Making early rear reflector instructions

[jvincig01]

My original side and rear reflectors are pretty much toast at this point. The backs of mine are atrocious and are completely rusted out. The fronts look ok but definitely not perfect. Although I plan on restoring another original set, I wanted to see if I could somehow make a darn near perfect replica. Here is how I made these using Grote #40192. Grote's are nice because the holes line up perfectly on my rig and the round housing the reflector sits in is identical to OEM. I should also mention they are $3 each!

Unfortunately the stock red reflector is a tad more dome shaped than the Grote but I am searching for a solution to remedy this as well. I will keep an eye out. Anyhow, here is how I modified the Grote reflector to match my OEM one.

1. Here is the reflector and some of the tools I used..

2. The round part of the reflector backing sits a tad higher that the flanges. I used the pastic side of this hammer to tap the edges further into the housing and then tapped on the middle. This made the entire back flush against the cruiser. Here is a before picture for reference...

3. After that I lined up my old reflector with the new one. You can see the Grote flanges are round and stick out considerably than my old one. This is good because I used a scribe to etch the pieces I needed to remove and then began shaping to match the OEM one.

4. Once I have everything marked. I placed the reflector in a vice (protected it from scratches of course) and then began to file the flanges down to my scribe markings. Each corner will have two sharp points that need to be rounded slightly. For the record, I chose not to take tin snips to the corners because I didnt want to warp the corners. Filing took me a few minutes but it came out great.

Cont'd....

 

[jvincig01]

5. You can clearly see the letters stamped on the new reflector and I needed an easy way to cover. I scratched down with a red scotch brite pad and then used Bondo Glaze Puddy with a thin spreader to fill in the letters.

6. Once that dried i scuffed it down with the red scotch brite pad again and layed down a couple coats of high build primer. Here's how things turned out.

Although nothing is better than OEM, I feel these turned out pretty good. I will continue to look for ways to improve the red reflector part but I think I nailed the housing. NOTE: the round part on the rear is raw metal. I used a self etch primer on the back before I covered with high build primer.

 

[bikersmurf]

Very cool.

What colour would they be painted originally? Which years used this type of reflector?

Do you have a flatbed scanner that you could scan the shape of an original? So that someone without one can then print the image and recreate your work. And if it’s not asking too much, measurements for the proper placement for rigs that no longer have original panels?

 

[jvincig01]

Oh yeah, and here is what the back of my OEM one looks li

Very cool.

What colour would they be painted originally? Which years used this type of reflector?

Do you have a flatbed scanner that you could scan the shape of an original? So that someone without one can then print the image and recreate your work. And if it’s not asking too much, measurements for the proper placement for rigs that no longer have original panels?

Thanks! Originally they would have been Spring Green but the PO painted my cruiser white. Someday I will paint it but definitely not spring green as it's not my cup of tea.

I have heard mixed things about this type of reflector and the year they were placed on. I have a '67 (production year '66).

I do have a flatbed scanner and take an image and upload later today with some measurements.

 

[bikersmurf]

Oh yeah, and here is what the back of my OEM one looks li


Thanks! Originally they would have been Spring Green but the PO painted my cruiser white. Someday I will paint it but definitely not spring green as it's not my cup of tea.

I have heard mixed things about this type of reflector and the year they were placed on. I have a '67 (production year '66).

I do have a flatbed scanner and take an image and upload later today with some measurements.

Excellent... don’t have a ‘67, but I do have a split hood and no reflectors anywhere... so might as well make it even harder for people to identify the year of my 74/77/69/72/81 Fj40.

Also at $3 each it won’t matter if they get knocked off.

 

[65swb45]

Someone like @Splangy can correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the reflector housings were painted body color. The last set I got I pulled off a survivor ‘65 that had not be resprayed; they were body color.

Nice job Josh. Would you consider making a pair for me? I have cheesy aluminum Grotes on my swb resto and would love love to change them out.

 

[Splangy]

Mark’s right - the early reflectors were painted body color. The really early stuff from the FJ25’s and early 1960’s 40’s May have used aftermarket reflectors installed at port or the dealer. I believe at some point, probably around 1964-1965, they switched to Koito’s. All of the early original aftermarket reflectors I’ve seen were made by Stratolite, but I’m sure others were used as well. I was able to find some NOS Stratolite reflectors a while back on eBay with a 1960 date code. I forget which model they are. I’ll have to take a look at mine and see what model number they are.

Edit - just looked in my parts books and the 1964 book shows them as part #81910-60010.

 

[65swb45]

Thanks Jeff. I do recall some discussion about the Stratolites on the forum. But what I recalled most was that you were the go-to guy on this.

 

[jvincig01]

Someone like @Splangy can correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the reflector housings were painted body color. The last set I got I pulled off a survivor ‘65 that had not be resprayed; they were body color.

Nice job Josh. Would you consider making a pair for me? I have cheesy aluminum Grotes on my swb resto and would love love to change them out.

