Ok, I love the look of the round lights replacing the stock lights in the fastback. I just purchased the Fiero Store tail light lenses, and am trying to figure a way to do this.

I have seen lots of posts on using trailer lights, and how to wire them and such, but nothing I can find on how I am trying to do this.

I know I will have to cut out the holes in the lenses, (makes my queezy cutting up the new $200 lenses for sure!)

The Fiero lenses have a curve to them both left to right, as well as top to bottom, and not sure how to mount any of the lights flush. I am looking for round lights that I can cut the hole in the lens, then have a "cap" or something that goes on the outside of the Fiero lens to screw through the round tail light lens into the light housing on the back to secure them.

Most of the lights I have seen thus far do not have a separate lens cover, that can be used to screw on through the lenses to hold the lights in place. I thought about trying to mount the lights on the inside and not have to cut a hole in the lens, but again, the lens covers are curved and would not fit snugly against the inside of the lens. On top of that, I have yet to see any type of light that has a flat lens, as they all seem to have a slight dome shape to them.

I am wanting to use the original lens's, as I do like the PONTIAC logo in the center, as well as not wanting to try to fabricate the entire back lens area from scratch.

One good thing thus far, I took my old cracked and faded lenses off, and sprayed black paint on the inside of the lens, and I can not see any line whatsoever where the black trim meets the clear from the outside, so this works out perfectly. When I have the holes all cut out, I will paint the inside of the lenses black to prevent seeing the innards and such.

So any suggestions on how to proceed with this, what type of lights to use, and how to mount them securely?

You will need to split the lens from the red and yellow parts. I think there are 4 little clips around the lens.
DO NOT cut the clear lens just the back part of the tail lights.
I think Fie ro(user name) installed honda civic lights in his.

bottom line is the new lights should be behind the clear lens, not cut the clear lens .

Look in here for GREAT ideas!
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum3/HTML/000095.html

[This message has been edited by revin (edited 01-25-2010).]

I agree. It would be a lot easier to mount your lights to a flat panel, and mount the panel behind the clear lens.

quote Originally posted by revin: You will need to split the lens from the red and yellow parts. I think there are 4 little clips around the lens. DO NOT cut the clear lens just the back part of the tail lights.

I have everything separated already. As for the link to the GTR thread, I am VERY familiar with that car [DROOL!], but you will notice he went an entirely different direction, and completely replaced his tail light assembly:


The reason I was thinking I was going to have to cut the new clear lens, is just about any tail light conversion I have seen thus far, does not have the lights behind the lens, but mounted in it.

Here are some of the inspiration pics I have grabbed with a Google image search:



I like the idea of mounting behind for sure, but do not quite know how to get any lights to mount fairly flush behind the clear lens, with the curvature of the lens, as well as the dome shape that just about any lights have that I have found.

[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 01-25-2010).]

Those parts are not lenses, but replacement panels. Pisa, Kahines, and a few others make them.

Yea, most of em look like custom panels, but the 2nd one down, the white one, seems to be the factory lens with the PONTIAC logo in the center.

Even though most of them are custom panels, I am looking to do something similar with the stock lens. I put that collage together for the most part to show that just about all of the customizations, the ones I have seen at least, have the lenses cut into a panel/stock lens, and not behind it.

I was just not sure in which direction to go, that would not be too difficult for a relatively non-fabricator like myself

I did get a PM that someone has corvette lenses that are cut to fit behind the stock lens, and replied to it. I hope to know soon what he wants for them, hopefully not TOO much

[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 01-26-2010).]

I bought mine from

http://spacecoastfieros.com/lindsey/

Also check out fourpoint9 here on the forum. He used the oval, LED trailer or truck lights on his beautiful Notchie. He has posts here and on other forums as well
Jim

------------------

87 T-top 2.8 5sp Camaro Dash Bonneville door panels; 86 355 body & interior kits 3.1 Auto; 85 SE 2.5 5sp, 86 SE 2.8 auto parts car

well since you paid $$ forthose, maybe ask in the mall for a cheap broken set that you can "play around" with?

