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1968 Tail Light Covers

franklinair

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Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Messages
4,740
Just got a set of the cardboard tail light covers for the trunk. Bob Teets told me the secret to form the curvature without creasing them (Moisten lightly and put in a slight bend/curve, increasing the bend slightly in steps).

The bottom length of each piece is scored, indicating (to me) that it would be bent to accommodate the trunk floor. Is this correct? Are the pieces secured in any manner to hold them in place?

Neil (novice) Hoppe:icon_pani
 

Perkchiro

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Joined
May 1, 2004
Messages
1,112
Location
Nixa, MO
They should tuck under the clips at the top (look for them). Look for something round (like a metal garbage can) to form them. Wouldn't moistening them risk staining? Good luck!
 

green56

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Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
516
tail light covers

can you take a picture of them installed to see how they look
 

Northern Pony

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Joined
Aug 28, 2007
Messages
268
Neil;
Bob Teets sent me some instructions for bending these in a jig he made up. It worked great for me, nice curvature and no wrinkles. Get Bob to send you his instructions. Sorry, but my instructions seem to have gotten lost after in got the inserts installed.
The score at the bottom bends at the trunck floor and into the trunk, and there are " clips" in the top end of the trunck where the square cut out goes.
Wetting does not stain.
Hi to Peggy.
BoB
 

mmarsalone

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Joined
Sep 10, 2004
Messages
324
Location
New Orleans, LA
Here are couple pictures of mine. I just tucked the top in first, then slowly worked the bottom in. Yes, and folding at the crease.

Mike
 

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GTCSMustang

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Mar 16, 2003
Messages
719
1968 Shelby and 1968 GT/CS and 1968 HCS cars used the same trunk protectors. Original ones were painted a gray color on the side that faces the inside of the trunk. Here's a link to one of my Shelbys showing original ones installed. They do not go under the tabs that are used to hold the tail light harness in place. The panels shown installed above are correctly installed.

http://www.scottfullerreproductions.com/albums/album_image/5235457/1548913.htm

Scott
 

rvrtrash

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Joined
Apr 25, 2003
Messages
3,649
Going from memory, when I put the bow in mine, I placed them between two 2x4's spaced apart, lightly sprayed both sides of the covers with water, and put a couple of loose 14" wheels standing upright on top (each a little in from the ends). The 2x4's should be placed so the wheel/cover touches the floor in the center, and the boards on the sides. I left them like that for a couple of days and the curve seemed perfect and the covers didn't stain.

Steve
 

Mosesatm

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Joined
Jan 18, 2005
Messages
9,009
1968 Shelby and 1968 GT/CS and 1968 HCS cars used the same trunk protectors. Original ones were painted a gray color on the side that faces the inside of the trunk. Here's a link to one of my Shelbys showing original ones installed. They do not go under the tabs that are used to hold the tail light harness in place. The panels shown installed above are correctly installed.

http://www.scottfullerreproductions.com/albums/album_image/5235457/1548913.htm

Scott

Scott,
In the photo in the link you provided it looks like the spare tire hits the tail light cover. Is that the case or was the damaged cover just an oops?
 

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GTCSMustang

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Mar 16, 2003
Messages
719
The biggest wheel you could get on a regular Mustang in 68 was 14-inch. They should fit better than the one in the picture because it's a Shelby and Shelbys used 15x6 wheels.

But you are right, my protector has been damaged by the spare tire.

Scott
 

limelyt

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Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
308
Location
Calgary, Alberta CANADA
I started bending with a large garbage can working to smaller diameter items until we got the right bend, but I like the sparying water idea.

Gary
 
OP
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franklinair

franklinair

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Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Messages
4,740
Gary- Nope.
I've installed the tail light covers. Came out great. No clearance problem with the 14" spare tire. I even tried the 15" Shelby wheel - about 1/2" clearance, but the spare tire holddown hardware for a standard wheel won't work with the Shelby wheel.

Neil

PS:
I'm up late tonight. Got a Citation jet with a flat tire. This is after we fixed a door mechanism problem on an Avanti turbo prop A/C. A long day!!
 
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