later...

Step two: Identify the scratches or gauges, and concentrate on them with 600 grit paper... (I say 600, to make the next steps a little easier, but you can go 400 for really deep scratches) When you are satisfied w/ the leveled out scratches (some you won't get totally out but its ok) than move to step 3.
Step Three: Move up to a finer paper, grit 1000 - what to do= sand entire lense ( even the black parts if you want, i did) with this paper, just keep sanding and sanding until there is no reason to sand (this will get off any thing goofy, sap.. etc..) than dry it off, and look at it, inspect any areas that are still shiny, and hit them again w/ 1000..

Step 4: Start the same process as step 3 but with finer grit 2000... (the finer the grit, the faster the taillight will shine back up w/ a buffer and compound) Make sure you get every area w/ this paper.. and if you can get 2500, go for it... it will only make it easier...

Step 5: When you are done, dry tail lights off completely, best if using an air blower to blow out the cracks etc.

Step 6: Buff with buffer (preferably small buffer) w/ a medium compound... Make sure you do every area 2-3 times, once shouldn't be enough.... When you are done buffing, if you don't have access to the other pads, you should be ok to just polish them with a clearcoat safe polish... (even though it's not clearcoat) next.....

Step 6 (i think): Tape off the parts of the lense taht you don't want black, and tape them good (you may have to degrease the lense to get tape to stick, than polish when its all done again) - scotch pad all the black areas w/ a gray scotch pad (can't be too rough like a red scotch pad, because it will show up through the black where you scotched) than degrease again... and spray it... you could use a Gloss Black Spray can, if you don't have access to clear coat, but you could also use flat black can, and than use clear coat can (they make clear coat in aresole, not too great, but it works nice for these small applicatiosn)


I actually painted it professionally because i have a paint shop, so i have access, but mose ppl do not so instructions i gave are for everyone..

Paul Perreca

Good luck w/ you taillights dude

bookmarked....that is some good info for my 88....thx

Thanks Paul im gonna try that this weekend.

no problem, it will def work too if you take your time....... that is the key -
Paul Perreca