If you cant find it, make it!

[red66toy]

Ok, so I have been looking for a pair of little plastic taillight covers for my OEM rear taillights and have been unable to locate a pair. I decided that I am not going to accept this and I am going to make my own. I have one good one, so I am going to make a mold and poor in some plastic and hopefully come out with a good replica. I will post pics of my progress. I am going to start this week. Here is a pic of what I am trying to replicate:

If they come out looking great, does anyone want a pair?

 

[Poser]

you really could not find any......


no way.


will follow this with much interest!

 

[red66toy]

you really could not find any......


no way.


will follow this with much interest!

Some how I knew that you would throw that in my face.

 

[dustin]

you need an exact replica, and the early 70's ones wont work at all for you?

-Dustin

 

[camcruiser13]

it wouldnt be #7 would it?

http://www.sor.com/sor/cat148.tam?xax=5456&page.ctx=cat148.tam

 

[red66toy]

Yep, there are two kinds. Ones for early FJ40s up to 68, then the ones for 69-up until the rectangle lamps. The early FJ40 lights are smaller than the 68 and later lamps.

 

[65swb45]

Chase, since my 68 technically did come with them, I suppose I should be interested in a pair. But the fact of the matter is that I've busted a couple of pairs of taillights on the Rubicon over the years, and so I just put my stock covers on the shelf before I destroyed them too.

Not much need in covering a taillight that is doomed to die a premature death!

That's also why I replaced the taillight mounts with homemade aluminum ones; I don't feel nearly as bad when I smack them.

 

[honk]

I got a nice pair of those in ebay with the lights and one good lens from some seller in ebay for my '65. He just had a blurry photo of a jumbled mess of rear light stuff that got my one bid at $9.99.

Do you have experience doing injection molding? If not, good luck!

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

Chase, how are you going to try this, with the Alumilite stuff? My concern for your application is that it may not be resilient enough and may shatter, esp. at lower temperatures. I was going to try it for the 25 license light but that will be more like a solid lump than a thin casting. Check out their forum if you haven't already: Alumilite

 

[red66toy]

Hmm, I am not going to be making them out of alumilite. I found a company that sells a plastic resin that will cure at room temp, can be drilled and machined and is flame resistant. I am going to be making some practice molds first, I will get it though. The good thing about these light covers is that they are very simple. I am going be used a silicon mold first, if thats no good then maybe a plaster mold.
When I go wheeling, I figure that I will just take them off. If I tried to make an aluminum one, I think that it would come out looking like crap(no metal working skills).

 

[red66toy]

I got a nice pair of those in ebay with the lights and one good lens from some seller in ebay for my '65. He just had a blurry photo of a jumbled mess of rear light stuff that got my one bid at $9.99.

Do you have experience doing injection molding? If not, good luck!

You sir, suck! Ebay does turn out some good deals every great once in a while.

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

I found a company that sells a plastic resin that will cure at room temp

That's what Alumilite is, no idea why they use that name.

 

[red66toy]

Oh, I never even looked at that company. The company I am going through is called smooth on. I will be making a test mold using wax first to see if it comes out looking like the light cover. Looking at the alumilite web site, the plastic I will be using has a longer pot life and demold time. It also has a lower shrinkage value. Hopefully this all turns out well.

 

[wesintl]

I have a set... I don't remember the condition of them though.

Did the 58-63 have those little light guards?

 

[REZARF]

What about a fiberglass/gel coat mold. I would think it would be a bit easier than what you are describing... I would think you might get better results too.

Just my .02

Sounds like a fun project, Good luck and keep us posted!

Rezarf <><

 

[red66toy]

I am not sure if 58-63 FJ25s had these. The FJ25 lights are a little different, dont know if they would be the same covers.
I never thought about fiberglass, I will have to look into that.

 

[Doug_S]

Also check out a moulding supply called Flexane made by 3M. It's actually a very hard rubber that should work well for your application. It mixes up in a two part process using a catylist and a hardener. Will come out very hard and durable.

 

[Dusty 66]

Chase I need some for my 66 fj40, interested in a set I have only one good one too .havent found any replacments eather keep me posted good luck JC

 

[red66toy]

Just an update, I got the plastic in the mail the other day. I still need to figure out the mold material though. Buying silicone caulk tubes from ACE is too expensive for me,I need to find a cheaper source . I will keep you guys updated.

 

[74fj40]

plaster?