Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,090 Posts1,056,031 Members48,433 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 769 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 769 | I am thinking about using 48 car tail lights on my truck. I will be installing them in a roll pan.
The question. They are listed in the catalogs as rights and lefts. What makes the assembly a right and what makes it a left?
I don't know of anyone with a 48 chevy car to look at. There was a big car show last week and I did not think to look for a 48 to check out. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,517 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,517 | Theres no difference in the lenses or trim rings,so if there is a diff, it would be in the housing. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 769 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 769 | Thanks for the reply, I am trying to determine if when installed they will set the same at both sides. That is one side of the assembly does not stick out farther than the other side of the same assmbly. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Maybe for a tag light? The left would illuminate the tag???? I don't know what the back of a 48 looks like so that's strictly a guess.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,464 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,464 | Interesting question. You sure can't tell by looking at the lens or trim ring so it must be the housing as delux said. Those lights were used from '41 thru '48. Speedway carries a led version and you can get stock replacements from Chevs of the 40's. Does your roll pan have a flat area on it?
They've been popular with rodders since way back, should look good on your truck. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 769 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 769 | The roll pan is a Mar-K product. Great quality. The pan has a flat, but angled from vertical, surface. I plan to french the light into the angled surface.
My orginal plan was to use 50 Pontiac lights, but I started to think they are too big for the area of the roll pan. So I decided to go with the 48 Chevy tail light which was my back-up plan. I clamped the pan to the end of my frame and penciled in a big round circle to represent the 50 Pontiac and on the other side a rectangle to represent the 48 Chevy. I think the 50 Pontiac tail light is going to win out.
I think you are right about the 48 Chevy's being different on the inside.
Last edited by Lonnie Gallaher; 09/27/2009 4:00 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 | I'm running those on my 46, believe it's the bolt pattern of the housing that's the differance so L & R. And one of the two has a tiny plastic lens that allows it to light the interior of the trunk, I think, it's been years since I've installed those. Also every swap meet I've been to has scads of these 'repopped'. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 769 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 769 | Jim,
Thanks for the reply. I don't suppose you have a photobucket site with some more pics of your 46.
Are you running the 48 lights in a roll pan or in the rear sill?
| | |
|
|
