The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Suburban Clamshell lights

I started a new thread to limit the confusion.

Bill can you send these pictures to me? I can't get the larger photos to load onto my computer.

Trivia question:

What is the differences between these two lights?

What would be different if this was installed onto a 1955/9 suburban?

What parts would you need to convert a station wagon light to fit a Suburban?

Did all of the clamshell lights have glass lenses?

I will photograph the different types of lights and post them in a new post later. In the mean time there may be someone here that has the answers....Tim, Bill?

the diff in the 2 lights I posted is just that one doesn't have the removeable working parts but does have the riveted on swivel base - my buddy had both on the wall when I asked - the long arm is longer for the burb, the rest is the same - I'll ask buddy about the base, but I'd bet GM made sure it'd fit both car and truck .... I've only seen glass lensed ones, plastic may have been an aftermarket replacement thing late in the game

I've always heard that the same light fit all year clamshell gates, 47-59

Bill

Bill, check out the light assemblies again, you can see the differences in the pictures.

There is a difference in the 55/9 light assembly.

Both glass and plastic were used, they changed to plastic in what year?

there's no tellin, George, where and when those lenses came from, or if the plastic one was on the light when it was new - the new good R13 lense Bruce has is glass and it's like the lense with the circle on it, marked Guide R13, the other one had no number and the lense may be the same size/shape as a number of other tail lights, prolly interchangeable, even with Ford! ... wouldn't be suprised if by 58 they used plastic, but I've never seen one

Bill

at a swapmeet one time a guy selling tailight lenses told me when i bought some for my 55' TF panel that the lenses were the same as old harley davidson motorcycles, never did check to see if it was true.

The barn door tail light lenses and harley lenses are the same. The early Harley's had glass and the later had plastic. The chrome tail light trim is also the same.

the Harley version

George - my buddy with the clamshell light said he's near positive the plastic clam lense was a later Guide replacement part that fit other lights, doesn't think they ever came from the factory with a plastic lense

Bill

I can't confirm this, but I believe that the last year for glass lenses were 1954. I had this info somewhere, but can't find it at this time. Guide had converted to plastic for most if not all GM products by 1954. There may be some tail lights out there that have the glass lenses on them beyond 1954, but I don't think they came from the factory that way. (Tim where are you?)

The bullet lights also converted to plastic.

Trivia question:

What is the differences between these two lights? (Hint: compare the bases)

What would be different if this was installed onto a 1955/9 suburban? (Hint: clamshell gates were larger in the TF years)

What parts would you need to convert a station wagon light to fit a Suburban? (Hint: The suburban clamshell gates had a more prominent curve)

Did all of the clamshell lights have glass lenses? (Hint: What was the last year for glass lenses on any GM product?)

Originally posted by GMONIZ:
I can't confirm this, but I believe that the last year for glass lenses were 1954. I had this info somewhere, but can't find it at this time. Guide had converted to plastic for most if not all GM products by 1954. There may be some tail lights out there that have the glass lenses on them beyond 1954, but I don't think they came from the factory that way. (Tim where are you?)

The bullet lights also converted to plastic.

Trivia question:

What is the differences between these two lights? (Hint: compare the bases) TWO TYPES OF ORIGINAL BASES. ONE IS MADE OUT OF CAST IRON AND THE OTHER OUT OF CAST ALUMINUM. NOTICE THE RUST ON THE CAST IRON AND LOOK AT THE CAST ALUMINUM AND NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE MOLDS. (THE CAST IRON BASES ARE HARDER TO FIND AND THEY DON'T SPLIT AT THE HINGE PIN AREA)

What would be different if this was installed onto a 1955/9 suburban? (Hint: clamshell gates were larger in the TF years) THE 55/9 USED A LONGER ROD AND THE ROD BRACKET IS ALSO LONGER.

What parts would you need to convert a station wagon light to fit a Suburban? (Hint: The suburban clamshell gates had a more prominent curve) THE STATION WAGON USED A SQUARER BASE AND HAD A SHORTER ROD BRACKET AND ROD. THE SUBURBAN USED A ROUND BASE AND THE ROD BRACKET WAS LONGER, IT FIT MORE INTO THE TAILGATE.

Did all of the clamshell lights have glass lenses? (Hint: What was the last year for glass lenses on any GM product?) I HAVE SEEN ORIGINAL 55/9 SUBURBAN WITH THE PLASTIC LENSES. THE LAST CHEVY STATION WAGON WITH THIS TYPE OF LIGHT WAS 1952