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| GT tailight panel w/square Vette lenses (Page 2/3) |
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IMSA GT
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JAN 21, 04:26 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:
I spoke with Jim and ordered the C4 Vette style panel today. He has a few NOS parts in stock and is shipping these. When they are gone an improved re-engineered panel will be in production again. He sounds like a reputable guy that has been around for a while and has a shop in St Petersburg, FL. How he came into the molds for this panel is anyone's guess but the reports on Jim is that he is reputable. If anyone wants this panel the time is now. Since Jim didn't make a For Sale post here, I will not post his contact information publicly but if anyone has interest, PM me and I will provide his cell.
Still say that this is the best looking tail light panel being made so when the install is done in a few months , we will see. If anyone decides to use this panel there is a backup light made that fits exactly into the rear fascia panel where the reflectors are now located. The other thing that is needed is 4 C4 tail light lenses, 4 screws and a bit of fitting.
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I'm glad you are finally getting one of these. I know you have been searching for a long time.
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Dennis LaGrua
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JAN 25, 07:15 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by IMSA GT:
I'm glad you are finally getting one of these. I know you have been searching for a long time. |
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Well we have had many an online discussion about these over the years and the guy that had the molds finally resurfaced. The mystery has been solved and the guy reproducing these is Jim Cleary of St Petersberg FL. As to how he acquired the molds, I didn't ask but I did receive shipment tracking info and they should arrive here next week. According to Jim he didn't make many more panels as he didn't believe that there was a market for them. I guess that if you are a poor mans C4 Corvette fan, this is the ticket. If you add the C4 lenses, lens screws , lens gaskets , the Pilot B.U. lights that fit into the recess where the reflectors are; the total cost is around $350 Then the panel is painted black (or the color of your car) and some fitting is then required. Hopefully it will look like this when finished.
Here the panel is installed and shown with the Pilot Navigator back up lights in the rear facia[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 01-25-2020).]
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Spoon
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FEB 05, 10:56 PM
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I like that Vette look. However federal lighting requires red reflectors on the rear. An unfortunate breakdown in the middle of the night with dead battery and no reflectors could be a bit unnerving. Might give one a whole new outlook on life as they knew it.
Spoon
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"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut
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Dennis LaGrua
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FEB 06, 10:11 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by Spoon:
I like that Vette look. However federal lighting requires red reflectors on the rear. An unfortunate breakdown in the middle of the night with dead battery and no reflectors could be a bit unnerving. Might give one a whole new outlook on life as they knew it.
Spoon
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| quote | Originally posted by Formula:
I also was messaging him, these seem different than the Al Lindsey lights that I had before (a long time ago) because they don't use the stock taillight screws. I'm not sure how these ones mount. |
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UPDATE: Took the Corvette lens and put it in front of my daily driver car headlight. Without a light behind it the lens acts just like a reflector. No reflector needed. If you look at the back of the C4 Corvette there is no reflector and the lenses are the reason why. Received the panel from Jim today and its sturdy and well made. I will be using the Corvette GM screws and aftermarket gaskets. The fit looks pretty good. If you want the C4 Corvette look, this is the ticket.
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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE " [This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 02-06-2020).]
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IMSA GT
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FEB 06, 07:22 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:
UPDATE: Took the Corvette lens and put it in front of my daily driver car headlight. Without a light behind it the lens acts just like a reflector. No reflector needed. If you look at the back of the C4 Corvette there is no reflector and the lenses are the reason why. Received the panel from Jim today and its sturdy and well made. The fit looks pretty good. If you want the C4 Corvette look, this is the ticket. |
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Awesome. I'm glad you got one of these.
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Formula
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FEB 11, 12:26 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:
UPDATE: Took the Corvette lens and put it in front of my daily driver car headlight. Without a light behind it the lens acts just like a reflector. No reflector needed. If you look at the back of the C4 Corvette there is no reflector and the lenses are the reason why. Received the panel from Jim today and its sturdy and well made. I will be using the Corvette GM screws and aftermarket gaskets. The fit looks pretty good. If you want the C4 Corvette look, this is the ticket. |
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How does the panel mount into the fastback clip? I have the pisa panels now and I'm not a huge fan that they are just screwed in with self tappers through the top of the fastback clip itself. The Al Lindsey ones were molded in a way that used the stock fasback taillight screws.[This message has been edited by Formula (edited 02-11-2020).]
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Dennis LaGrua
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FEB 12, 10:40 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Formula:
How does the panel mount into the fastback clip? I have the pisa panels now and I'm not a huge fan that they are just screwed in with self tappers through the top of the fastback clip itself. The Al Lindsey ones were molded in a way that used the stock fasback taillight screws.
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Whats needed to mount this panel are 6 tabs that you must fabricate from 2" x 1/8" aluminum with a nutsert on the inner end. They are then JB weld glued or fiberglassed in place near the inside top of the panel (in the right locations) then fastened with a small 1" long 1/4- 20 bolt with a washer in the OEM mounting slots. You could also use parts of a broken inner GT tail light housing and glue them in place. If all this sounds complicated it is but Jim is working on mounting brackets right now. They should be cast and available in about 60 days.
I refuse to try and mount this panel with screws thru the deck ledge. That would look real sloppy to me.
Right now I am prepping the panel drilling the holes for the lamp sockets for the running and turn signal lights. I'll post pictures when done. ------------------
" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
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esco105
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FEB 13, 07:24 PM
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Please keep us posted Dennis. I'm the guy who purchased the last tail light panel Jim Cleary had. I'm still thinking of how I am going to mount it. Please provide pics if you can when you're successful with it. Thanks!!!!
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Sage
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FEB 13, 08:04 PM
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Here's one method I used on a custom panel (round light version).
What you see are aluminum brackets bent to shape/size to reproduce the attachment points of the factory housings. Uses the factory mounting bolts.
The brackets are then glassed onto the backside of the panel in "strategic" places to line up with the bolt holes in the body. Takes a lot of measuring, but makes the panel attach the same as the factory lights.
Just another take on mounting possibilities.
HAGO! 
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Formula
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FEB 14, 09:32 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by Sage:
Here's one method I used on a custom panel (round light version).
What you see are aluminum brackets bent to shape/size to reproduce the attachment points of the factory housings. Uses the factory mounting bolts.
The brackets are then glassed onto the backside of the panel in "strategic" places to line up with the bolt holes in the body. Takes a lot of measuring, but makes the panel attach the same as the factory lights.
Just another take on mounting possibilities.
HAGO! |
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That's exactly what is needed! (is that panel for sale?)
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