smoothed my tail lights!

[cstm68]

i wanted to try removing the lip from around my tail lights so i found an old set and i used a bench grinder to take the lip off and then a bunch of sanding with 220 paper then wet sanding with 600. i like how they turned out so i will order a new set and do the same to them but with a lot more wet sanding and some buffing. i will do the same with the backup lights

[Longhorn Man]

i like that. looks good

[sleepertruck72]

cstm68-
that looks clean. Good job with it ! It may be a rookie question, but what is that thing in the upper portion of the lens ?

[Chevymann1968]

That is a blue dot thing!!!!! I know that you could order them from LMC but i dont know what they are for!!!

Just l;ooked it up un LMC and it was the style back then!!! According to LMC!!!

[cstm68]

Originally Posted by sleepertruck72

cstm68-
that looks clean. Good job with it ! It may be a rookie question, but what is that thing in the upper portion of the lens ?

yeah there called blue dots, i guess they used to be a big thing, im not a big fan of them in 67-72 trucks but the look killer in the 66 mustang my dad put a set in, they look good in late 30's to early 50's street rod lights too but thoes lights came in the truck when i bought it. i plan on doing this to a new set of lights but leaving the blue dots out!![

[sleepertruck72]

They dont look bad or anything, at least I learned something today

[cstm68]

Originally Posted by sleepertruck72

They dont look bad or anything, at least I learned something today

no they dont look bad, i lust like them more in the smaller lights like on a 40 ford or a 32 coupe i just think they look better on that style car
my friend has them in his 63 falcon and his brother has them in his 53 chevy coupe and they look awsome.

here is a pic of them lit up a night, they look kinda cool if your driving behind them at night.

[Putter]

From a few car lengths back, it makes your taillights 'purple-ish-blue' instead of 'red'

[bowtieboy93]

I heard somewhere blue dots were originally used for undercover police cars back in the day so they could be told apart from other cars

I dont know if its right, but makes sense

I agree with the blue dots they look good, but you have to be selective on what they go on.

Im digging the light shaving! looks awesome! totally flawless!

[9teen69]

Nice - they look sweet. Would look nice on clear lenses also.

[MonteSS454]

I might have to buy another set of lenses and shave them then slap some niteshade on them......

[sleepertruck72]

That looks cool when its lit up.

[texanidiot25]

Subtle clean mods, love that sort of thing

[nuke1]

nice job, i think you just created more work for me, lol

[chevy_mike]

Nice mod. I really like how it cleaned up the lens. Makes them flow better with the mounting area.

I'll be keeping that in mind.

[kyull67]

good idea

[fine69]

Tell us what you used to shave the edge off. Without melting the lense.

[1LoC10]

looks cool

[1LoC10]

i got LED's behind my blue dots

[IMG]http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z193/Indig...

[Kel's 72 GMC]

where did you get those type of LED's. Reminds me of the turn signals on the late 60's cougars and the new mustangs.

[raggedjim]

I can't verify this yet, but my grandfather told me that when cars had 6-volt systems and those real small rear lights one of the car companys put bluedots in as oem safety items to draw attantion to the tail lights. Supposedly this happened sometime in the late 30's.

The hotrodder's liked the look and started using them elsewhere...

I will try to find something that backs this up.

Rg

[sjarrett71]

I hate to always bring the legal aspect of things up but some people on the board always complain about getting pulled over so I try to help eliminate your reasons for getting pulled over when I can.

In some states, vehicles are required to have red reflectors in the rear of vehicles, making clear taillights illegal. Also in some states it is illegal to have any color light except red (brake or taillight) or amber (turn signal) displayed to the rear (making blue dots illegal).

Most officers (I know) won't bother pulling a vehicle over JUST because of the blue dots but it is possible. It just depends on how picky the officer wants to be.

Just food for thought guys.

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by sjarrett71

In some states, vehicles are required to have red reflectors in the rear of vehicles, making clear taillights illegal. Also in some states it is illegal to have any color light except red (brake or taillight) or amber (turn signal) displayed to the rear (making blue dots illegal)...

Actually, the red reflector thing is a federal thing, just some states won't enforce it. Technicly, most of those clear with small red lenses inside aren't DOT certified either. If you look into the DOT regs, it is amazing what all is not legit... to include all but one (that I am aware of) of the LED tail light conversions.
The blue dots are illegal in many, if not most states. I have never heard of them being under cover police, or factory issue on anything... just an old school gear head thing.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by sjarrett71

I hate to always bring the legal aspect of things up but some people on the board always complain about getting pulled over so I try to help eliminate your reasons for getting pulled over when I can.

In some states, vehicles are required to have red reflectors in the rear of vehicles, making clear taillights illegal. Also in some states it is illegal to have any color light except red (brake or taillight) or amber (turn signal) displayed to the rear (making blue dots illegal).

Most officers (I know) won't bother pulling a vehicle over JUST because of the blue dots but it is possible. It just depends on how picky the officer wants to be.

Just food for thought guys.

Some states they are legal on hotrods and vintage, you happen to be in one of those states, lucky you!

More history, these were bluedots were standard equipment on 1932-1933 Cadillacs. Here's a few pics and an auction for original Cadillac lenses with bluedots.

(well it won't let me link but it is item 360118347034 so do an advanced search for completed items and you will find it) They are the lenses only and sold for $317.00, Yikes!

Hope all this works. I guess back then they weren't illegal (remember when all emergency vehicles and cops had the big red bubble? I do...) I figure some hotrodder stuck some caddy lights on his ford and people started copying him.

I've also posted a Lynx-eye display from the 30's that has different taillights with bluedots.

Rg

Enough history, Rg

[70c10]

cstm68- Cool idea!