• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Time for new taillights - ideas?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Darkwriter77
  • Start date Start date Sep 4, 2006
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Next
1 of 3 Next Last

Darkwriter77

Resident Ranting Negative Nancy
5 Year Member
Jul 1, 2005
314
281
134
Apache Junction, AZ
Sep 4, 2006
#1
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #1
Whelp, the other night at my weekend job (one more Sunday left before I'm outta retail FOREVER!), another Monsoon storm was whipping up toward the end of my shift. I went out to shut my sunroof, only to discover a large portion of my driver's side tail lens destroyed with lots of little telltale chunks of plastic lying around underneath. I immediately assumed some a-hole with a trailer or some old fart with a pickup had backed into it, but there wasn't even the slightest scratch on the bumper or on the trunk lid. I also knew it wasn't a vandal for the fact that they surely would've knocked in more than that, or gone for something more pricey like the rear window. Turns out, a shopping cart got a running start at my car, thanks to the 40+MPH wind gusts that night, and the corner of it plowed right into the turn signal/reverse lamp area of the lens. Lucky me, huh?

Of course, it couldn't have aimed for the passenger side lens that already had a big nasty scuff on the reverse lamp area, it had to go for the one pristine lens on the back. So, it's time to go shopping for a new pair.

My ideas thus far:

-GT tail lenses (painted black to match)
-Smoked LX lenses (do they require red colored bulbs for the brake lamps?)
-Throw on a cheap set of GTS taillight covers to hide the damage (and hope the cops don't throw a fit over it)

I was wanting to spray my lenses with some of that VHT Nightshades stuff before this. I'd just like something that ties in with the blackness a tad better than OEM LX lenses.

And NO, I am NOT going to even consider smoked or carbon-fiber Altezzas.

Anyone have any other ideas than the three above? ... or maybe a spare set of GT lenses lying around the garage that they just want to give away, perhaps?
 

Aaron

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 5, 2003
95
39
38
Buffalo, NY
Sep 4, 2006
#2
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #2
I'm not sure GT lenses are going to look right on a notch.
Here's my pick:

View attachment 443160
 
R

Reed

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
78
0
0
BC, Canada
Sep 4, 2006
#3
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #3
+1
 

ryan218

In just 10 years, I'll be old enough to drive!!!!
Dec 28, 2005
0
1
38
columbus ohio
Sep 4, 2006
#4
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #4
gt lights and strype them
 

ryan218

In just 10 years, I'll be old enough to drive!!!!
Dec 28, 2005
0
1
38
columbus ohio
Sep 4, 2006
#5
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #5
aaron11272 said:
I'm not sure GT lenses are going to look right on a notch.
Here's my pick:

View attachment 443158
Click to expand...


how much they run?
 

Aaron

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 5, 2003
95
39
38
Buffalo, NY
Sep 4, 2006
#6
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #6
ryan218 said:
gt lights and strype them
Click to expand...

Huh?!?!?
 

Aaron

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 5, 2003
95
39
38
Buffalo, NY
Sep 4, 2006
#7
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #7
$159 + shipping brand new.

You could probably find them a bit cheaper though...
 

ryan218

In just 10 years, I'll be old enough to drive!!!!
Dec 28, 2005
0
1
38
columbus ohio
Sep 4, 2006
#8
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #8
aaron11272 said:
Huh?!?!?
Click to expand...
ops replace the gt with lx
 

Darkwriter77

Resident Ranting Negative Nancy
5 Year Member
Jul 1, 2005
314
281
134
Apache Junction, AZ
Sep 4, 2006
#9
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #9
I considered the Cobra lenses, but they're kinda pricey, even on eBay. If I could find a good enough deal on 'em, though, I'd definitely give those a shot.

Indeed, do tell about striping the GT lenses.

I've seen a black notch with GT lenses before, and it looked pretty snazzy to me ... but then, it was also done up with the GT ground effects and front fascia, so it was pretty much just a GT'ed-out notch, so it was a full-package deal. I just think they'd blend a little better with the rest of the black if they were already painted to match ... although painting them myself looks like it'd be a major PITA to mask off all those little odd-shaped lines.

I also figured that most folks with GT's are ditching their lenses and replacing them with LX lenses, so their going price would be a lot lower (or free) due to their lower demand. I'm nearing the end of school, so funds are kinda tight, and I'm trying to keep this as cheap as possible.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,249
17,934
224
Massachusetts
Sep 4, 2006
#10
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #10
Cobra lenses here.

