Pete M Posted April 28, 2018 Share Posted April 28, 2018 copied from a lost thread (aka: not mine) Quote Ok, so I took a bunch of photos and I will share them with you. However, I think I owe you more photos and a sufficient write up. The write up will have to occur on the passenger side tail light. The drivers side was my trail and error side. I have my thoughts, but I would like you thoughts. This took me a total of about 5 hours to do one side. I feel like the other side will take half as long. I say that because the first 2.5 hours of work was fruitless, but I will share that with you as well. Here is what I started with: What you see here is the first part of my day. I figured that i would use the XJ rear hatch to trace the curve of the light. Great Idea!!!!!! Bad execution. once I found the curve, the next step was to trace that onto the the bed and use tape to get the body line correct.. I measured the lip of the sheet metal so that I could replicate it.........don't try this, its stupid and it will waste your time trying to make the factory lip. Its possible...but stupid. Quote At this point, I google the cost of a new bed. This was after I had beat the sheet metal in after cutting those relief cuts. I then unfolded it all and cut it off even. The was no measurements for this, it was a complete eyeball through a face shield. Don't do that,.......its not smart. I guess I didn't completely realize that there was going to be a gap on both sides of the light. And this is what it looks like completed without body filler or paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted April 28, 2018 Author Share Posted April 28, 2018 24 minutes ago, Pete M said: copied from a lost thread (aka: not mine) wasn't me! just a portion of a thread I salvaged from a member who left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbain Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 How the heck did I miss this? It will save me tons of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krustyballer16 Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Not a fan at all. The bottom looks wrong.... Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepSchmidt O'Guinness Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 Why wouldn't he have just used Dakota lights if he was cutting the bed for the extre room? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mopar_Luvr Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 On 9/21/2018 at 2:50 AM, JeepSchmidt O'Guinness said: Why wouldn't he have just used Dakota lights if he was cutting the bed for the extre room? Are the Dakota lights easier to mciver into our beds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 20, 2019 Author Share Posted July 20, 2019 On 7/16/2019 at 12:30 PM, Mopar_Luvr said: Are the Dakota lights easier to mciver into our beds? not really. with zero fabrication (maybe some duct tape?) they can both be made "functional", but in order to not look like crap they both require welding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerbomach Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 Have someone tried KK cherokee rear tail ligts? Although those look a bit modern for the MJ maybe can be fitted easier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted September 3, 2020 Author Share Posted September 3, 2020 4 hours ago, Cerbomach said: Have someone tried KK cherokee rear tail ligts? Although those look a bit modern for the MJ maybe can be fitted easier not yet that I've seen. you could be the first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerbomach Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 9 hours ago, Pete M said: not yet that I've seen. you could be the first! I'm thinking in those as an option but not 100% convinced that they will look good, I think those are to modern for the MJ. Another option that I have seen fitted is late 80's early 90's F150 rear tail ligths,(may have some pictures of that) look very similar to de XJ ones. I'm also considering TJ's or someting similar, like the Galdiator has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greentoy Posted December 24, 2020 Share Posted December 24, 2020 Just did this to mine today. Wrangler LED lights mounted inside oem lenses. Fit was actually pretty easy. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coheed Posted December 24, 2020 Share Posted December 24, 2020 9 hours ago, Greentoy said: Just did this to mine today. Wrangler LED lights mounted inside oem lenses. Fit was actually pretty easy. Thoughts? Got any pictures from further away? Was thinking of doing this for my trailer project cause take off are super cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greentoy Posted December 24, 2020 Share Posted December 24, 2020 Coheed, Here are a few other angles. Sorry, she's pretty dirty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolwind57 Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 On 12/23/2020 at 11:43 PM, Greentoy said: Just did this to mine today. Wrangler LED lights mounted inside oem lenses. Fit was actually pretty easy. Thoughts? What kind of fitment issues? I certainly can't tell in the pics of there was modifications to the sheet metal. These actually look pretty good to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greentoy Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 What kind of fitment issues? I certainly can't tell in the pics of there was modifications to the sheet metal. These actually look pretty good to me.Coolwind57, I used the original cracked tail lamp assemblies as a sort of adapter for the wrangler lights. I did not cut any sheet metal and retained the original mounting screws so I could easily go back to oem later if desired.