Install - '55 Chevy tail lights on my '49 Chevy custom

well I did it, been wanting to do this mod for 5 years now. Bought the set of lights 4-5 yrs ago and then searched out a pair of rear tail light sheet metal for years now, looking for parts cars and placing want ads, nothing... until about two months ago I get an email from a guy bout 1 hr south of me that he has a pair... so without hesitation I drive down get em - snagged a bumper at the swap meet in Sacto earlier this year.

Here is the process... I will update this post as metal finishing is completed.

Hope you dig. I do.

Parts gathered:


Test fit the bumper:


Tape up the tail light to get the look.. yep this is going to be awesome!


Start cutting


Make some custom metal shapes


move to the other side


More metal shaping:




Build the splash appron and reinstall bumper






place lights in...









... well what cha y'all think?.... bash away I don't care. I like it and think it's just different enough to be cool.



Back to the shop to weld away. - need to fill in the old bumper side outlets.




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Looks good

 

That is fucking rad! I wish there were more threads like this instead of putting 305 TBI motors in these cars. Can't get enough kustom work!

 

I like it dude. Nice job.

 

I wasn't sure about this at first but that is cool!!!

 

I like it! I have been thinking about a similar mod for my 50 fleetline but coundnt find good reference photos until your thread. Stupid question for you, did you use a rear or front 55 bumper? Good job on the metal fab too. Do you happen to have any other profile pics with the new tail lights? I'm curious to see what the new profile of your car look like.

 

Looks really cool!! only thing that catches my eye is the new metal looks too straight, seems like it needs arched a little bit when it comes off the stock fender!

I dig it though, that is an underestimated tail light!!!

 

I'm really liking this. Nice work. Would it be possible to get a full profile shot?

 

Wow, all of a sudden 55 tail lights look huge, nice work
How about a pic from straight back and a side profile.
I like the idea.
Godspeed
MrC.

 

Looks good. Take a full side pic for us. Digging it.

 

Very cool idea! I like it!

 

that looks really really good! just put the one piece red lenses in!

 

I will get the car out of the shop and get pictures soon... buttoning up some other odds and ends while she is in the air.

Chaddilac: there is a slight arc and curve in new metal, does not show well in the pics. flow is nice, i think.

MrConcdid: the '55 light do look LARGE and I was worried about that half way through this mod, but heck I can always change them out later... It is only metal and changes are easy once you start cutting.


One pc lenses are in the future...


Thanks all for positive feedback... helps this one man builder feel like I am doing something right.

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wasn't sure if I would like it but, it looks good. nice job

 

cool! thanks for posting a lot of pretty pictures---I like pretty pictures

 

Great metal work! Looks great!

 

I used to see a similar year chevy around town with upside 56 chevy tail lights. Nice work

 

did you set the bumper depth according to the stock bumper brackets?

 

Looks good, don't think I have seen that treatment before on a 49, I like.

 

Thanks, I like to be different.

Thanks....that sounds like many folks reaction so far.

I made custom bumper mount brackets.


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<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> Looks great, how about using 56 Buick tail light lens? I did it in my 55 Chevy a long time ago, was a great custom look.

 

Good deal! maybe it's the clean/painted metal that's throwing the pic off?!

Looks good bro!!

 

Man that is sick !!!!!!!!!!!

 

Whoda thunk? They look great!

 

awesome work buddy.. i love em! Have you thought about taking a little meat out of your trunk at all? Im still drooling over your grill treatment, now this! CJ

 

Hay now, why so personal - what cha got against MY trunk?

I kid. I rather like the look of a stock '49/50 trunk. I may grab an extra trunk lid and pie cut it to test the look, but damn at some point I need to just finish this car!

Hows the paint coming on your ride?


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hahaha i hear ya.. youve been working on your car a long time.. but soo worth it.. love what you have done with it.. i just finished painting all my jambs yesterday.. started painting my steering wheel tonight.. so im getting there

 

Looks great! I read where you have 1 piece lenses in future plans..I think Nightprowlers has the old style Lee lenses that will fill the bill. Looks Kool, nice work.

 

have always wondered why this hasn't been done on a 53-4 chev. looks good on your 49.

 

out of the hundreds of 49-54 pics i have.. this is the only one i have seen.. still looks different than yours!