The Mud Pit > Wrenching
Flush mount stock tail lights
kirksjeep:
I figured out why I have never seen anyone flush mount stock tail lights, it is a LOT of work! It has been a lot of work, but the passenger side it 100% done and the drivers side is started. Here is how I did it:
Mods to the tail light:
1. Break off the red lens on the side of the light.
2. Used some thin platic ( Cool Whip container) to make a cover for the light that just was broke off. This is to make the light narrower, which means a smaller hole in the body later.
3. In the back of the light there is a plate that makes the ground connection, this needs to be cut off just above the divider plate for the reverse light. I used a dremel to make a deep score mark, and then bent it up and broke it off.
4. The top 1" of the back housing needs to be cut off. The wheel well only allows for the hole to go up to the bottom of it, so to make it work I had to gain some height by cutting the back side of the light. This makes the spot for thre reverse light pretty small, but see below to make it work.
5. Add a wire from the ground plate to go to a body ground. The stock light used the bolts that hold it in place for the conenction, and since this is gone it needs another way to ground.
6. I also painted the inside with Chrome paint to make the light reflection a little brighter.
kirksjeep:
Mods to the body:
1. I made a template using the back side of the light and measured twice and cut once. The hole goes right up to the bottom of the wheel well. I made the rough cuts a little smaller and then used a die grinder to make it fit perfect.
The Electrical:
1. A wire needs to be added to make a ground (mentioned above). I found some random hole from the factory in a support bracket to use for the ground connection.
2. Autozone carries water resistant LED strips. I bought a 4" long strip with 8 little LED lights to use for the reverse lights. The lights have 3M tape on the back and are just a power and a ground.
3. While I was in there, I added LED bulbs for the running, turn and brake lights. This reqired an additional ballast to make the flashers work. I picked up the lights and the ballast at Autozone and it was really easy to unstall with the new ground wire.
The result is a light that sticks out the thickness of the lens, and brighter (and more modern looking) lights. I still need to finish the drivers side, but the hard part of figuring it all out is done. It was all a lot of work, but Jeeps used the rectangular tail lights for so long that they just look right.
calvynandhobbs:
Snap a picture when you get a chance. I don't think I've ever seen anybody actually mount the rectangular taillight flush into the back end. It does sound like it was a lot of work. I guess there's a reason we see the small round lights flush mounted the majority of the time.
gearhead1985B:
i have seen it once at the jeep show when i was up in ct it was on a teal tj on 35's
skibum:
--- Quote from: calvynandhobbs on September 18, 2012, 12:15:40 PM ---Snap a picture when you get a chance. I don't think I've ever seen anybody actually mount the rectangular taillight flush into the back end. It does sound like it was a lot of work. I guess there's a reason we see the small round lights flush mounted the majority of the time.
--- End quote ---
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