Tail light position

rcrra

rcrra

Junior Member
Here goes a really dumb question: What is the correct position to mount a
tail light on a 1930 model a coupe. I got to looking at my two tail lights and
did a little measuring. Found that they were not the same height. Now not
sure if either one is in the correct position. So, how many inches up from the
bottom of the fender and how far from the body is the correct position for the
tail lights? Thanks again.
 
Hi rcrra,

One small point to consider is "not" to set light heights by just measuring bracket bolt holes.

Not all new, original, or repro rear fenders are curved alike ..... moreso if repaired in the past ....... and not all original vs. repro brackets have identical angles.

Measure left and right rear light heights from a level finished floor to center-lines of left & right round tail lights.

Nobody will focus on the height of the bracket bolts where attached on the fender as much as focusing on the exact level heights of the illuminated lights ............. especially at night.

Hope this helps.
 
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While parked on an un-even parking area, a friend said, "Somebody step on your tail-light"?-----"I don't think so, I don't have a RUMBLE seat"!
For a MONTH, I was PARANOID, thinkin' my light was crooked! I looked at it, measured it, tugged on it, etc. Gregg would lean to one side,---"Looks straight to me"--LOL--God, I miss him.
Remember when the re-pops were a L/H copy? Claude (RIP)was a master at knotching & re-welding the stem, to get the right angle of the dangle!
I once read of 2 rear fenders sent to China, as samples, to be reproduced. The R/R got dented & the new fenders came back with a FACTORY DENT!!!
Bill W.
 
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Thanks H. L., that all makes sense. I'll look at it from that perspective. You know, I grew
up on model A's. Had three of them while in high school. Even overhauled one. Thought I
knew a little about them when I got this one, but time does things to you. I found that
I had to relearn almost everything. Thanks to guy like you and Bill and Tom it has been
made so much easier. Thanks guys.
 
Reproduction right side taillight bracket does not have the same shape as the originals. Thus if you have an original taillight bracket on one side of the car and a repro for the other side, you cannot use the original mounting hole locations to get the lights looking evenly positioned.

Ford did not make a right side taillight bracket.

Have someone hold the right side light and move it around until it looks good to you. Then mark and drill the hole locations.
 
When I first added the right light to my car I measured the fender and then drilled it.Of course the two lights were at different angles and heights. I replaced the original left tail light bracket with a new one from the same vendor as the right light and then they both matched. It may not be original but they now both look the same.
 
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