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerbomach Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 On 12/24/2020 at 5:43 AM, Greentoy said: Just did this to mine today. Wrangler LED lights mounted inside oem lenses. Fit was actually pretty easy. Thoughts? Not bad actually!, look's pretty nice. like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolwind57 Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 On 2/17/2021 at 10:33 PM, Greentoy said: Coolwind57, I used the original cracked tail lamp assemblies as a sort of adapter for the wrangler lights. I did not cut any sheet metal and retained the original mounting screws so I could easily go back to oem later if desired. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk So, you maybe cut out your MJ lenses to fit and glue in the Wrangler lenses, is that what I'm seeing here? Maybe shot black paint on what still visible of the MJ lens housing? I'm diggin this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greentoy Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 25 minutes ago, coolwind57 said: So, you maybe cut out your MJ lenses to fit and glue in the Wrangler lenses, is that what I'm seeing here? Maybe shot black paint on what still visible of the MJ lens housing? I'm diggin this. Coolwind57, That's pretty much correct. The mounting tab on the back of the watertight wrangler lenses matched up perfectly with part of the rear housing allowing a small bolt and locknut to be used to fasten it securely. I used a black adhesive caulk (Flex seal) to fill the small gaps in the cutout, then taped off the new lenses and shot the whole thing with spray bedliner to match the texture on both pieces while adding durability. I wish I had taken pics or video during the process, but the fact is that even I am amazed at how well they turned out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greentoy Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 3 hours ago, Cerbomach said: Not bad actually!, look's pretty nice. like it! Thank You. I have had some people really hate on it on another thread. (cardinal sin or something?) Most have liked it though. I like it, and that is all that matters. Cost $55 instead of $250-350 each on ebay for oem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerbomach Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 6 minutes ago, Greentoy said: Thank You. I have had some people really hate on it on another thread. (cardinal sin or something?) Most have liked it though. I like it, and that is all that matters. Cost $55 instead of $250-350 each on ebay for oem. I think they look good enough and more important you like them and were only 55 $. I was thinking in doing similar with TJ rear lights, but I score a par of ONS rear MJ lights for 40 $ the pair so definetly went with those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse J Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 11 minutes ago, Greentoy said: Thank You. I have had some people really hate on it on another thread. (cardinal sin or something?) Most have liked it though. I like it, and that is all that matters. Cost $55 instead of $250-350 each on ebay for oem. well just like that gladiator bumper and jk wheels they are sacreligious but they look cool. new things on 80s trucks are just awkward and need to be done right like 97+ swaps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greentoy Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 34 minutes ago, Cerbomach said: I think they look good enough and more important you like them and were only 55 $. I was thinking in doing similar with TJ rear lights, but I score a par of ONS rear MJ lights for 40 $ the pair so definetly went with those. $40 for the pair! You did good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greentoy Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 37 minutes ago, Jesse J said: well just like that gladiator bumper and jk wheels they are sacreligious but they look cool. new things on 80s trucks are just awkward and need to be done right like 97+ swaps Jesse J, I just saw that gladiator bumper, and I like it too! I really am a terrible MJ owner! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse J Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 1 minute ago, Greentoy said: Jesse J, I just saw that gladiator bumper, and I like it too! I really am a terrible MJ owner! LOL LOL some small part of me want's to build a "modern" comanche (not the renegade one) but put those wrangler lights and a gladiator bumper and a 97 swap and jk wheels. make everything LED, backup camera, infotainment screen. probably won't happen but it would be cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExpatMJGuy Posted March 6, 2022 Share Posted March 6, 2022 To each their own. I don't mind the 97+ XJ lights but wouldn't want to do the metal work to accomplish it. But I'm one of the ones that think that the wrangler taillights are sacrilegious. The direct on from the back looks awesome and then once you get to the side of the vehicle and that's where you lost me. You can tell all you did is cut the original lenses and used a can of Krylon paint, painted them black the original lenses black, glued it together and called it a day. It looks cheap. (And it is.) And that's fine. But everyone has different objectives with their cars. Not as big of a deal if it's a trail buggy. But with dwindling numbers of a vehicle that never had a high production number to begin with this isn't kosher for a proper restoration and the direction many are headed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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