Thread: 1955 Chevy taillights

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Originally Posted by Matt167

I just went out and measured.. I think there too wide. the fin area is 4.5" and I would have to offset them to the inside and there is a spot that I can gain the inch from by doing that ( would still be centered because the '55 assembly is so much bigger ). I would need to go back just over an inch tho, to meet up with that spot.

After looking at my fender, If and when I ever get started I may have to cut a section from another fender. I do see body parts of 55 Chevy's from time to time on the internet. I was happy to give the pictures to you hope it works out for you ok.

Richard

I have to look at it more.. I think theres a way to do it, just have little clue as to what it is lol... the easy way I can visualise is by simply cutting off the surrounding area of the taillight on a '55, and cutting out the same area on the '51. make the new fit the old,
weld it up.. if I had a taillight bezel from a '55, that would give me a better idea.. might just have to buy 1. Ebay is loaded with them right now.

if I can make it work, it will be awsome,

another reason I want '55 taillights is because the intergrated back up lights will put that lighting higher and increase visibility, with my car being a Fleetline, the rear window is small and at a severe angle, and the fact that the bumper partially blocks the light path of the stock low mounted back up lights..

My opinion would be to stay away from the 39 tear drops. My experience with them in a Mullins trailer and on a 39 Ford, is that they have to be mounted perpendicular to the road other wise they will be hard to see from behind. (and really so if you use blue dots). The new LED ones are much brighter but again they shouldn't be mounted on an angle (LED's are directional lights). 39 teardrops are really cool, but I prefer being seen from behind and at a distance of more than 20 feet.

The tail lights of a 55 should be work really well for you. They have LED's for them as well.

My car will be staying as a 1950's custom.. or what could have been compleated in the 50's I should say.. so I can't have the LED taillights.. it will also stay 6v for now, so I could run 6v super brites but that's about it. It's between '55 Chevy taillights, '54 Chevy Taillights or '56 Packard Taillights ( I know they'll cost a pretty penny ).

I think I can scratch '56 packard off the list... only set I found was an NOS set on Ebay.. Buy it now is $1,700.

Check out the Night Prowlers at:http://www.thenightprowlers.com/

They have a good assortment of tail lights for custom cars, including 56 Packard Clipper tail light lenses for $120. Get out the fabricating tools and get to work.

I just checked there... '54 Merc lights would be good on the car too.. seems they sell them for $60 but that might be just for the lenses

I'll go through some of my old custom car books there should be plenty of ideas. Watson, use to do the 50's Chevy's he may have had something different. Did you mention Packard? They had a nice look.

Richard

I did mention Packard.. '56 Clipper taillights actully.. found an NOS set on Ebay.. $1,700 buy it now.. if that's there going price, I can't afford to do that swap.. I'm thinking that the '55 Chevy taillights are the best bet.. enough fabrication that the car will have my little touch on it.. and there a fairly cheap option, at $200 per set, reproduction.. I'v got the width figured out in my head I think.. I'm going to cut up a peice of cardboard and make a template.. I need a bezel to do the real work tho.

After I hit the reply, I thought you had just mentioned $1,700 on ebay. Memory has gone also.

Richard

Originally Posted by ford2custom

Attachment 29792

This is for Itoldyouso if you see this post.

Don

If you see this one, it's for you, update,

This to let you know the visitor is still here. He thinks he has taken charge now.


Attachment 29793

My Sister finally got released from the hospital she is doing a lot better, now they think it may have been food poisoning!!


Richard

Richard, really glad to hear that she is out and that they think that may have been the problem. Food poisoning isn't pleasant, but sure better than lots of other stuff.

Yep, your visitor looks like it has taken over the house for sure. I know the feeling..........I wanted to take a nap on the couch this afternoon but Lucky and Chewy were all sprawled out and I didn't have the heart to disturb them.

Don

I figured out in my head what I need to do to put in '55 Chevy taillights.. I need to get 2 complete fins and cut the 1/4 panal side off of them except on the ends, then face the top over and drop them in place.. I'll have to trim and create some curvature for the bottom, maby even a new tail panal but,, I'll be able to have the '55 taillights

Have you search for some old fenders? People are selling anything from the 55Chevy's that has a decent panel. We use to just scrap the car when the engine went bad. They were pretty cheap back then. I sold a running 55 Chevy 2 dr. sedan for $100 after I sprayed primer on the entire car. It was a 6 cyl but it was a complete car the year was 1971.

Richard

I'v left requests for a couple junkyards but no responses yet

Well guys.. I went to the U pull It get some new rims/ tires for my moms car, cause her old alloys got worn out bad in the lug holes and wouldn't stay tight.. anyway, I checked out there classic car section and they had a lot of good stuff and a lot of really bad stuff... when stumbling over the back of a 90% deteroraited '57 Caddy convert, around the corner I noticed the taillights.. sure enough, it was a '55 Chevy 4dr sedan. 80% gone.. but the taillight surrounds were good.. so I went to lowes ( down the road ) and got a throatless hack saw that takes saws all blades.. came back and tried to saw off what I needed... well it just did not happen like that, so I went down to see the yard man, told him what I needed and I paid him $50 and he cut them off for me... price out the door was $11 each.. $35.50 each figuring in what I paid the yardman