Hi Mark, I can set you up. I would imagine you need 3? I can knock them out in the coming weeks as I am finishing some body work on my rear panel right now.

 

[oregon fj]

I really like what you did to make a replica of the Koito reflectors. Nice work.

But what I've appeared to find is that there was no standardization on these reflectors on really early 40s, neither in brand nor even in location. It truly did appear to be based on who installed them, at which port of entry, and what reflectors they had available.

I started looking at this shortly after I bought my early '64 (approx build May '63). It appeared to show that the last reflectors on it were those cheap looking ones with the white plastic surround. I just assumed those were a later replacement by the PO when the originals were damaged. I also noted that mine were mounted much lower on the tub, so that the screws went into the wheel wells, not the interior. Different than much I had seen, but they were the only holes so I didn't worry about it.

Thing is, since then I've come across pictures of 2 other pre-66 40s - that like mine, probably came in through Portland - that also had the plastic reflectors mounted down low. (Both pictures courtesy @HelloKitty65 )

Beginning to not look like coincidence.

Compare the above pictures to these others which appear to show either Stratolite or Grote, mounted higher on the tubs.

The end result is that - for the really early rigs - most any reflector that fits the original holes correctly is probably OK. In the end I bought Stratolites for mine, because they fit correctly, and look 'right'.

 

[65swb45]

Hi Mark, I can set you up. I would imagine you need 3? I can knock them out in the coming weeks as I am finishing some body work on my rear panel right now.

My swb only had two side ones, no rear. So two would make me very happy.

 

[HelloKitty65]

Don't give me credit for the green pic, that was someone else's pic I'd downloaded.

Another good reason for your choice @oregon fj, "Stratolite" sounds cool.

 

[bb67tlc]

Nice job, Josh. Good to know the grotes can be pounded down to flatten the backside.
Should have my originals back tomorrow and will send them your way shortly.

 

[MarkPatten67]

I really like what you did to make a replica of the Koito reflectors. Nice work.

But what I've appeared to find is that there was no standardization on these reflectors on really early 40s, neither in brand nor even in location. It truly did appear to be based on who installed them, at which port of entry, and what reflectors they had available.

I started looking at this shortly after I bought my early '64 (approx build May '63). Is appeared to show that the last reflectors on it were those cheap looking ones with the white plastic surround. I just assumed those were a later replacement by the PO when the originals were damaged. I also noted that mine were mounted much lower on the tub, so that the screws went into the wheel wells, not the interior. Different than much I had seen, but they were the only holes so I didn't worry about it.

View attachment 1725530

Thing is, since then I've come across pictures of 2 other pre-66 40s that - like mine - probably came in through Portland that also had the plastic reflectors mounted down low. (Both pictures courtesy @HelloKitty65 )

Beginning to not look like coincidence.

Compare the above pictures to these others which appear to show either Stratolite or Grote, mounted higher on the tubs.

View attachment 1725527

View attachment 1725528

The end result is that - for the really early rigs - most any reflector that fits the original holes correctly is probably OK. In the end I bought Stratolites for mine, because they fit correctly, and look 'right'.

View attachment 1725529

Hey, that beige picture.. I recently purchased that near Riverside, CA. Is the original owner a member here on mud?

 

[MarkPatten67]

Hey, that beige picture.. I recently purchased that near Riverside, CA. Is the original owner a member here on mud?

View attachment 1725883

 

[oregon fj]

Hey, that beige picture.. I recently purchased that near Riverside, CA. Is the original owner a member here on mud?

Mark, I saved that picture from an online auction on Bring-a-Trailer last December. 1964 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40

 

[oldschool4wheeling]

Great thread!!

 

[HelloKitty65]

An internet source of various early style reflectors from an RV parts company that has a vintage line: Welcome to RV Shop - America's Premier RV Website

They have 3" Peterson reflectors in red and amber. In case someday you're looking for lenses.

 

[MexicanNewby]

5. You can clearly see the letters stamped on the new reflector and I needed an easy way to cover. I scratched down with a red scotch brite pad and then used Bondo Glaze Puddy with a thin spreader to fill in the letters.

View attachment 1724629

6. Once that dried i scuffed it down with the red scotch brite pad again and layed down a couple coats of high build primer. Here's how things turned out. View attachment 1724630 View attachment 1724631

Although nothing is better than OEM, I feel these turned out pretty good. I will continue to look for ways to improve the red reflector part but I think I nailed the housing. NOTE: the round part on the rear is raw metal. I used a self etch primer on the back before I covered with high build primer.

Thanks for the awesome post!

Do you reckon it would be possible to fit the OEM reflectors onto the housing? Just to make it as OEM as possible.


Best!

J

 

[65swb45]

Hi Mark, I can set you up. I would imagine you need 3? I can knock them out in the coming weeks as I am finishing some body work on my rear panel right now.

Great bump.