50 Chevy taillight treatment, custom guys apply within

[Roothawg]

Well I got the hole cut now it's time to deide on the angle.
I'll just show you what I have done thus far.

I just have the frenching bucket sitting in the hole I can move it forward or aft depending on what looks right. Should I build up the sheetmetal around it or just cut her off and make it flush.

Here is a pic or 2....

[Roothawg]

Next....

[Roothawg]

Another....

[Roothawg]

Here it is before....the other side but you get the idea.

[SwitchBlade327]

I'm not real sure on how it would look with the metal built up around it. I'm more inclined to say to put them in flush, maybe sank in just a little...maybe some photoshop people can help...I"m having a hard time visualizing right now...

[Roothawg]

Here's the filler plate for the old light.

[Roothawg]

These are not my first choice but I can't wait around on a set of Kaiser tailights. They are a lot of dough and I hafta get this project rolling. So I will make do with what I have. The Fleetline has a lot of compound curves so it make it very difficult to locate anything that looks "straight".

[kustombuilder]

i'd sink em in a bit and trim em to fit the stock quarter. if you try to build metal out to it they will look stuck on and out of place. kinda like a pimple.

[Roothawg]

That's the way I am leaning but I always want HAMB backup...it's the American way. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[SwitchBlade327]

at least kustombuilder could actually say what I had going on in my head....it ain't been my day for speaking...

[Ron]

I agree with SB and KB you don't want them to stick out any at all. Keep pretty much the same orig body shape from the side.

[Roothawg]

About how deep ya'll reckon I oughta sink em?

Until I get a 90 degree on the back wall of the bucket?

[kustombuilder]

play around with it, stick the lense in and see where you like it best. then weld it there.

[Roothawg]

Just wondering on the angle of the lens. I didn't want the lens at the same angle as the body line or it would be sticking up towards the sky...know what I mean Vern?

[kustombuilder]

YUP! i find it best to just move it around at this point, till it's where you like it. make sure to do it WITH the lense in so you get a more accurate feel for what it'll look like done.

[kustomd]

I would just set them in maybe about 3/4" deep from the highest point on the fender. Does that make any sense? to bad you already started on it cause I would like to see a fastback with the 49 ford taillights setup like Mcphails 52 I haven't seen one that I know of and I think it would look pretty kickass with the top of the car sloping back on a fastback like they do. Just my opinion tho. I couldn't tell from the size of the buckets what lights you were using you may already be using ford taillights.

[Roothawg]

Thanks...I have to score some lens for it now. I have the buckets and housings but no lens or bezels.

[Ron]

[ QUOTE ]
I have to score some lens for it now

[/ QUOTE ]

Gene Winfield's lenses look the best. The price is not bad either.

[Roothawg]

Tell me more...I have been surfing on the web for a while. I need the bezels too.

[DrJ]

I would set them dead nuts verticle, but only after sitting the car on stands to ensure it is totlally level first. In otherwords make the tail light housings perpendicular to the running boards.
They need to be on the same angle as each other and not cocked sideways either as looking from the rear or from above. You can probably rig up a temporary jig to line them up square with each other using a drilled piece of angle iron inside the trunk going from side to side. I would hammer a roll into the edge of the opening about the same radius as the window opening curve rather than just weld them in square cornered. It's a bit of nit picky work but it'd be worth it.
Also if you roll the bottom edge in more then you can sink the whole assembly more before you run out of tunnel at the top.
You probably don't want to put the '54 Chevy peak at the top but if the rolled edge and the tunnel start running out of metal to blend together you might be able to work in a stubby version of one o' them license plate dildos at the top making it have an "organic" look... Hell, it'd look like a clit, and there ain't nuthin wrong with that look.! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Ron]

Gene makes lenses for 49/50 Fords, 54 Chevy, and some others. His are two parts the red outer lens is smooth, the inner clear lens has the texture/prism to it. Most of the Lee style lenses are just one piece smooth on the outside with texture/prism on the inside. So when the form them the outside gets a textured or waffle look look to them. So Gene's just have a much smoother look to them. Besides Gene is a hell of a nice guy.
I think Nightprowlers sells the repop bezels.

I think this is right if I can look later or someone may know for sure.

Winfield Rod and Custom
8201 Sierra Hwy.
Mojave, CA 93050.
Phone: 661-824-4728

[Roothawg]

Thanks ...I'll try and call him this afternoon.

[Rocket88]

Flush with the body! They look way smoother that way.
I'd show you a pic of how my bro did his, the StarPhoto has been brutally slow as of late. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

[wayfarer]

Moon sells reproduction bezels. When I put the frenched buckets in the dodge, I put them in, moved back and looked at it from where someone following the car would. I moved them until they looked the way I wanted them, then welded the bucket to the rear at the depth I wanted and finally cut off the extra depth of the bucket.
http://photo.starblvd.net/wayfarer/1-4-2.jpg

[Roothawg]

Here's an email from Gary at Night Prowlers about the lens and bezels, for those who were wondering.

Chris:

We have new glass taillight lens for the '49 - '50 Ford. A plain glass lens is $10.00. A glass lens with a glass blue dot installed is $16.00 each. We also have a custom, acrylic, bubble lens for $45.00 for a pair. We have new, chrome taillight bezels for $20.00 each.

We hope we can serve you in the future!

Gary
Night Prowlers

[Rocket88]

Ok, StarPhoto seems to be workin again.
Here's the tail of my bro's 50.
He used 48 Ford tail lights.

http://photo.starblvd.net/~rocket88/2-4-1.jpg

[Sailor]

I think they would look best flush, so that nothing sticks out and disturbs the profile and at the same time avoid too much tunneling (never felt quite comfortable with the look of that).

I know its late, but if I had a Fleetline, I would have the taillights in the bumberguards and leave the bodywork totally smooth.

[Ron]

[ QUOTE ]
We have new glass taillight lens for the '49 - '50 Ford. A plain glass lens is $10.00. A glass lens with a glass blue dot installed is $16.00 each. We also have a custom, acrylic, bubble lens for $45.00 for a pair. We have new, chrome taillight bezels for $20.00 each.

[/ QUOTE ]

Winfield's still look best;) Lens that is.

[ QUOTE ]
I know its late, but if I had a Fleetline, I would have the taillights in the bumberguards and leave the bodywork totally smooth.

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too.

[Roothawg]

I frenched the first one. It looks ok, not sure if I like it or not. Too late now... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Not bad for my first custom...some may argue that though.

I thought about having the taillights in the bumper guards but I was afraid it would be too far down out of SUV line of sight.....I'll post pics later.

[JimC]

Roothawg, that is a good point.
I have seen lights in the bumpers, various locations, and above the bumper in the panel below the trunk.
I do not think you can find a location that is "safe" because folks just do not pay attention.

I read RF's editorial in the new CR and it is along the lines that people can be distracted while driving.

Back to the tail lights, the newer cars have large, brilliant lights, and people miss them.

Bottom line, put the lights where they are pleasing to you. After all, your car has only to plese one person.
Jim

[Roothawg]

Man your bro's Fleetline always gives me hope......I like that car.

[Roothawg]

Just ordered a set from Gene. He is a nice guy....40 bux. Not bad eh?

[cleatus]

I think they look best when they are sunk just enough so that the lens is flush with the fender and therfore completes the curve of the back of the fender. I know that means they will then be pointed upwards, but it is not like they project light the way a headlight does, so it really does not look weird at night.

[Roothawg]

It is really hard to get to look right from all the different angles. I'll post pics when I get her in primer.
They are sunk a little but not tunneled.