95-97 tailights on 94

[deamon3]

Sorry if this has already been discussed But I tried searching and didn't find an exact answer.

So we all know the altezza tailights for the first gen are freaken over 200$ everywhere. Quite a crazy price. But the 95-97 tails are only about 60 to 80$. The only difference between the two is that the 95-97 are curved and the 91-94's are just straight.

So I'm wondering how hard it would be to alter the metal on the first gen for the 95-97 light to fit. Could I simply just cut small slits in the metal in a curved shape and bend them back? Would that be enough?

And I know that the 95-97's use seperate blinkers already , I don't really mind. I will be useing altezza ones that are all red and will make an extra bulb for the blinker. So don't worry about the wireing , this is more a question about the metal and if I can just bend it back makings little cuts in it to get them to fit.

Oh and one last quick question. Do the lights on the insides of the front doors turn on when you turn the dome light on?

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

I think the biggest problem will be cutting the metal and keeping it clean and sealed so no water gets inside.

I'm sure it can be done, but will the effort be worth it?

If you do it, I think maybe the best option would be to simply grind/cut away the excess metal completely. Make an outline of how far it needs to go, trace it onto yours, and do away with the metal. Then when that's done it's just a job of sealing and painting if need be.

I'm sure it's possible, it's metal, anythings possible.

Ever give any thought to modifying the light itself to fit? Might be easier and cleaner.

 

[deamon3]

Yea , I saw the guy that cut the lights to be straight. But since these lights will cost 60 to 80$ , I don't want to wreck them or shatter them on aciddent. Plus there clear lenses so the sealing up part might look like crap. lol

About the metal , are you saying I should just cut out the curve? Or cut out the tabs and bend them , but remove the tabs after I cut them out?

 

[Noved1987]

my door lights do. as well as my dome light in the rear. I have replaced the lamps in the doors and the middle one on the roof with red since my exterior is maroon and interior is red. And get this i dont even like red

 

[Four0Sport]

you dont want to risk cracking $60 taillights but have no problem doing an irreversible modification to your quarter panel? there are threads on here showing how others have cut down 2nd gen taillights with no problem whatsoever. do some more searching, and please pleae dont cut your quarter panels!

 

[deamon3]

Well it's not only that I think they will just shatter the second I take a saw to them (thery are just plastic), but there clear lights, and you'll be able to see that I cut them on the side and it will look bad , and idea is to make it look better and not worse. lol.

But I do get where your coming from , I'll try to find a similar thread again.

 

[Four0Sport]

if you cut it, sand it, and seal it with clear silicone no one will be able to tell a ything. besides.. ive seen 1st gen lights for sale on ebay and on this site for under 100

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

I checked ebay last night and wasn't seeing anything like what he's looking for...

I really don't see why they're so damn expensive.

 

[FROADER]

dre did this a while ago. It's actually pretty easy. You can use fiberglass like he did or weld some metal in there, but either way you'll want to repaint.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164881

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

Holy cow, I swear Froader just sometimes makes threads appear out of thin air.

The above thread, he did a REALLY good job. Guess it's really not as hard as we thought.

Hmmmm

 

[FROADER]

I search.

 

[deamon3]

Ah so it is possible. You think my idea about bending the metal in would save me haveing to repaint it? I really don't wanna paint it.

 

[Spdrcer34]

It will be IMPOSSIBLE to accomplish this without having to repaint.

Cutting/welding would require repainting obviously. Bending the metal would be IMPOSSIBLE without damaging the paint. There is almost ZERO flex in the paint and as soon as you try to bend the metal on a single plane, it will crack and eventually fall away.

The ONLY way to accomplish this is to just CUT the tail lights, like what Don did on his 93/99 build


Cut Metal = Repaint
Bent Metal = Repaint
Fiberglass = Repaint
Cut Lens = No Repaint

Ryan

 

[deamon3]

What type of saw do I use to cut them w/o shattering. For some reason I keep thinking in my mind that a band saw would do it. But I don't have one. I have a jigsaw , sawsall , or a circular saw. I'm guessing whichever I use I would use a fine blade rather then rough?

 

[Noved1987]

I have never done this but it seems like you would want slow and steady. maybe hacksaw?

 

[energie]

What type of saw do I use to cut them w/o shattering. For some reason I keep thinking in my mind that a band saw would do it. But I don't have one. I have a jigsaw , sawsall , or a circular saw. I'm guessing whichever I use I would use a fine blade rather then rough?

just cover it in tape and then cut it?
most of the time that prevents shattering if youre that worried.