Pennock's Fiero Forum
  Technical Discussion & Questions
  gt tail lights

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Email This Page to Someone! | Printable Version


next newest topic | next oldest topic
gt tail lights by Jacksonator
Started on: 02-17-2014 09:58 AM
Replies: 15 (613 views)
Last post by: donuteater306 on 02-18-2014 10:41 PM
Jacksonator
Member
Posts: 25
From: Lake Mary
Registered: Aug 2013


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post02-17-2014 09:58 AM Click Here to See the Profile for JacksonatorSend a Private Message to JacksonatorEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Just seeing if anyone has any gt tail lights laying around or knows where to get them. I wouldn't mind getting the pair but I really just need the passenger side "tiac" one, any help will be much appreciated!

[This message has been edited by Jacksonator (edited 02-17-2014).]

IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
carbon
Member
Posts: 4767
From: Eagan, MN
Registered: Apr 2004


Feedback score: (2)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 132
Rate this member

Report this Post02-17-2014 10:28 AM Click Here to See the Profile for carbonSend a Private Message to carbonEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Might want to throw a want to buy in the Mall section. The problem with GT taillights is that they are not just parts that lay around. They are one of the more valuable exterior parts on the car...
IP: Logged
infinitewill
Member
Posts: 2344
From: Overland Park, KS U.S.A.
Registered: Mar 2009


Feedback score:    (55)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 85
Rate this member

Report this Post02-17-2014 10:29 AM Click Here to See the Profile for infinitewillSend a Private Message to infinitewillEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Be prepared to spend $200+ for a good one. The Fiero Store made a GT reproduction lens from the original tooling for a while but the tooling has been lost and those parts they have left, if any, have slight imperfections. Good examples of original equipment are getting quite hard to find and there are no other reproduction units available anywhere.

Dr. W.

------------------
Is your Fastback GT's trunk seal shot? My Gen IV replacement GT trunk seals with miter double bonded corners are now in production. $95 shipped to the US (contact me for international shipping rates) More info can be found here GT Trunk Seal Project

IP: Logged
turbo86se
Member
Posts: 2098
From: Carroll Valley, PA
Registered: Oct 1999


Feedback score: (4)
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post02-17-2014 01:16 PM Click Here to See the Profile for turbo86seSend a Private Message to turbo86seEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Be patient, keep an eye on ebay (there was one recently for $60), craigslist, and junkyards. You may get lucky too, I needed the TIAC GT tail light as well, and one day I decided to open the trunk of a rear-collision GT in they junkyard, and there it was. Waiting to be rescued. I got that, and many other hard to find parts like 120 gauge cluster, mint center console trim, mint floor mats and the GT front bumper for $100.

I do have an extra pair of tail lights, but the lenses are busted. I'm holding on to those just in case.
IP: Logged
Jacksonator
Member
Posts: 25
From: Lake Mary
Registered: Aug 2013


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post02-17-2014 01:22 PM Click Here to See the Profile for JacksonatorSend a Private Message to JacksonatorEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Yeah that's what happened to mine, my left one is fine but my right side is busted.... Have yet to find a junk yard in Florida that has a single fiero :/
IP: Logged
Lou6t4gto
Member
Posts: 8436
From: sarasota
Registered: May 2008


Feedback score:    (7)
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post02-17-2014 01:35 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Lou6t4gtoSend a Private Message to Lou6t4gtoEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
theres 1 now on ebay for $75
IP: Logged
2002z28ssconv
Member
Posts: 1436
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jun 2005


Feedback score:    (27)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 51
Rate this member

Report this Post02-17-2014 07:40 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 2002z28ssconvClick Here to visit 2002z28ssconv's HomePageSend a Private Message to 2002z28ssconvEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Jacksonator:

Yeah that's what happened to mine, my left one is fine but my right side is busted.... Have yet to find a junk yard in Florida that has a single fiero :/


LKQ in Daytona has them from time to time. There's another yard somewhere by MCO that gets them too.
IP: Logged
donuteater306
Member
Posts: 710
From: San Francisco, CA USA
Registered: Feb 2010


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post02-18-2014 12:37 AM Click Here to See the Profile for donuteater306Send a Private Message to donuteater306Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Wait, The Fiero Store "lost" the tooling? Waa, WHAT!? How did that happen!?
IP: Logged
IMSA GT
Member
Posts: 10662
From: California
Registered: Aug 2007


Feedback score:    (8)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 253
Rate this member

Report this Post02-18-2014 12:57 AM Click Here to See the Profile for IMSA GTSend a Private Message to IMSA GTEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by donuteater306:

Wait, The Fiero Store "lost" the tooling? Waa, WHAT!? How did that happen!?


Most of the time the manufacturer of the part will simply keep the molds when they go out of business or close up shop. For me, the mold is the property of who pays for it. If I make a mold and use it to manufacture parts for someone, I send them the mold along with the part.....unless I am mass producing items for them. Then the mold stays with me for as long as they want parts made. Then I send them the mold when the job is complete.

