31 Model A Tail Light

[JohnB15632]

This evening I dry fit the left rear brake light and the brake light mounting bracket. Everything seems to fit together correctly.

Except, as assembled, the brake light turns down slightly.

Is this correct?

If I have assembled all correctly, there is no way to adjust any of the parts.

Thoughts?

[SeaSlugs]

should be perpendicular to the road facing straight back. is that a repo bracket? is your fender bent at that location? Not uncommon for something or someone to bend the bracket down and distort the fender.

[JohnB15632]

Yea, it is a repro bracket. The fender does not seem to be bent. I am at a loss. Thanks,

[CarlG]

Vintique?

[JohnB15632]

No, parts came from a reputable vendor.

[1931 flamingo]

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Is the brkt at the right height on the fender?? Repro fender?? Is the slope the same on both fenders??
Paul in CT

[JohnB15632]

The fenders are original. I will try to position the brackets on the right fender. The right fender also is original. It does not have holes for the brake light bracket.

Thanks,

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Heat the inside of the stem, with a Rosebud & bend away! No matter what you do, you'll always "think" it's CROOKEDY---LOL---If nobody sez anything, jist FORGET it.
One DUFUS asked me, "Did somebody step on your tail light, gettin' in the grumbleseat"?----"I don't think so, I have a trunk, stupid"!! For weeks, it seemed crooked to me! I finally forgave him, fer keepin' me AWAKE at night!
Sure glad he didn't say, "Is your car leanin' to the LEFT"??
One Guy asked, "Duz your front bumper have TOO MUCH CURVE"?----"I made it thet way, to encourage STUPID CONVERSATION"!!!----"HEY, sumbody over "there", is callin' you"!!!
Bill Paranoid

[Richard Lorenz]

The mounting bracket looks like an original based on the thickness of the material. The problem must with the fender.

[Ernie Vitucci]

An easy fix might be to make a wooden shim to go between the mount face and the light shell...I doubt if it would be noticed if it was painted to match the mount...If it doesn't fit, don't force it, use a bigger file...Ernie

[SSsssteamer]

Originally Posted by Ernie Vitucci

An easy fix might be to make a wooden shim to go between the mount face and the light shell...I doubt if it would be noticed if it was painted to match the mount...If it doesn't fit, don't force it, use a bigger file...Ernie

Use no wood shims. Once you know that the fender is straight as the fender should be, and if the tail light still is not perpendicular to the ground, heat and bend the tail light bracket until the mounted tail light finally hangs properly. As Bill said in his above post, people do notice these misaligned things.

[burner31]

It may be a hassle, but if you pull the other light bracket and compare the two, I'm guessing that the angles will be different.
If that is the case you may need to search out an original bracket.

[SSsssteamer]

Originally Posted by burner31

It may be a hassle, but if you pull the other light bracket and compare the two, I'm guessing that the angles will be different.
If that is the case you may need to search out an original bracket.

Due to the pitch of the right rear fender from the left rear fender, the right and the left tail light brackets are stamped out differently from each other so as to match the side that they are to be placed on. The repro tail light brackets are of a lighter gauge of steel than the original tail light brackets. I like to use the original tail light brackets. To change a left hand tail light bracket to a right hand bracket, I have had to take a little slice out of the right bracket just so that I could get enough movement in the tail light bracket so as to square up the tail light housing..

[JohnB15632]

Stop guys. This thread has ended. I am an idiot. This morning, I mounted the fender support. This immediately moved the fender into the position that now the light is now correctly mounted and is perpendicular to the ground.

I am sorry that I was such an idiot.

Thanks,

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by JohnB15632

Stop guys. This thread has ended. I am an idiot. This morning, I mounted the fender support. This immediately moved the fender into the position that now the light is now correctly mounted and is perpendicular to the ground.

I am sorry that I was such an idiot.

Thanks,

Eh, weve all been in your shoes so dont sweat it :P I assumed you had the bracket in place.

least you discovered this before wasting time modifying or bending the fender

[jimalabam]

Hey JohnBi5632. I am 81 yrs old but I am really 21 w/60 yrs experience BUT i still sometimes stop and with a funny look - say "Now why did I do that or Why did I not see that. Have fun with your "seedan"...

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by JohnB15632

Stop guys. This thread has ended. I am an idiot. This morning, I mounted the fender support. This immediately moved the fender into the position that now the light is now correctly mounted and is perpendicular to the ground.

I am sorry that I was such an idiot.

Thanks,

John, don't feel like the LONE RANGER, we've ALL done STUPID things, some just don't ADMIT IT.
Bill Imperfectalso

[JohnB15632]

I guess experience is the best teacher. After putting POR-15 on the inside of the fenders yesterday, today I installed the fenders along with the fender supports. I battened everything down but hot seated as in final install.

But way laa!! The tail light and bracket line up exactly as it should.

Relief!!!!