The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1954 Tail Light Lenses

I have a '54 ... the tail light lenses are plastic ... granted, they are only $5 each to replace, but the last pair I purchased are fading to clear in the center after less than 2 years.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I noticed the '49 - '53 lenses come in glass or plastic, but the '54 only seems to come in plastic. Does anyone know of a source for glass?

Aftermarket products are a disgrace.

It may be caused by tail and stop lights being of a much higher wattage than the original bulbs as much as by inferior materials. I wonder if you would have the same problem with LED replacements?

Thanks, Baldy

I saw these: LED\'s ... I think they are just a tad on the "ugly" side, but I am thinking about it.

I was thinking more along the lines of LED clusters as a replacement for the bulbs so you could retain the original type lenses, maybe someone has a site for for them.

A friend of mine had the same thing happen and I cant remember the details, but basically he soaked them in some type of red dye that really soaked into the plastic and they lasted YEARS longer without fading. That being said ???

Alan, it may also be caused by stopping too much. Try rolling through some of those stop signs, and the problem will be much less significant.

Baldy - LED cluster replacements would be the best way to go!

rustednuts - (now there's a username that actually HURTS to ponder!) Find out what kind of dye he used, will ya? I'm gonna treat my new lenses with GIBBS and see how that works.

tlorber - Since I have a 350sbc with headers and a mild cam, I think I'll ROAR through all stops from now on. LOL!

Alan; you won't find glass replacements, '54 was the first year for the plastic lenses. I would suggest leds, though. Check out Technostalgia. They make a panel type replacement led that replaces the bulb. They work much better than the type that simply replaces the bulb itsef, like the ones that the tuner cars. Here's what they look like. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2368955000092261295qrmCdN http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2739260370092261295Qaohye http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2752257200092261295eZVJHY

Thanks, Bill -- I'll check it out ... I think the LED's I linked to above (5 posts up), look much better.

Its been a long time since I talked to him, been about a year since I seen him so I dont think I can be of much help. Sorry.

Maybe you can do a little bit of testing on some scrap clear plastics and see what soaks in alright??? Good luck, Jeff

Are the 54 truck lenses the same as the car lenses? The car lenses had an inner insert between the bulb and outer lens. A couple of buddies of mine started repoping the insert because nobody was making them. If they're the same & an insert would help let me know & I'll post their website.

Thanks, Tiny

They aren't the same but it might be interesting to see what your buddies did.

Alan, think you can add blue dots to those LED's???

I had blue dots ... but I got pulled over by the PO'leece!

In Jersey, it's illegal to have any blue lights on a vehicle ... blue it reserved for law enforcement vehicles only.

It's awfully silly, if you ask me, to get so uptight about tiny little 3/4" blue dots on the back of a 1954 Chevy pickup! But, nonetheless, I had to replace them or they would surely kill all my family members!

AMEN to the aftermarket products being a disgrace!!!

Wow.

I just got my new lenses and put them on ... I had no idea, really, how much the old ones (if you can call 1.5 - 2 years "old") actually faded!

When I got back in the house, I looked closer at them and the red color is just gone out of the plastic! Oh well.

The new ones look great!

Shoot Alan, I knew they weren't the same (as the fat kid slaps his forehead Homer Simpson style). This is their site. Maybe they can help you find what you need.

Hey! That's a really cool site, Tiny!

Thanks!!!

You can't add blue dots to the lenses that have the integrated leds, everything is sealed on them. The type that I used uses a standard lense, only the bulb is replaced. A bluedot can be put in, but it will not work as the leds are red in illumination, not white. Leds require being the same illumination color as the lense for best operation. I modified mine with a blue led license plate bolt behind the dot to make it work.

Has anyone seen these?
[b]Red LED Replacements for 1157 Bulbs[/b]

I'm wondering how they'd look behind the plastic lenses ...

PS -- I just found these, too:
[b]LED Replacement Lenses Plug Into 1157 Socket[/b]

Alan,

That is what I thought you were looking for, glad you found them.

I ordered the LED Replacement Lenses (linked in my PS above) ... I should have them next week.

Merry Christmas!