Shell Valley tail lights

[red99z]

Does anyone elses tail lights look like they don't fit very well?

[JL1924]

red99z

I have only been at my Shell Valley project for a few months so far, but the fit between the body and tail lights was unacceptable to me also. What I ended up doing was making a template out of 1/2 inch plywood and made it the same size as the back of the tail light housing. I sanded it well and then bolted the 1/2 inch wood duplicate of the tail light to the body in place of the tail light. Then you can use body filler to smooth out the body to the back of the plywood buck. After a couple of cycles of applying filler, letting it dry, removing the buck and sanding, the light begins to look like it grew there. Little time consuming, but not all that difficult.

JL1924

[AlphaCobra]

My taillights also have a gap ordon't fit right but I have not corrected it yet. I'm going to get my car up and running then go back and fix imperfections.

[red99z]

JL, Thanks for the reply... do you have any pictures of what you did?

[AlphaCobra]

Redz, I did not fix the taillight gaps so there are no pictures. If you are talking about pictures of the car in general then yes, I have several. Personal email camp820@bellsouth.net

[hog]

We just built the tail light area up with body filler. You can see what was done in my gallery. There is a picture there. They then fit fine. If you want to see a completed shot after painting I can E-Mail you one this weekend.
hog

[red99z]

Hog, if you get the time to email me a photo I would Appreciate it.

Thanks
Red
mhunter@nvl.army.mil

[red99z]

Alpha, is your car painted? If so I'd like to see how the tail lights look with no fix... got any pictures?

Thanks
red

[AlphaCobra]

Yes, I have a picture of the backend but I am not sure how much info you can gather from it. How do I post a picture on this website? I'll post it.

[red99z]

Why don't you just upload them into your gallary on this web site?

I'm not real sure how to post them in the thread.

[AlphaCobra]

Redz,
It is uploaded...I think. Key word Alpha Cobra Car

[hog]

Red
Check your e-mail. I just sent you some pictures of my tail lights.
hog

[Jack21]

Problems with Lucas turn, park, and tail lights.

First order of business is mounting surface needs to be flat. This was not a problem with CR. If it is on SV, sand and fill as you're doing. Then remove the lamps before painting.

The first mod you'll likely make is the mounting screws are too short. They were made for sheet metal, not fiberglass. Use a socket on the underside to pound the old ones out and replace with stainless screws, washers, and nuts.

The assy needs to be waterproof. The lamp to body needs to be sealed. Use cork, rubber or gasket material. I used rubber from hardware store plumbing dept for a lamp to body gasket/seal.

I sealed it with a mixture of ordinary (not moly) wheel bearing grease, and WD-40 on both sides of the rubber gaske. Also applied a small amount to the foam Lucas gasket that goes betweeen the lens and housing.

They need to be corrosion proof.

There are little brass bushings that the lens screws go into on the lamp body. These things will corrode (dissimilar metals corrosion) if not protected. The wheel bearing grease/WD-40 will prevent this.

The lamp ground wire connections are equally flakey and subject to corrosion. I unrolled the ground tab, drilled it for a stainless screw, soldered the ground wire to a crimp connector, then installed it on the lamp with the stainless screw. Applied corrosion proof grease and installed he lamp. Corrosion proofed the bulb socket, and electrical contacts with the same grease/WD-40 with a Q-Tip.

Replaced the OE bulbs with "Brite Lites" from Ron Francis Wire Works (wire-works.com) to make the car substantially more visible at night.

I use the car as a daily driver sports car, and installed Hella driving lights for intermediate range lights. Sandwiched a bracket between front park/turn to mount Hellas. Looks factory. But the same technique can be used to install a front license plate if your State requires front and rear tags.

[ACC427US]

Mine didn't fit. I think Rich said it was because my body was an older body.

I gave up on them and purchased some others from one of the companies that advertise on the site. I ended up just throwing the Shell Valley ones in the trash.

[outlaw]

mine don't fit that well either and i just got my car this past sept.
ACC427US....did the new tail lights you got fit any better than the SV lights. i can make mine work with a little body filler but if theres a better way or light assy i'd like to know...

outlaw

[ACC427US]

Still need to use some body putty but not as much. I used Cobra Acccessories part L-488

http://www.cobraaccessories.com/cata...roducts_id=180