Kustom Taillights? just an idea.

[exmonkeypunk]

Anyone done anything "Kustom" to their tail lights? Myself, being half purist, half mutilator, i'm getting itchy wanting to come up with something different.
I was thinking maybe frenching in the tail lights on the 72'. If i cut out the panel on the inside of the bed and install some hinges for an access panel, it could work. Another idea was using a shortened 59' cadillac light. It would have to shortened quite a bit, like down to maybe 2", but it might be *****in'.
Any other ideas or input?

[Sammy]

There is a guy not far from here who took a early 60's GTO say 67 or so which he has owned since new. Turned the inside completely around seats steering column dash everything. It was in a magazine hotrod as he had the proof there. You sit in it and your facing the tailights & drive it that way. It was pro-street or something. Point is why would you screw up a good looking T/L? Step maybe but not a fleet.

[Dingfodgy]

I also have one foot in tradition and the other in something new/different. I'm contemplating using the tailights off of a late 60's to early 70's Datsun Roadster. I'd have to create a mounting plate about 3/4" deeper than the stock location....but I think it might look cool. Also the lenses off the rear of a 2002+ Range Rover HSE would be schweet too!

[VA72C10]

You can do musclerod's tails that have billet surrounds and have a frenched in look. Pricey, but nice looking and much less fab work. But if you can do it yourself, go for it and have something unique.

[1969stepside]

what about custom tails for us step guys?

[exmonkeypunk]

How about flipping the tail lights? I mean, putting the reverse lights at the bottom instead of at the top. There's gotta be another vehicle's tail lights that are close to the same shape, but different in some way that would be noticeable to a truck nut, but appears almost stock to the average person. I'm starting to like the flipped reverse idea. hmmmm, i can feel those gears turning.

[exmonkeypunk]

Originally Posted by Sammy

There is a guy not far from here who took a early 60's GTO say 67 or so which he has owned since new. Turned the inside completely around seats steering column dash everything. It was in a magazine hotrod as he had the proof there. You sit in it and your facing the tailights & drive it that way. It was pro-street or something. Point is why would you screw up a good looking T/L? Step maybe but not a fleet.

I wouldn't "screw" the lights up. A proper customizing will enhance the appearance, which is what i intend to do. Believe me, there will be a whole lot of thought and preparations before any harsh decisions are made. I wouldn't chance it if i thought it might end up looking stupid or wrong. The factory did a great job of designing these trucks, i just wanna help make mine look even better.

[raggedjim]

I've been thinking about this, maybe with clear lenses so I would still have backup lights (I could probably get away with no backups in KY)

Rg

[exmonkeypunk]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

I've been thinking about this, maybe with clear lenses so I would still have backup lights (I could probably get away with no backups in KY)

Rg

I think you're lookin' at a winner there. that's a photochop correct?
You can always get some small LED's and mount them hidden behind the bumper for your backup lights. Seriously, that looks rightous with the lenses like that. French them in and you're in business. Now, what tail lights are like those?

[raggedjim]

Yeah, it's a digital concept at this point.

The lense would come from here
http://www.hitechledproducts.com/pro...fff220c59bb734

The frame would be machined aluminum.

Rg

[cstm68]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

You can do musclerod's tails that have billet surrounds and have a frenched in look. Pricey, but nice looking and much less fab work. But if you can do it yourself, go for it and have something unique.

whare can i get these or the other ones out there that are similar ??

[VA72C10]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=278414

[exmonkeypunk]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

Yeah, it's a digital concept at this point.

The lense would come from here
http://www.hitechledproducts.com/pro...fff220c59bb734

The frame would be machined aluminum.

Rg

wow. i had no idea a place like that existed. Makes sense. There's a market for everything these days. Again though, NIIIICE.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

Yeah, it's a digital concept at this point.

The lense would come from here
http://www.hitechledproducts.com/pro...fff220c59bb734

The frame would be machined aluminum.

Rg

So when are you gonna start making them?

(Dibs on the 1st clear set you make)

CC

[raggedjim]

Well, I have a machinist working on the bezels. I want to get those done before I start with the lenses.

I don't plan to start a business doing this, but once I have the cnc program written, I might consider making a few extra sets of bezels...

Rg

[exmonkeypunk]

will there be financing available for them? If so, i may mortgage the house for a set.

[FormerMember]

I'd be interested in a set to.

I'll probably do a roll pan with a small set of LED's frenched in for back up lights.

[raggedjim]

See what I got myself into???

Give me a little time to see how they are gonna work, then we can talk about it...

Thanks, Rg

[avysittinon22s]

Hey RaggedJim Im from Paris and have been wanting to do some just like you got in the pic, if ya wanta get together sometime.

[chevy72blu]

Anyone got a pic of some late model caddy tails in a 67-72 fleet? I have seen a few and they actually fit the body lines very smoothly.
Some LED's I found

[Dingfodgy]

Originally Posted by 1969stepside

what about custom tails for us step guys?

I always told myself that if I ever got my hands on a stepper- I'd french in a pair of early BMW 2002 taillights.....I think it would look totally *****in'.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by avysittinon22s

Hey RaggedJim Im from Paris and have been wanting to do some just like you got in the pic, if ya wanta get together sometime.

No problem, it will have to be after July, this is my busy season...

Rg

[c10addict]

Originally Posted by 1969stepside

what about custom tails for us step guys?

My shop truck project just went from a fleetside to a step side last week... Long story... Anyways the truck is a 67 and is going to be flat army green with a black roof, grill and interior metal...(see photochop pic) I bought these on e-bay and thought they would fit the sinister theme I am going with...

[ChevLoRay]

Originally Posted by exmonkeypunk

How about flipping the tail lights? I mean, putting the reverse lights at the bottom instead of at the top. There's gotta be another vehicle's tail lights that are close to the same shape, but different in some way that would be noticeable to a truck nut, but appears almost stock to the average person. I'm starting to like the flipped reverse idea. hmmmm, i can feel those gears turning.

The contour at the top of the backup lights is the design element that needs to be duplicated at the base of the tail lights. What if you did that and eliminated the back up lights, then had one solid lens that would conform to the curved shape of the backup lens....top and bottom? It would look like a big stylized "C", or a backwards capital "D" on the left and a capital D on the right.