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Author Topic: Making a functional taillight out of the Reflex reflector?  (Read 1678 times)

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Offline Marla.the.V35

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Making a functional taillight out of the Reflex reflector?
« on: November 21, 2021, 05:27:00 PM »
Anyone ever tried this? (I did some searching, couldn't find anything. Of course, might have been using wrong filters/parameters?)

Considering (only considering right now) holing out the back and putting an LED there so that it looks stock from the outside, but functions like a turn/brake light.

I plan to make the V-35 street legal, but I don't want to go adding a bunch of stuff to the outside.

TIA!
'81 CJ-5 (RIP)
'48 FrankenFlatty (RIP)
'50 CJ-V35/U 10912

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Offline Rus Curtis

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Re: Making a functional taillight out of the Reflex reflector?
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2021, 10:52:45 AM »
JON,
I remembered reading about this.  I fell victim to the "filters/parameters" problem you ran into yesterday when I searched.  I could only find this:

Note the spacer to allow for internals
https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=299201&p=1752821&hilit=reflector#p1752821

Then, on another try this morning I found this post:

https://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/reflector-light-combo_topic49121_post499228.html?KW=using+reflector+for+taillight#499228
'54 CJ-3B "Green Gruntt"
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Offline Marla.the.V35

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Re: Making a functional taillight out of the Reflex reflector?
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2021, 03:26:59 PM »
These are great threads to start on. Thanks for doing the heavy lifting!

Looks like perhaps some LED's that fit a Harley might be the way to go. Can't believe a 3inch flat LED panel is hard to find.

I really don't want to have to modify the reflector away from stock, but it's either that, or add some other light there. People are terrible enough drivers with slow vehicles...Better to be seen. RIP Malachi Springer.

If things go well, I'll have a write up on my project thread :)


'81 CJ-5 (RIP)
'48 FrankenFlatty (RIP)
'50 CJ-V35/U 10912

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marla.the.v35/
youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqN6tmhXfZ-W0s4HdckDeqQ

Offline Rus Curtis

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Re: Making a functional taillight out of the Reflex reflector?
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2021, 05:14:05 PM »
What about saving your reflector and buying an aftermarket replacement to cut up?
'54 CJ-3B "Green Gruntt"
Bantam T3-C

Offline Marla.the.V35

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Re: Making a functional taillight out of the Reflex reflector?
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2021, 06:13:58 PM »
I think you're right. I was thinking I should look for a second one. I'll get to work on it ;)

UPDATE:
I'm not sure what reflector (if any?) would've come standard on the V-35. Would it have something closer to the 3A, or use the M38 'oval' reflector? I'm not so sure the one I have is OEM. It says "STRATOLITE" on it and appears to resemble an oval M38 reflectors (based on what the usual vendors are offering and the crummy measurement I took here).

Likely, I'll just pick up something that matches this one, true to stock or not, just so I don't have to do any more drilling than necessary.





« Last Edit: November 22, 2021, 07:21:52 PM by Marla.the.V35 »
'81 CJ-5 (RIP)
'48 FrankenFlatty (RIP)
'50 CJ-V35/U 10912

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marla.the.v35/
youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqN6tmhXfZ-W0s4HdckDeqQ

Offline Bob W

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Re: Making a functional taillight out of the Reflex reflector?
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2021, 05:59:40 PM »
A CJ-V35 did not have any reflectors.

I am all for adding modern lighting to any vehicle that you plan to drive regularly on the road. People do not understand the lighting that old vehicles had.
Bob W