Pics of my custom Bowtie tail lights

[bobs409]

An idea I've had for a long time has finally been completed. I fabbed and installed "Frenched in bowtie tail lights" into my stepside fenders.

I made these from 16 guage steel into a small panel off the truck, then when complete, I cut out an area of the rear fenders to match tha and welded them in.

They are completely hand made and feature plexiglass lenses that set in 1 inch from the surface. I tinted these with an opaque red paint. They have 2 1157 bulbs in each that are also tinted with the same red paint. (I'm considering LED panels for the future)

(For some reason, the pics posted from bottom to top so view from bottom to top)

Pic #5 shows the old setup, a pair of 1965 Impala lights stacked on each fender. These were falling apart and the fenders were rotting around the lights so I opted for a change. They have now been "deleted".

Pic #4 shows the fabricated bowtie panel in the process of being installed. I made this panel large enough so I could remove all rusted metal from my fender and cut out around the 2 holes from the old lights.

Pic #3 shows the new panel tacked in. After fully welding in, the welds were ground smooth to blend in.

Pic #2 shows the new bowtie light fully installed. The bulbs mount into a rectangular metal box that bolts onto the rear of the panel. This can be removed with 4 nuts for future mods or to replace a lens if needed.

Pic #1 isn't the greatest quality but shows the parking lights lit. They are much brighter with brakes on. They really look good in the dark but I can't seem to take a good night time pic of them.


And this concluded the Bowtie tail light tour. They seem to be getting the looks but it's hard to tell since it's the back of the truck.

[70c10]

Nice job Bob!. Be careful with the paint on those bulbs. I have found paint doesn't hold up very well to the heat of any bulb and will smoke!

[Putter]

That looks sweet. Good job. How is the plexi held in place? Glue, silicone, etc...?

[speesh]

just fyi..... they make plexiglass in red, but it may be hard to find.....

[Big J]

Awesome job! I give a big thumbs up. Totally agree, L.E.D.s would be sweet.

[67ChevyC10Stepside]

nice...

[bobs409]

70c10: I used the Metalcast brand paint that they sell at Walmart. It's supposed to give a colored chrome look to metal and plastic but I couldn't get it to do what it was made for to save my life but it does work wonders to make colored bulbs! After painting the bulbs, let dry for 10-15 minutes, then lite 'em up to bake in the paint! Within a few seconds, the paint turns from a frosted look into a see through color. Looks just like a store bought bulb. (I searched and couldn't find any red ones so thats how I got into the above process)

I left a test bulb lit for 20 minutes and it held up great! No smoke at all and the color held fast. It's quite durable too, doesn't scratch off easily. Just keep solvents off of them as carb cleaner will remove it.

Putter: Behind the fender, there is a rectangular metal box that I made which holds the lens and light sockets. I tacked in 4 metal tabs for the lens to sit on, then made my own gaskets from rubber roofing material. When the metal box is bolted on, the lens and rubber gasket get sandwiched for a leak proof seal. (took a while to come up with that idea but seems to be working well.

speesh: I was originally going to use clear lenses but started hearing that may not be legal here in Pa. so I tested tinting a piece. I liked the way it looked so much, I went with that. It's red but still see through.

I may have to add a bit of reflector somewhere on them yet but waiting to see if I get pulled over first.

Still checking to see if LED's would be legal here too. Pa is picky about things like this. If the are legal, I'll be building my own for fun.


Next project... A hand made custom auto floor shifter. I've got some good ideas for it and will probably do that over the winter.

[Longhorn Man]

Slip this kind of LED in there...it is already DOT aproved so you can tell them to kiss your 12 bolt. You can get them at napa or any truck stop...worst case...talk to a mechanic at U-haul or for a semi fleet.
They are plenty bright in parking lamp mode, and super bright with the brakes on.
A way around the reflector law (which they probably will get you on at your yearly inspection) is to get some of the red and silver reflective tape...again, truck stops or NAPA...but I would try a small shop since you only need a little bit. Just make an outline on the edges of the bow tie in red reflector tape.

Sweet idea with the bow tie lens...and low buck too, I think we all dig that.
Now...how much would the welder cost though?

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Those bowtie light's look pretty cool.

[Blue Beard]

Looks good....

Been thinking of getting a plasma cutter to do some work with...

[weasel29gm]

Cool I like em'!!!!!!!!!!!

[Palf70Step]

They look real good Bob, although I am really going to miss your old light setup. Always thought that was really unique.

[Canadian694x4]

I really like the new look! Nice Work!

[68C15]

from what I see Bob Vila would be jealous (craftsman)
do some searching at a motorhome dealer parts dept.. they may have a large reflective lens you could use to make your from if "Big Brother" gives you trouble.

[me3]

great Idea where did you get the pattern for the bow tie. thought I might do it myself and put the gas filler in it.

[bobs409]

I just traced the outline of a mid 70's Chevy truck grill emblem onto paper and scanned it into my computer. From there, I took it into photoshop and made a few different sizes, then printed them out on card stock.

From there, cut them out and try them out on truck to decide what size is best. The ones I went with were 6.5 inches long at the longest points.


Good luck!

[PanelDeland]

Bob,I want to commend you not only for really cool lights but also for being a true hot rodder.It seems like very few people remember when hot rods were built from junkyard parts.It seems like you have used skills and intelligence to put together something for your truck no one else has.You needed lights and built your own.I like that you are about to build your own shifter.Just watch out.The rod and custom shops will be knocking down your door if you patent your ideas-So they can mass produce them and everyone can put them on their truck.

[vincep]

I Own a company. That does resin casting. I can cast the bowties and put a prism style back on it so that it would scatter the light.
vince@resinworks.com

[me3]

Thanks for the dementions I would patent it of your Idea might get stolen from some of these stupid pricey magazines

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by me3

Thanks for the dementions I would patent it of your Idea might get stolen from some of these stupid pricey magazines

That may be hard to do since he didn't get GM's written aproval to use the bow tie, plus, he has to have a product to patent, not just a hole shaped like a companys regestered trade mark.

Now, if there was written permission, and a weld in panel, or something along those lines, then a patent would possably be granted.

[bobs409]

Thanks for the compliments guys. When I get an idea, it's hard to stop myself! Such as the shifter idea. I'm going to take some of the design ideas from the 1968-72 Chevelle staple type shifter (for it's simplicity) and incorporate some of the things I like about the B&M starshifter, then wrap the whole thing in my own design. I have some great ideas so far for what I want it to look like and how it will function. I will be building each part from scratch and not really "copying" anything, just using the other shifters as a guide.

As for the lights, there's nothing to really have patented unless I (or someone) produced and sold the pre made bowtie panels ready to weld in. Trust me, that wouldn't be too feasable since it took about a week to make them, not much profit there. I'm not worried about using the bowtie design on my personal truck, nothing GM could do about that. They don't scare me. hee hee

Selling something with a bowtie, now that's a different animal. I'm sure GM would probably want a piece of the action on something like that.

[frost89434]

Very nice work!!!

[bobs409]

Just wanted to show the after look. I painted the rest of my truck 2 days ago and here's how the bowtie lights look all finished.

I'm very happy with the way they turned out and it was worth the time I spent making them.

Now just a bit of wet sanding and buffing and on to the next project... :p

[Palf70Step]

Very NICE!!!!!!!!!!!! The lights look super in there.

[Tx Firefighter]

Bob, if the bulb paint doesn't hold up over the long haul, you can get red colored bulb condoms at truck stops. They're..uh...rubber, and they slip over a normal clear bulb to change the color.