58-59 Fleetside Taillight Housings

[Spitshineschwinn]

Do the attached pics of a tail light housing look to be correct for 58-59 Fleetsides? The holes do not seem to line up correctly.

[OrrieG]

I will be looking at mine tonight and will post a pic later. If anyone has spares laying around I need one.

[beanyard]

It looks to be correct. Remember that the outside bezel is held in by the 3 screws that go through the lens into the assembly that you sent a pic of.
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[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by Spitshineschwinn

Do the attached pics of a tail light housing look to be correct for 58-59 Fleetsides? The holes do not seem to line up correctly.

Don't know what they are but they are not 58-9 fleetside

[beanyard]

They look just like the ones on my fleetside.
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[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by beanyard

They look just like the ones on my fleetside.
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Then you have the wrong ones on yours. The fleetside are solid around the edge not split like that. The one he pictured shows that a lens mounts down in to the socket. No so on a fleetside. Those look more like body lights , maybe for a panel van .

Here is a picture in pdf.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

Then you have the wrong ones on yours. The fleetside are solid around the edge not split like that. The one he pictured shows that a lens mounts down in to the socket. No so on a fleetside. Those look more like body lights , maybe for a panel van .

Here is a picture in pdf.

That is the only chevy fleetside drawing I have every seen. Do you have others in the series, that show the rest of the bed construction? I did notice its dated 72, out of a parts manual??

[beanyard]

I must admit that my truck isn't assembled that way so maybe I have the wrong ones or maybe they were slightly different in 59... Perhaps I will brave the bitter Idaho cold tear my taillights down to see if they will assemble according to the drawing. I don't know all the history of my truck so it may have the wrong parts on it.
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[Spitshineschwinn]

Thanks guys, I knew I could count on you to help a new member with the right info. I had never seen the correct housings before because when I bought my truck (16 yrs ago) it had a set of sealed plastic lights mounted, held in place by a rubber gasket. They appear to be the same lights you see on the back of UPS trucks, enclosed trailers, etc. They quit working about 1 month ago so I decided to try to buy original parts and do it the right way.

These were an Ebay purchase, so I will be sending them back to the seller. I don't think he was out to scam me, I think they were just marked wrong by someone as to the vehicle application. The hunt for correct housings continues!

[OrrieG]

Here are mine. Stock they are a dull galvanized finish. I painted mine "chrome" for reflection on the inside and satin black on the outside. It is stamp Guide RID58 on the back, means it was made in 58, my truck must have been an early 59 or they had a lot left over! 59 probably have RID 59 marking. It measures 4-3/8" across the front, 3" across the recess and is 2" from rhw face to back of recess. The connector is a push and twist from the back side, front is standard bulb push and twist for a two filiment bulb. I have never found one reproduced. Notice the notch in the front lip at the bottom for condensation drainage.

[Spitshineschwinn]

Great pics, thanks very much! I've located another set, but this guy wants $30. each plus $8. shipping. Seems a bit steep, but they are hard to find. What do you guys think?

[dwcsr]

$38 sounds good to me as long as they are in fair to good shape

[OrrieG]

Depends on how big of a hurry you are in, they are hard to come buy because most guys do not want to have to sell the bed without them. Someone might be able to find some for you. When I got my truck it only had one side and none of the parts were reproduced. In the mid 80's I was at the dump and a guy had a 59 fleetside bed made into a trailer with mint trim. I talked him into selling both light assemblies for $50 plus I put in new truck type. The rest of the bed was beat pretty good and all he wanted was working lights.

[Daze57]

good pics OrrieG .

[Spitshineschwinn]

It's actually $68. total, and they do appear to be in good shape. This is also just for the housings, I have already purchased the lenses, gaskets and the aluminum bezels. I am going to E-mail him and tell him I want them. I've been searching for a good set for quite some time now. I'm hoping he will include the wire pig tails. Thanks again for all the help you provided to a newbie. This is a great site and a most useful resource to all old Chevy truck enthusiasts! Great people too! I will get some pics of my truck up soon.

[G&R's57GMC]

BTW your tail/brake lights will appear brighter if you paint the inside of the housing flat white.

[97ss150]

I know this is a super old post, but I'm having trouble finding any of these for sale .Can anyone get the dimensions of these so I can hav you my dad pop some of these out on the lathe? Thanks in advance