1990Coupe
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Build Thread 1978 Mercury Cyclone. The pig is in the pen.
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Struggling to come to terms w/ what I want to do for a tail light.
One one hand I pretty much know that I could make Fairmont sedan tail lights work on this car. ( But how different would that be?)
On the other, Completely different custom tails are not w/o their own pratfalls. Aside from the obstacle of having to make a set completely from scratch, I still have to deal w/ the fact that custom tails won't have either SAE, or DOT endorsements stamped on the lenses.
Despite the fact that Alabama doesn't require vehicles get safety inspected at this time, that doesn't mean that that won't happen sometime in the near future. I'd hate to go through all of this only to have to redo the lenses to satisfy some B/S future safety certification process.
So, that brings me back to using a set off of a different vehicle. Like I did w/ the red car before this one, using stuff off of a previous year Mustang meant that I could buy anything and everything brand new repro, and not have to deal w/ broken, cracked, scratched, or hazy lenses.
Awhile back I bought a set of 68 Cougar taillights. 67-68 Cougars share the same light as a 67 Shelby with the addition of a "cage" that encompasses the lense. Despite setting those housings in place on the car several times, I just couldn't come to terms w/ the tapered lense, or the bulky, dated look.
68-70 Shelby lenses are different. More rectangular in shape, and a little taller than the previous year. I considered just biting the bullet today, and buying a complete repro set of sequential LED 68 reproduction 68 tails and being done with it, but I needed to make sure I could make them fit across the Fairmont rear fascia. The dude that I'd buy them from said they measured about 5.5" high x 24" long, so I needed to check first, considering that kit cost 620.00.
When I got home I drug the Cougar tails to get a comparison measurement and to use them one more time to do a trial fit.
I went a little beyond that actually.
Peeking through the rectangular cut I made in the panel for the custom tail sits the top crown of the 67 Shelby/Cougar. If I use Shelby tails, whether they be these, or the rectangular 68 pieces, only the top edge will be visible anyway. This is the way the Cougar orients the tail light, with the pointed end facing the corner. The rounded end has a clear lenses that doubles to illuminate the license plate, but I doubt that I would use it that way. The lense that's pictured is garbage, and the other was broke when I got it as well.
Alternately, I can flip it over and orient the point inwards pointing at the plate, but it would require some more cutting on that panel to allow the lenses to flip.
I kinda like the look the way it is, but still cant say that I'm completely in love with it one way or the other.
So what do you guys think?
Keep it the way it is, flip it over,(and buy 67 lenses) or buy the 68 lenses instead?
*** Edit:
While I'm poking around, I solve my own problem. I find an example of the lenses mounted into a flat panel:
I'll be able to recess the lenses in a "shadow box" along with the plate.
Just bought em!
One one hand I pretty much know that I could make Fairmont sedan tail lights work on this car. ( But how different would that be?)
On the other, Completely different custom tails are not w/o their own pratfalls. Aside from the obstacle of having to make a set completely from scratch, I still have to deal w/ the fact that custom tails won't have either SAE, or DOT endorsements stamped on the lenses.
Despite the fact that Alabama doesn't require vehicles get safety inspected at this time, that doesn't mean that that won't happen sometime in the near future. I'd hate to go through all of this only to have to redo the lenses to satisfy some B/S future safety certification process.
So, that brings me back to using a set off of a different vehicle. Like I did w/ the red car before this one, using stuff off of a previous year Mustang meant that I could buy anything and everything brand new repro, and not have to deal w/ broken, cracked, scratched, or hazy lenses.
Awhile back I bought a set of 68 Cougar taillights. 67-68 Cougars share the same light as a 67 Shelby with the addition of a "cage" that encompasses the lense. Despite setting those housings in place on the car several times, I just couldn't come to terms w/ the tapered lense, or the bulky, dated look.
