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Topic: Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights (Read 2696 times) previous topic - next topic

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

I usually don't ask question I just figure it out I seem to be ok with that lol but just wondering if anyone has done this and have any tips .... There not to ez to find in good shape and would hate to break them

The reson is there is a lot of dirt in mine and they look like 

I'm assuming the lenses are just glued in the housing like a mustang .... On a hot day it's ez to pop a mustang lense off

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

Reply #1 –
All of mine have pulled apart rather easily. I do take time to be careful and patient as not to crack the lenses. There's 3 pieces. The outer lens, the inner lens, and the housing. The inner lens will also have to be snapped out, but it's easy stuff. I'm starting a resto on 4 lights myself. I'll install two and sell two on Ebay for some funds for the Sport.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

Reply #2 –
Yea that was my plan to get a extra set but all the ones I've come across are junk lol

Thanks for the reply

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

Reply #3 –
Yeah, they are glued/bonded together like a Stang's lights. A lot of 'em have fell apart. I'm with Vinnie...mine need taken apart (again!) washed, painted, and sealed back together with some good adhesive to keep the dust out. I love the '87-8 tails...I just wish they didn't get so dang dusty inside, but living on a gravel road means dust.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

Reply #4 –
Yea mine are super dirty on the inside it takes away how good they look

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

Reply #5 –
Dirt
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

Reply #6 –
Yea the oven thing would work but the sun on a hot day should to

Like I said on a hot day in the yard I can just pull the lenses off of a fox mustang

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

Reply #7 –
Just seal it up good with silicone between the filtering lens and outer lens, then the reflector to the outer lens. You shouldn't have many problems with sufficient silicone on both. Taking it back apart though - well I still can't get one of my pairs apart. The thing's sealed up too good, even with a razor cutting the silicone away. I was hoping to use my reflectors in a project and just ditch the outer lenses, which have gotten cracked.
1988 Thunderbird Sport

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

Reply #8 –
Yea I plan on sealing it back up good .... Way to much dirt in there

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

Reply #9 –
Quote from: STANG8U;413445
Yea the oven thing would work but the sun on a hot day should to

Like I said on a hot day in the yard I can just pull the lenses off of a fox mustang

kkk
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

Reply #10 –
i must've been doing this when you were not looking........... the below is in my signature/diy link also just incase this thread gets burried

//////
headlamp rework and remirror the insides, clear coat the outter lense
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?34549-Re-mirror-headlamp-interior&highlight=

results of my headlamp modification
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?35224-After-my-headlamp-modification&highlight=

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

Reply #12 –
i really wish i knew what ford used to do those,, i think they chrome the inside,, but it must be sprayed on somehow...
wishing there was an aftermarket spray on chrome that resulted in a mirror finish.

i think my polymer mirror tape worked very well as it is basically chrome on plastic tape.

problem is laying it on arched concave surfaces as you can see in my pics of the link i attached.

thank goodness the interior of the light has 4 flat surfaces, autozone plastic mirrors solved those ares.

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

Reply #13 –
It's not perfectly reflective.  Think of it as a bright silver.  I've had pristine examples of these tails apart, and they're not ever "mirror' reflective.

Has anyone taken apart 87-88 taillights

Reply #14 –
cleaned one up today came out ok

the one i still need to do




the one i just did .....py cell pics