Got mine on Ebay for $35. They were just 85-86 GT lenses that i sanded, polished, painted and striped myself
 

Darkwriter77

Resident Ranting Negative Nancy
5 Year Member
Jul 1, 2005
314
281
134
Apache Junction, AZ
Sep 4, 2006
#11
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #11
Hmmm. Now, there's an idea. Did you use pinstriping for the stripes, or did you mask and then paint them?
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,249
17,934
224
Massachusetts
Sep 4, 2006
#12
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #12
1/8" black pinstriping from Autozone. If you make sure the lenses are clean when you apply them, they won't come off at all.


http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=632177
 

04sleeper

Founding Member
Jun 22, 2002
2,674
14
89
Dallas, TX
Sep 4, 2006
#13
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #13
Mustang5L5 said:
1/8" black pinstriping from Autozone. If you make sure the lenses are clean when you apply them, they won't come off at all.


http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=632177
Click to expand...
The only thing with that is the the factory Cobra lens' pinstripe is not shiney. It's more of a flat black.

And the center stripe does not come around all the way on the lens at the corners.

Thats if you wanted to get really pickey and be "Just Like" the Cobra's.

You probably already know this but this is just an FYI for any one else wanting to copy the Cobra light.
 

04sleeper

Founding Member
Jun 22, 2002
2,674
14
89
Dallas, TX
Sep 4, 2006
#14
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #14
I just tinted mine with some thick 3M film.

Before:


After:
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,249
17,934
224
Massachusetts
Sep 4, 2006
#15
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #15
04sleeper said:
The only thing with that is the the factory Cobra lens' pinstripe is not shiney. It's more of a flat black.

And the center stripe does not come around all the way on the lens at the corners.

Thats if you wanted to get really pickey and be "Just Like" the Cobra's.

You probably already know this but this is just an FYI for any one else wanting to copy the Cobra light.
Click to expand...


Yeah i knew that, but it didn't matter to me. My car's not a real Cobra so i didn't want to get too picky. They look good and that's all that matters.

99% of Mustangers wouldn't be able to tell anyway
 

04sleeper

Founding Member
Jun 22, 2002
2,674
14
89
Dallas, TX
Sep 4, 2006
#16
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #16
Mustang5L5 said:
Yeah i knew that, but it didn't matter to me. My car's not a real Cobra so i didn't want to get too picky. They look good and that's all that matters.

99% of Mustangers wouldn't be able to tell anyway
Click to expand...
Yeah,

I did my 88 GT like that as well.
 

Darkwriter77

Resident Ranting Negative Nancy
5 Year Member
Jul 1, 2005
314
281
134
Apache Junction, AZ
Sep 4, 2006
#17
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #17
Hey, nice work on the 3M tape. What kind, exactly, is that, and where might one obtain some? Mayhaps I can score some LX taillights off a wrecked 4-banger locally and go about it that way...?

On a prior notch that I had, I experimented around a bit with some electrical tape across the brake lights to see what it would look like with a three-bar retro kind of look. At night, it did actually look pretty nice, but I realized I'd need to tint or somehow otherwise darken the reverse and turn signal portions so it wouldn't look so weird during the daytime. Never got around to it before I sold off that car, but the idea is creeping back into my mind once more.
 

Jquintel

Member
Jun 8, 2003
194
0
16
Fort Wayne, IN
Sep 7, 2006
#18
  • Sep 7, 2006
  • #18
this is a pic of the notch with the gt's before a) paint change, b) in a wreck

 

carbed87

Member
Jun 5, 2005
215
0
16
Sep 7, 2006
#19
  • Sep 7, 2006
  • #19
i got the upper half of mine striped (ran out of tape) we used the autozone tape and took our meauserments off of an svo, so they llok pretty good. theres plenty of pics in here, im sure you can see them in one or two: http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=658461
 
I

ike34

Member
Jan 16, 2004
156
12
19
Waterloo, IA
Sep 10, 2006
#20
  • Sep 10, 2006
  • #20
04sleeper said:
I just tinted mine with some thick 3M film.

Before:


After:
Click to expand...

What kind of tape did you use it looks really good?
 
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Next
1 of 3 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Place to Avoid: Jamison Auto Group in Gulfport, MS
  • D Durden
  • Oct 20, 2025
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • 2 3
Replies
46
Views
3K
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Thursday at 9:44 PM
Noobz347
For Sale 3-owner 1987 Mustang GT, $18K obro, Lancaster CA
  • Bill Cool
  • Oct 6, 2024
  • Fox Body Mustangs For Sale (1979-93)
Replies
4
Views
2K
Fox Body Mustangs For Sale (1979-93) Oct 13, 2024
nickyb
  • Locked
“Doing stuff the wrong way for the right reasons”: A related stupid story.
  • CarMichael Angelo
  • Apr 26, 2020
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
7
Views
4K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Apr 27, 2020
a91what
Progress Thread Foxy Molly Build
  • FoxyMolly
  • Jan 19, 2016
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
30
Views
4K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Oct 10, 2016
FoxyMolly
Brian The Newbie - Foxy Molly - 1989 Lx
  • FoxyMolly
  • Jan 19, 2016
  • The Welcome Wagon
Replies
4
Views
1K
The Welcome Wagon Jan 22, 2016
dhfawcett
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?