I know all about those lights. I have been wanting the same for years now, Just need the right sale price for me

Well For tomorrow only (the 27th) they would be $169.95 from the Fiero store.

Posted from my iPhone

[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 01-26-2010).]

Bump for any other ideas or suggestions.......

I ordered some 1894 Corvette tail lights on eBay to start toying with to get ideas on how to mount them, make them flush with the back of the Fiero Lenses ect....

Ok John here is some help..

These are part of a kit,The whole piece is fiberglass with the round light buckets built into that piece.


This is what you want to do. I am sorry i don't know the owner, I just got a pic.



Now I don't know your skills, but you could add a "release agent" to the inside part of the seperated lens, the clear part.
Then get some expanding foam and fill that lens up with it.
when dry, pull that "plug" out and get to shapeing the round part out so your lens will fit. trim the back also.
Then remove the lights, add release agent first and lay 3 or 4 layers of fiberglass over the "plug"
when dry sand till your happy and paint color of your choice
put the pieces together and there ya go!

See simple!

I bought my rear panel from http://www.kahines.com/
Take a look at the red pic in Revins post above (My LT188GT)---Thanks Revin

If your going for this style John I can walk you through the steps of wiring. Its not hard at all. These are the simple napa truck lights in this one.

[This message has been edited by pontiackid86 (edited 01-29-2010).]

quote Originally posted by LT188GT: I bought my rear panel from http://www.kahines.com/ Take a look at the red pic in Revins post above (My LT188GT)---Thanks Revin

Revin, Thanks for the info! I like the expanding foam thing to build a mold. I can use my old tail lights to do that in, and not damage my new ones.

You are right, THIS is what I am going for:



I know there are plenty of fiberglass kits available, but I want to keep the PONTIAC logo in the center, and also have a nice smooth lens on the outside, thus mounting the lights on the inside of the lens.

PK, Thanks I am pretty good with a multimeter, but if I run into any problems, I will take you up on the offer thanks!

also pick at LT188gt's brain to see his way of doing this mod! have fun and post a pic when done or even the in-process you do.

My lights were installed 7 years ago using the wiring diagram that was supplied by Ken Hines.
Sorry but I do not have that diagram anymore.

The more I think on this, the more I thing that I should ask if anyone has a wiring diagram available for this. With the 2 elements in the bulbs and such, making sure the brakes, running and turn signals all function on the correct bulb could be tedious. If anyone has a diagram for this it would be appreciated!

heres a pic of my tailights. stock lenses just painted. they were like this when i bought the car

Those look nice!

I still have not made too much progress on the tail lights, been working on like 10 other projects, half Fiero related hahah.

quote Originally posted by JohnWPB: Ok, here is a Photoshop of what I am going for. The color of the car, as well as the tail lights.

Gah!! My car!!

quote Originally posted by JohnWPB: Ok, here is a Photoshop of what I am going for. The color of the car, as well as the tail lights.

This is how I want to do it also. I like the round lites but I want to keep the stock lens intact. Then mount the reverse lights in the bumper where the reflectors are. I want to find a set of reflective round lights so the bumper reflectors can be eliminated. You also get to keep the lighted "Pontiac". More modern look but still stays close to the original design. Great look!

You can use a can of "great stuff" window sealing foam. Most any hardware store sells it for about $7 a can. Its sandable, paintable and very easy to use. Use spray wax, wax paper, or even garbage bags to cover the areas you don't want it to stick to. Fill the inside your old lenses, wait til its dry, and pop it out. Then you can shape it, paint (or better yet gelcoat) and use that as a mold for fiberglass. At least that is how I'm going to do it.
http://www.google.com/produ...um=3&ved=0CDkQrQQwAg

[This message has been edited by Fieroseverywhere (edited 06-16-2010).]