1608 Tail lens on a 72 spider

[v6spider]

I found these on ebay and wonder if they will fit my 72 spider tail lamp assembly?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... MEWAX%3AIT


Rob

[spiderrey]

Do your lights stick out past the corners of the car?

[v6spider]

I am not sure what you mean... facing the back of the car they do not stick out past the left or the right and they are rectangular in shape IE not like the spider 2000. From the side view they do not stick out more than an inch on the bottom..The lenses currently are a three-piece design( 2 red...one white) ...the 1608's are two piece(1 RED... 1 WHITE). just curious if anyone has tried using them in place of the three piece...

Thanks!
Rob

[TJC]

[quote="v6spider"]I am not sure what you mean... facing the back of the car they do not stick out past the left or the right and they are rectangular in shape IE not like the spider 2000. From the side view they do not stick out more than an inch on the bottom..The lenses currently are a three-piece design( 2 red...one white) ...the 1608's are two piece(1 RED... 1 WHITE). just curious if anyone has tried using them in place of the three piece...

Normally the '71 - '73 were the un-obtanium design. They're quite large in size and have larger body openings. Looking from the rear, as you go down the body tapers in and it looks like the bottom of the lenses are wider than the body in that portion. My '72's are two piece and look exactly like those in the the ebaY link. Now, you find some housings with good chrome and I'll jump on them.

[v6spider]

Normally the '71 - '73 were the un-obtanium design. They're quite large in size and have larger body openings. Looking from the rear, as you go down the body tapers in and it looks like the bottom of the lenses are wider than the body in that portion. My '72's are two piece and look exactly like those in the the ebaY link. Now, you find some housings with good chrome and I'll jump on them.

Glad I could help someone! Finding the chrome piece is tough with out paying an arm and a leg for it. I am actually going do make custom frenched round taillights like on my previous version of my v6 spider. This time I am using 2.5" round LED taillights. The other ones I had were made from truck marker lights they worked great but they were bulky and well homemade...the LED ones I am looking at are slick...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Red-2-5- ... 19bfd6f6a2

[dparnas]

I've got these tail lights on my 71 and ended up sending the driver side housing out to "Custom Coatings" in Florida. They restored them and then re-plated them so that they looked absolutely brand new for a total of $180. Well worth the price in my opinion.

[Daniel]

re-plated them so that they looked absolutely brand new for a total of $180

last time i had some parts chrome plated it was a lot less then this maybe you can shop
around for a better deal ? unless the price of chroming has gone up, am i out of
touch with the chroming world

I've always wanted to get some parts done in black chrome ! on my to do list before i
die !!!

[mdrburchette]

Daniel, there are different techniques for chroming plastic. I researched several companies and processes before I sent my taillamp housing to Custom Coatings. The reason I chose them was because their coating was thicker and meant for outside trim vs the thin stuff for interior plastic pieces. Pot metal chroming is cheaper still. I am perfectly happy with the work they did on my taillamp and would recommend them to anyone.

Rob, here are two pics that show the difference between the 71-72 taillamp and the 70, 73-78 ones. Note, there are some 72's that use the smaller taillamps. It supposedly depended on what engine was in the car. 72 was a transitional year
My 72:


My 70:

[dparnas]

re-plated them so that they looked absolutely brand new for a total of $180

last time i had some parts chrome plated it was a lot less then this maybe you can shop
around for a better deal ? unless the price of chroming has gone up, am i out of
touch with the chroming world

I've always wanted to get some parts done in black chrome ! on my to do list before a
die !!!

That price included restoring, not just re-chroming. They filled any cracks or gaps and made it like new. When you consider a brand new housing might cost $300, but you couldn't find one new anyway, $180 is a steal. You get what you pay for.

[Daniel]

That looks really good Denise !

dparnas
I think i saw Bruces had some new but he wanted 350 each (ouch) and i would rather spend good money
on rebuilding a set even at 180 bucks then blow $700 on a new pair !