Tail Light Fabrication (3/5)

I've made pretty good progress on the rear in the past week. While discussing my tail light with a friend, I realized my aesthetic goals could not be reached as planned. Thus, I did some research about the law and formulated a new plan.

The rear panel will hold only the tail light, turn signals and red reflector. The license plate and registration sticker will go back from whence they came.... hanging on for dear life on the right-hand side somewhere. I'll just tuck them in closer to keep them out of the way.

I procured some turn signals online and a red reflector from O'Reilly.

My friend, Jeffrey, helped me evaluate options and double-check my measurements. =)

I made a jig for rounding the top of the panel.

Here's the current state with a rounded top, turn signals, tail light and (taped) red reflector.

It's still very boxy looking, but I may do some additional shaping on the corners. I'll be covering some gaps with plastic and re-wiring the plug so that everything starts working next.

-Colby

Tail Light Fabrication (2/5)

I've got the tail-light fitting in the panel now.

Thought I'd share some pictures:

Plenty of work to do, but it's getting there. =)

I still need to order some rear turn signals, finalize my game-plan for this component, and paint it.

-Colby

Tail Light Fabrication (1/5)

I was able to do some metal work recently for mounting the tail light. My goal is to make it compact and clean looking, yet strong and easy to assemble.

Using 16 gauge weld steel, I've made a bracket and a body panel, so to speak. The bracket will give me a reasonably easy place to attach the body panel, which in turn, should hold all of the lights, license plate, red reflector, and a plastic tab for the inspection sticker.

Strength shouldn't be an issue, there's neither a lot of weight nor leverage to worry about. I've thought, measured, mocked-up, and stared at it a great deal and this is the most compact and clean solution I could devise. I've got some plastic for concealing or cleaning up anything once I've got the metal bits mounted and shaped.

Here's the body panel at the moment. I'll have to finish cutting out a whole for the tail light (stenciled), bend the sides in to match the width of the seat back, and shave down the corners quite a bit.

I've been planning on painting it black, but it occurred to me today that white might be appropriate and look amazing.
-Colby