If the Fiero Store paid the manufacturer to make the mold, then the Fiero Store should have gotten the molds sent to them when the person closed his business. In this case, I believe the manufacturer simply walked off with the molds which is COMPLETELY wrong.

[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 02-18-2014).]

IP: Logged
sspeedstreet
Member
Posts: 2306
From: Santa Maria, CA
Registered: Dec 2002


Feedback score:    (18)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 53
Rate this member

Report this Post02-18-2014 01:11 AM Click Here to See the Profile for sspeedstreetSend a Private Message to sspeedstreetEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Try car-part.com.
IP: Logged
carbon
Member
Posts: 4767
From: Eagan, MN
Registered: Apr 2004


Feedback score: (2)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 132
Rate this member

Report this Post02-18-2014 08:26 AM Click Here to See the Profile for carbonSend a Private Message to carbonEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:

Most of the time the manufacturer of the part will simply keep the molds when they go out of business or close up shop. For me, the mold is the property of who pays for it. If I make a mold and use it to manufacture parts for someone, I send them the mold along with the part.....unless I am mass producing items for them. Then the mold stays with me for as long as they want parts made. Then I send them the mold when the job is complete.

If the Fiero Store paid the manufacturer to make the mold, then the Fiero Store should have gotten the molds sent to them when the person closed his business. In this case, I believe the manufacturer simply walked off with the molds which is COMPLETELY wrong.



From the story that I was told, the Fiero Store found the manufacturer that had the original GM molds and contracted with them to make the lenses. As far as I know, the Fiero Store never commissioned the making of a mold for the GT lenses.
IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
Danyel
Member
Posts: 6091
From: Lévis, Québec, Canada
Registered: Sep 2008


Feedback score:    (91)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 171
Rate this member

Report this Post02-18-2014 10:47 AM Click Here to See the Profile for DanyelClick Here to visit Danyel's HomePageSend a Private Message to DanyelEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by carbon:


From the story that I was told, the Fiero Store found the manufacturer that had the original GM molds and contracted with them to make the lenses. As far as I know, the Fiero Store never commissioned the making of a mold for the GT lenses.


I wonder was the name of that company .... real bummer !!!

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

My Build Thread
Tylers Toy

IP: Logged
Jacksonator
Member
Posts: 25
From: Lake Mary
Registered: Aug 2013


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post02-18-2014 11:18 AM Click Here to See the Profile for JacksonatorSend a Private Message to JacksonatorEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
OK so the real question is why hasn't anyone one made molds out of a set of gt lights? There's almost zero after market parts for them other than changing them over to Euro style lights and I'm not sure I like those any better than the stock ones
IP: Logged
Gall757
Member
Posts: 10938
From: Holland, MI
Registered: Jun 2010


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 90
Rate this member

Report this Post02-18-2014 11:44 AM Click Here to See the Profile for Gall757Send a Private Message to Gall757Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
The original steel tool for that tail light was for injection molding of polycarbonate. It easily cost $100,000.00 (each side). The surfaces have to be extremely smooth for the part to look any good at all. Other methods of molding and casting will look inferior, or the part will have a lot of hand labor added to make it look good. Either way, the end result is just too expensive.
IP: Logged
carbon
Member
Posts: 4767
From: Eagan, MN
Registered: Apr 2004


Feedback score: (2)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 132
Rate this member

Report this Post02-18-2014 11:48 AM Click Here to See the Profile for carbonSend a Private Message to carbonEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Jacksonator:

OK so the real question is why hasn't anyone one made molds out of a set of gt lights? There's almost zero after market parts for them other than changing them over to Euro style lights and I'm not sure I like those any better than the stock ones


Demand. There's a segment of the Fiero community that likes the Ferrari/Corvette look, and then there are those that like the stock look. What percentage of a fairly small market wants another specific design?

The Fiero GT lenses are not simple plastic vacuum formed molds. You have the clear outer shell and a black plastic inner layer that is bonded to it and all the clip tangs etc that surround the perimeter. Hence delamination of the originals, and exactly where the Fiero Store reruns are headed in a couple of decades because they were made with the original tooling. They were just new, not improved in any appreciable way.

It's funny because people raised hell about the imperfections in the first run the Fiero Store sold. My 88 GT lenses, orginal from the Fiero plant, had some of the exact same imperfections as the ones I bought from TFS, but of course they would, due to what I stated before.
IP: Logged
donuteater306
Member
Posts: 710
From: San Francisco, CA USA
Registered: Feb 2010


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post02-18-2014 10:41 PM Click Here to See the Profile for donuteater306Send a Private Message to donuteater306Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Very interesting. Sad for us tho.
IP: Logged

next newest topic | next oldest topic

All times are ET (US)

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | Back To Main Page

Advertizing on PFF | Fiero Parts Vendors
PFF Merchandise | Fiero Gallery
Real-Time Chat | Fiero Related Auctions on eBay



Copyright (c) 1999, C. Pennock