Taillight Lenses

[10strokin]

Hi all. New here, I just picked up an 89 Comanche 4.0 5 speed 4x2. Just a quick question. Both of my taillight lenses are busted. Will a set from a Cherokee bolt right in place? Thanks for any help! Matt

[Minuit]

Cherokee lenses will not work without modification and good condition MJ tail lights are rare but someone here will be able to fix you up.

[ParadiseMJ]

Check e bay and expect some sticker shock.  They are not cheap, used.  They can be re-furbed easily.  Mine were oxidized all to hell and I re-furbed them with some sand paper and Testors model paint.

 

[johnj92131]

Yes, do expect a bit of sticker shock on used ones.  The real sticker shock comes when you price N.O.S Comanche taillights.  I passed on some decent used one 6 weeks ago at a junk yard. Oh well, I have a N.O.S. pair!

[Keyav8r]

Word of advice - if you find a Comanche in a JY with even one half way decent (not broken is the main thing) taillight - BUY IT! Even if you don't personally need it right now! Even if you already have spares. They're not making any more of them and there will always be someone on this forum, like you, looking for a replacement!

Forget the whales and the trees and all that other stuff. We've got to save MJ taillights!

[10strokin]

Thanks all! Used to be able to order them at Autozone but thats gone I guess. I would have thought Jeep could have saved some money by using same products in their product lines where they could. So I should look in the classifieds here or Fleabay? What mods have to be made for cherokee taillights? Thanks again

[10strokin]

I purchased a pair from the classifieds on here. Thanks all!

[sidepipe87]

I have a passenger side one cracked on mine and was looking for a replacement and saw no one makes them in the aftermarket. I have an idea though which I can follow up on... Their is a Canadian company (really just 1 guy that does this from home) called Klearz that makes mainly clear or smoked lenses for cars, but will also do OEM style. I bought a set of smoked 300M Special turn signal mirror lenses from him and he was very easy to get a hold of and deal with. The one came cracked due to postage mishandling and the fact they are small and brittle. He immediately sent me out a new set no questions asked. I will ask him about possibly making these and approximate costs. He would obviously need a set of lenses to use for the mold. I only have one set but my truck is not my dail driver though so I may be able to help out there. I'll contact him and find out... By the way, here is the website: http://www,klearz.com

 

EDIT - This would only be for replacement lenses, not the entire bucket assembly I'd assume.

[yxmj]

I saw the guys on "American Restoration" make some for a Vespa using this technique.

 

http://www.alumilite.com/howtos/TailLightMoldingNoEquipment.cfm

 

Anybody want a side job that makes them cash??

 

 

. :MJ 1: .

[sidepipe87]

Alumilite is very often used for casting scale model parts. Automotive, figurine, etc. It is fairly tricky to work with on larger no simple shapes or I'd give it a shot. I just messaged the guy from Klearz so I'll see what he says and reply back here. 

[10strokin]

What modifications need to be made to a cherokee taillight to fit?

[JeepcoMJ]

Simply put, they are not even close to fitting. You would have to modify the body to make them fit

[dasbulliwagen]

And by modifying the body, he means extensive cutting, welding and fabrication... so really its not a realistic option. Sounds like you got fixed up anyways.

[10strokin]

No problem. I didnt realize you had to cut the body of the truck, I thought maybe just some mods to the taillight housings themselves...

[JeepcoMJ]

They aren't the right shape, and are brittle plastic. Unable to modify to work, you would have nothing to mount to. And they are smaller, so it wouldn't be possible to make them look right. Dimensionally wider, shorter, and shallower

[Sugarfoot]

Dodge Dakota rear lights will not work either. I have looked at them they initially looks like a maybe but held them up to the rear end of truck and it was a NADA. Look like its been a few years on this thread, anything new come up?

[tugalo]

Has anyone tried to separate the Dakota or XJ lenses from their mounting base and tried to attach them to the MJ bases?

[carnuck]

I'm considering taking the spare light I have with broken lens but good back part. I have a pair of A1C lights with a Chev LED bulbs to swap out, then go for clear lenses. 

[Skorpyo]

If you're on facebook, there's a guy about 20 miles south of me who's selling 3 MJ taillights (2L, 1R) for $25 each. I thought about getting them and reselling them, but I don't wanna make the trip to get them since traffic around here blows and it would take me about 2 hours to make the round trip. Search in Fredericksburg, VA, maybe he'd be willing to ship them.

[NC Tom]

On 9/5/2017 at 9:19 PM, tugalo said:

Has anyone tried to separate the Dakota or XJ lenses from their mounting base and tried to attach them to the MJ bases?

 

I've had this same thought. But, I've not seen an unmounted Dakota light up close. 

[Eagle]

On 9/5/2017 at 9:19 PM, tugalo said:

Has anyone tried to separate the Dakota or XJ lenses from their mounting base and tried to attach them to the MJ bases?

 

They won't fit.