While in napa today I was passing by the truck light isle in napa and got a great idea for my taillights. I love the pisa taillights but, I never liked how the lenses stuck out past the light cover itself So today in napa I was in the truck light isle and saw the 4 inch lights that go into your everyday mack peat or kenworth truck and thought they would look great in a fiero. So I picked up a rubber grommet and one of the lights to test it out and look what I came up with. My finished product will be LED and the grommet in there a lot nicer but you get the point. i like them because they are recessed into the light pannel rather than sticking out of it. also at $180 for corvette lenses from pisa I would assume this set up to be cheaper.
[This message has been edited by pontiackid86 (edited 08-03-2009).]
I like the look of the NAPA light better. Looks more streamlined and molded than the PISA kind. Also the solid red color looks better than the "bullseye" lens.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, 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 "
I like the look of the NAPA light better. Looks more streamlined and molded than the PISA kind. Also the solid red color looks better than the "bullseye" lens.
Thank you for the comment dennis. I like the look of it better to. It looks like it was made for the taillight not just in there with nuts and screws.
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04:10 PM
Tony Kania Member
Posts: 20794 From: The Inland Northwest Registered: Dec 2008
Im dead sure these lenses are a lot cheaper than pisa's lenses. These lights you can pick up at any kind or truck stop or auto parts store. Only problem is when they go bad there bad and you have to chuck the whole light.
If your dead set on pisa's buy the pannel from them and I have 2 sets of there lenses that will fit in them. Ill a sell a set of them them to you for $80
[This message has been edited by pontiackid86 (edited 08-03-2009).]
That looks better I never liked the screws in the lenses it looks hacked. the grommet makes it look like belongs there, and I too do not like the bulls eye lenses. The only reason to have those is for backup lights. What are the napa part numbers, because I'd like to get a set of the pisa panels and use these lenses. When are you getting the car painted btw?
Only problem is when they go bad there bad and you have to chuck the whole light.
You'll find out that's a big deal with those lights. The same company that produces those lights used to produce lighting on old International buses for the eight-way systems and brake lights. The lighting and everything is exactly the same, down to the electrical design on the back. They very frequently go out and are not all that reliable at all. I call them 'throwaway' lights. Yeah I bet you found them dirt cheap, but you'll be replacing a lot of them. I'd say for every bulb you would replace with a regular light you're going to end up replacing two to three of these.
They do look very good though on that panel. I like them because they have a very solid look to them. The PISA Corvette style lights have too much going on with them. I'll admit I'd rock them over the others.
[This message has been edited by Fiero84Freak (edited 08-03-2009).]
Well out of my own boredum today i decided to just get this project over and done with so here you go guys. in total it cost me around $55 total for the whole transformation excluding the taillight pannel
here you go guys I think lit up they have a much more omnius and menicing glow than the old lenses ill get night shots when it gets darker.
I solved my one problem to. basicley from the start i wanted to have all 4 lights light up with the headlights on and outer lights run as turn signals and inner lights work at brake lights. pisa's lenses did not work like that. they made it so basicley the ourer ones were only turn signals and the inner lights worked as brakes an running lights.
Only problem its quite clear to the police that i do not have back up lights so ill have to fix that soon.
[This message has been edited by pontiackid86 (edited 08-03-2009).]
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07:56 PM
IMSA GT Member
Posts: 10251 From: California Registered: Aug 2007
Clean as hell. They also make the truck style lights with the clear red lenses so you can see the individual led's inside but yours look really nice and clean.
Clean as hell. They also make the truck style lights with the clear red lenses so you can see the individual led's inside but yours look really nice and clean.
I looked into the LED's there are pricey as hell. A regular truck red one is about $30 a piece. ill upgrade them someday but for right now they work. glad you like them IMSA.
[This message has been edited by pontiackid86 (edited 08-03-2009).]
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08:19 PM
Reality Member
Posts: 1026 From: Marietta,OH,USA Registered: Nov 1999
I guy in our club knew about these same "truck" tail lights. What was different though is he used old, delaminated GT tail lights lenses (from an 86-88 GT) and drilled holes big enough to accept the lenses. He made this project a "show and tell" during one of our club meetings about 2 years ago.
Is there a car out there that has the backing that you could use to swap out the backside of the lense to use the "twist" tabs that are already on the Fiero's harness? Some of you have cut the lenses in half to make clear tails, so can't this also be done here? Just a thought.
I love the stock Fiero tails, so I've never liked those tail lights, but with the "flush" lenses it actually looks a whole lot better. I think you might have hit a home run here, Rick.
[This message has been edited by kyunderdawg (edited 08-03-2009).]
Is there a car out there that has the backing that you could use to swap out the backside of the lense to use the "twist" tabs that are already on the Fiero's harness? Some of you have cut the lenses in half to make clear tails, so can't this also be done here? Just a thought.
I love the stock Fiero tails, so I've never liked those tail lights, but with the "flush" lenses it actually looks a whole lot better. I think you might have hit a home run here, Rick.
