Bus Taillight Conversion

[Bryan67]

I want to convert my 73 Thing to 63 and up oval shaped Bus taillights. I knows it’s pretty popular so I’ve got a few questions. Do most people use original single bulb lights, or two bulb euro lights? Will original style lenses and rings fit on the euro bulb holders? And which rubber seal would I use if I can use original lenses and rings on the euro lights? And finally, which lights come on the early Things/Safaris/Trekkers?
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If you`re going to do something, do it right.

[mondshine]

You might find this video interesting...


Link


Good luck, Mondshine

[Bryan67]

Interesting. Ideally, I would like to buy some new euro bulb holders and seals, and use original Hella red Bus lenses and chrome rings. I’m just not sure they will work together.
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If you`re going to do something, do it right.

[Joe 20]

I like the look of the European lights too, but I worry about lowering the brake lights with all the people driving trucks and SUV's now days. Did you ever think about adding a 3rd brake light up high when you do your conversion? I really like the old Ford ones that say STOP when they're lit. Just a thought.
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"Someday the world is gonna be populated by nothing but Volkswagens'" Corporal Klairvoy

[mondshine]

I am slightly embarrassed about these lights. I bought this car that way.

The extra lights are sort of goofy, but not a deal breaker for me, since the car that this one replaces was wrecked in a rear end collision.

Those are real 181 part numbered lights. The red portions light with the brake lights. The yellow portions have red (5 Watt equivalent) LED bulbs in them, and function as rear fogs.

The standard (upper) brake lights are wired through a "Webelectric BLP-1" pulsing module which pulses the bulbs 4 times upon braking, then they just act like normal brake lights. The module resets after 20 seconds, to avoid nuisance pulsing in heavy traffic.
https://www.webelectricproducts.com/store/BLP-1-Brake-Light-Pulser-p264382490

With luck, no more rear-enders.

[Bryan67]

That’s not really my style. But I can understand the need for one.
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If you`re going to do something, do it right.

[YDBD]

Yikes!

I do not like elephant foot lights at all.

My '73 Thing had stock lights for the military edition:

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'56 pan Dune Buggy since '69
don't live in the past...but when I did:
'67 bug
'64 baja
'60 dune buggy
'73 Personenkraftwagen Type 182 "Thing"

[KAmes]

I used some generic two bulb lights from an ebay seller, they came from Brazil or Mexico if I remember. The seal goes/comes with the bulb holder as it's what holds the bulb holder in the car, and the lens just sit's on the top of the seal secured via the two screws. I don't have any original lenses but I did buy several sets/brands to play with, they all seem pretty interchangeable. I suspect you wouldn't have any trouble with original lenses and trim rings on aftermarket bulb holders, they don't really have the kind of interlocking internal partitions that the elephant feet lights have.