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Cool taillights for '81-'93 Dodge pickups
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22752		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Cool taillights for '81-'93 Dodge pickups
I krunched the truck's right taillamp about 10 days ago, by miscalculating during a parallel parking maneuver. I wasn't very happy with the quality of the Glo-Brite American-made aftermarket stock-type lamps I had on the truck, so I didn't want another set of those. Also didn't want to pay dealer prices for new OE, couldn't find decent used ones locally, and so did something totally out of character and bought these (image is clickable link to source):

Image.

They're made in Mexico, much better quality than the Glo-Brite units, certainly equivalent in materials and build to the OE units. Performance is quite fine (better than the Glo-Brites), the red color is proper/legal, and overall I'm happy.

Also, they look cooler than I thought they would.
Author:  dakight [ Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
Well, my son in law crunched one of mine. Got a little too close with his 36' Toy Hauler trailer. Fortunately the tailight and a scuff on the bumper are the only damage. So, it looks like I'll be getting a new set of lenses - just don't know yet what they'll be.
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Mon Apr 16, 2007 8:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Which vehicle are we talking about your having lost a light on?
Author:  dakight [ Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:10 am ]
Post subject: 
My 98 Dakota. It has a set of aftermarket "Altezza" taillights. Of course I can't buy just one. I looked at the site where you got yours but they don't have them for the "Gen 3" Dakotas.
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:22 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
My 98 Dakota. It has a set of aftermarket "Altezza" taillights. Of course I can't buy just one. I looked at the site where you got yours but they don't have them for the "Gen 3" Dakotas.
It's just as well -- pretty much all of those "Altezza" lights are illegal, and even the nominally-legal ones give much poorer performance (intensity, light spread) than the stockers. Strongly recommend you put the stock lights back on.
Author:  supton [ Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:38 am ]
Post subject: 
How do they look on the truck? My first thought was "ricer" when I saw all the clear plastic. Maybe it's not so bad when installed, and it's certainly not in the same vein as real "ricer" taillights.
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
How do they look on the truck?
Surprisingly enough, they really look as if they belong there, not like the cheesy ricer "Altezza" type junk with mini round red lites and reflectors in a sea of window-clear plastic or phony carbon-fibre-look plastic (yuuuuck...) Image
Quote:
My first thought was "ricer" when I saw all the clear plastic.
Me, my first thought was "1962 Cadillac" (the first vehicle to use a clear taillamp lens with internal red light filter)! :twisted: Seriously, I looked at them repeatedly on the site, really couldn't tell from the pics whether they'd look good or stupid on the truck. Eventually, since they were satisfaction-guaranteed (refund for whatever reason), I went ahead and bought 'em. As I say, the fit, function, and appearance of these lamps is far nicer than I expected/feared...being an automotive lighting specialist, I can confidently say that most of the aftermarket non-stock lighting devices on the market are complete crapola. It takes a lot to impress me in this field, and these lamps impress me.

About the only thing that would improve the appearance of these lamps on my truck is if they didn't have the chrome surround on them, for my particular truck doesn't have the matching chrome trim on the tailgate (fancier trucks did). The manufacturer make these lamps without the chrome, but the US distributor doesn't stock them, so I just went with the ones that have the chrome. *shrug*

I'll try to post some pictures when I get a chance.
Author:  superman_jjs [ Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:12 am ]
Post subject: 
i could not see the photo. would you repost it or send it to me?

Thanks,
Author:  mpgmike [ Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:24 am ]
Post subject: 
So we got the pitch, we got the picture, we got the testimonial. I read through 2X and seem to be missing the "where I got them from" part. You gotta link Dan?

Mike
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Sat Apr 21, 2007 7:08 am ]
Post subject: 
Cleeck the peecture to go to the sales site ;-)
Author:  mpgmike [ Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:30 am ]
Post subject: 
You know how to work the html pretty well. Thanks. Found it.

Mike
Author:  CStryker [ Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
Dumb question, but will the "dakota" lights listed underneath fit a full size ram as well? I'm not a huge fan of the large chrome surround, and I thought dakotas used the same units.
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
The Dakota units are designed the same, but I don't think they'll bolt on. Haven't tried it, but there are different P/Ns (both OE and aftermarket) for the full-size vs. Dakota. The same company that make these lamps do make a set without chrome surround for the full-size trucks, but the only US marketer I've found, the one I linked, doesn't and won't bring them in. I found a place in Mexico listing them in their catalogue, but so far haven't had a response to my enquiries.
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
How do they look on the truck? My first thought was "ricer" when I saw all the clear plastic.
Actually, it looks like Ma Mopar was thinking along these very lines with the '65 Chrysler line (all photos in this post are clickable links):

Image

I didn't know specifically about these lenses, but recalled a vague
knowledge that these existed when I looked at this auction:

Image

Looks like red balloons into which bulb fits...checking '65 factory parts
catalogue...yep! Red balloons. Made out of glass, apparently:

Image

Also can't confirm the seller's recall story. Given earlier cars (e.g.
'62 Cadillac) that came with clear-lens brake/tail lamps, and the way auto
lighting was regulated in '65, I am inclined to doubt it, but it could be
true in principle, even if not in detail. The 3/1966 printing of the '65
FPC has LH & RH lens p/ns noted "Red" with the asterisk ("indicates change
or addition"), and also has p/ns for the red glass filters with the
barred-rectangle symbol ("indicates part not listed in any previous parts
book") but no p/ns for the clear lenses. I haven't checked my
earlier-printing '65 FPCs to see what they have.

But in any event, I don't need to worry about looking like a ricer, now that I know the truck actually looks like an early-production '65 Chrysler! :twisted:
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