Thanks a lot man. yea I was just in napa and these lights hit me like a train and I decided to give it a try. I dont really want the clear ones on the back. Im painting my car a hell fire red and these lights I think are going to be a very nice flair to the paint job.
Just a thought, for backup light, I wonder how a set of those super slim driving lights, installed where the reflectors now reside in the bumper would look. Would be super bright for dark driveways, etc., too.
------------------ '84 Sport Coupe (third time's a charm?)
Just a thought, for backup light, I wonder how a set of those super slim driving lights, installed where the reflectors now reside in the bumper would look. Would be super bright for dark driveways, etc., too.
I have a setup from pilot that are almost a direct fit into thoes ports. I just have to find the time to make brackets and such for them. iv been going for months without getting pulled over for no reverse lights. i think its just somthing that does not hit cops that hard. or they just dont notice it.
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09:31 PM
Blacktree Member
Posts: 20770 From: Central Florida Registered: Dec 2001
Just a thought, for backup light, I wonder how a set of those super slim driving lights, installed where the reflectors now reside in the bumper would look. Would be super bright for dark driveways, etc., too.
That's what I did when I converted to LED tail lights. The fog lights are great for backing up at night. You can actually see where you're going!
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09:41 PM
rjblaze Member
Posts: 1159 From: Bethlehem, Pa., United States Registered: May 2006
Great job Rick! Those things look great! I am trying something very similar in my (whoever made it?) taillight panel by using LED truck lights I bought at a Pilot gas/diesel truck station. 1 amber (outer), 2 red (next two) and 1 clear for back-up.
Great job Rick! Those things look great! I am trying something very similar in my (whoever made it?) taillight panel by using LED truck lights I bought at a Pilot gas/diesel truck station. 1 amber (outer), 2 red (next two) and 1 clear for back-up.
if you dont like the amber color ones go to napa. Thoes red ones are good for brake turn and running lights.
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09:47 PM
Max The Chainsaw Member
Posts: 1140 From: Danville, IL Registered: Oct 2000
Nice job on the truck lights. Looks like the ones I put in my wife's 88GT back in 2006. I like them because they are sealed. Here are a couple pics of her car when we were building it. The car is purple, but if you photograph in in low light the pics come out blue.
Nice job on the truck lights. Looks like the ones I put in my wife's 88GT back in 2006. I like them because they are sealed. Here are a couple pics of her car when we were building it. The car is purple, but if you photograph in in low light the pics come out blue.
Max
looks nice dude. Wo makes your lenses?
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10:33 PM
Max The Chainsaw Member
Posts: 1140 From: Danville, IL Registered: Oct 2000
Those are made by Grote. They are based in Canada, Toronto I think..... They are one of the big truck light manufacturers. I have 2 of their lights in LED versions. When I can find 2 more I'll put them on her car.
As you can see, I went with red all the way across. all 4 light up for taillights, the inner 2 are also brake lights and the outer 2 are also turn signals. We put slim fog lights where the reflectors used to be for backups.
Those are made by Grote. They are based in Canada, Toronto I think..... They are one of the big truck light manufacturers. I have 2 of their lights in LED versions. When I can find 2 more I'll put them on her car.
As you can see, I went with red all the way across. all 4 light up for taillights, the inner 2 are also brake lights and the outer 2 are also turn signals. We put slim fog lights where the reflectors used to be for backups.
Max
Thats exactley how mine work and how im going to do my backup lights. my lenses are made by trucklite. Only thing i dont like about them is the name trucklite is on the lense and the grommet. you dont see them from far away but up close you can see them. Im just real pickey but it will do.
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10:53 PM
Tony Kania Member
Posts: 20794 From: The Inland Northwest Registered: Dec 2008
The night shots rock! I too never liked the screws in the Pisa lights. Much cleaner design.
Pontiackid, life is good. Just been getting ready for Fiero Fest. I will take lots of pics this Saturday.
Tony
Dude how come all the good shows are so far away. carlisle is about the only exciting thing around here.\
The screw holes dident bother me at all it was how big the lenses were. There so out there like look at me look at me. Now these ones are in there and look more menecing than the corvette ones.
[This message has been edited by pontiackid86 (edited 08-03-2009).]
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11:21 PM
Fieroking Member
Posts: 2144 From: Coeur D Alene Idaho USA Registered: Jun 2002
My tail lights started out as a 2 piece Pisa unit. I wanted to get rid of the bulls eye inner light so I did this.
I never liked the 2 piece system so I glassed them together. I then got some 88 Corvette tail lights ($40.00 for 4) I then made my own mold and glassed in new mounts for the Corvette lights. To provide backup lights I mounted combo backup/reflector units from a Pontiac Sunbird in place of the Fiero reflectors.
Nice work on your mod!
Joe Sokol
------------------ 85 SE Daily driver with a 3.4 DOHC build underway 88 Formula/GT 4.9 Allante Intake (My Baby)
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11:54 PM
Aug 4th, 2009
thismanyfieros Member
Posts: 3468 From: Red Deer, alberta,canada Registered: Dec 2002