Tail lights
Willys wagon tail lights were designed over 60 years ago and certainly can’t be confused with those on a “modern” Cadillac Escalade or Volvo. Here’s an attempt at updating the lights to LED Hall-type units.
Willys changed to Hall-type tail-lights sometime in 1963 or ’64. The Hall-type lights are round chrome “pods” that are attached to the body with a plastic base. This was an improvement over the older design, but no where near the brightness of 21st century units.
DIY Hall-type reproductions.
3D printing in polylactate is straight forward if you have someone who can do the scanning and write the program.
A fair amount of sanding and multiple primers are required to make these “pods” smooth enough to paint.
My design uses two parts held together with six screws, while the original used a circular spring as a retaining ring.
The two-part new plastic tail light housing is larger than the original as can be seen in this comparison.
6 stainless steel screws hold it together with a square profile O-ring between.
Another view of the new tail light and the 54 LED unit that is sandwiched inside.
The push-on GM style connectors for the LED units must be a thin style – we used Canadian NAPA 3 way plug for 5277 & 5273 lamps # 67000B.
These connectors needed to be trimmed so they would fit inside the new housings.
In place, the neo-Hall-type unit looks more substantial than the OEM
unit. The “chrome” finish is just sprayed on. The lights must be more
than 3 times as bright.
Next, I’d like some back-up lights….
LED lights require a different flasher, with a ground lead, so that they function at the correct speed.
On the left is the original Willys flasher.
Costs
| Tail light upgrade cost | $108 |
| •3D printing housing (2 pieces) | 0 (value 100?) |
| •SS 8-32 screws & nuts | 4 |
| •O-ring | 4 |
| •LED light units (Maxxima M56100R) | 60 |
| •GM style light connector (Cdn NAPA 67000B) | 8 |
| •Primer & chrome paint | 22 |
| •LED compatible flasher (CEC EF33RL) | 10 |
Warning: any change to the factory design of your vehicle has potential dangers which could result in injury or death. Make sure any design changes or repairs are performed by competent, experienced technicians.
This content last updated: Sunday Dec 2, 2018. Uploaded Dec 23, 2023.
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