68-70 Shelby lenses are different. More rectangular in shape, and a little taller than the previous year. I considered just biting the bullet today, and buying a complete repro set of sequential LED 68 reproduction 68 tails and being done with it, but I needed to make sure I could make them fit across the Fairmont rear fascia. The dude that I'd buy them from said they measured about 5.5" high x 24" long, so I needed to check first, considering that kit cost 620.00.
When I got home I drug the Cougar tails to get a comparison measurement and to use them one more time to do a trial fit.
I went a little beyond that actually.
Peeking through the rectangular cut I made in the panel for the custom tail sits the top crown of the 67 Shelby/Cougar. If I use Shelby tails, whether they be these, or the rectangular 68 pieces, only the top edge will be visible anyway. This is the way the Cougar orients the tail light, with the pointed end facing the corner. The rounded end has a clear lenses that doubles to illuminate the license plate, but I doubt that I would use it that way. The lense that's pictured is garbage, and the other was broke when I got it as well.
Alternately, I can flip it over and orient the point inwards pointing at the plate, but it would require some more cutting on that panel to allow the lenses to flip.
I kinda like the look the way it is, but still cant say that I'm completely in love with it one way or the other.
So what do you guys think?
Keep it the way it is, flip it over,(and buy 67 lenses) or buy the 68 lenses instead?
*** Edit:
While I'm poking around, I solve my own problem. I find an example of the lenses mounted into a flat panel:
I'll be able to recess the lenses in a "shadow box" along with the plate.
Just bought em!
Last edited:
- Dec 19, 2010
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I hate to say it, but I'm not feeling the cougar lights. I thought I would... but looking at it now, I don't think it's a large enough light, vertically. I think when you paint it all one color, you are going to have a ton of painted sheet metal showing with squinty looking tail lights. . Sorry Mike.
No need to apologize Jeeves!
I hear what you're saying, but let me ask for another opinion:
The blue rectangles that flank the plate....too big? too small?,.....just right?
- Dec 19, 2010
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No need to apologize Jeeves!
I hear what you're saying, but let me ask for another opinion:
The blue rectangles that flank the plate too big? too small?,.....just right?
That seems a little better. . I hate to continue to tell you they're too small after you've already purchased what you plan on using..
When I envisioned cougar/shelby tails, I imagined the panel you posted.. It seems your panel is taller and to get the proportion the same it looks like the lamp would almost be the same height as the license plate.
But what do I know?
- Dec 19, 2010
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Kinda like..
I know you are going for custom, and this pic is stock(ish).. I guess it's just what my eye is used to..
I know you are going for custom, and this pic is stock(ish).. I guess it's just what my eye is used to..
Kinda like..
I know you are going for custom, and this pic is stock(ish).. I guess it's just what my eye is used to..
Those are definitely stock Fairmont tails. (Albeit really cool ones)
Those lenses were separated, and the guy lined the housing w/ hundreds of mirror tiles annndddd.. It is a Baby LTD conversion bumper-wise.
Have faith. I do.
- Dec 19, 2010
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MY 85 GT
10 Year Member
The cougar light would like nice but i think it needs to be a little bigger...i think the car being your making it a flat panel needs more lighting...if that makes sense?.
Additionally you have to remember that in order to recess/French the tail lights I'll have to add 1/2-3-4 around the perimeter of the openings. The Shelby tail light is 3" longer, and 1/2" taller than the blue lined rectangle on the rear panel.
MY 85 GT
10 Year Member
Read some of the woes in RaceoHolic's thread.
How much coolant do you have bypassing the thermostat when It's closed?
This may be a good time to try and find yourself an in-line restrictor?
How much coolant do you have bypassing the thermostat when It's closed?
This may be a good time to try and find yourself an in-line restrictor?
Don't know how to tell that Noobz. Enough to rapidly cool the engine down as soon as the WP is turned on is all I can say. Maybe the heater control valve is open and letting water bypass the tstat, maybe the tstat is stuck open, I doubt that those little 1/4 steel lines that I plumbed into the top of the exhaust ports are doing it though. Guess the way to test is to pinch off the hose that goes to heater control valve and observe water movement through radiator before and after the pinch.....
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