Tech Articles

Easy '59 Caddie Tailight Mounts  

Looking for a unique taillight idea?  The 1959 Cadillac taillight's jet exhaust look has made it a rodder's favorite for years. The lights are now being reproduced and are a relatively inexpensive way to dress up your ride.

Here are a couple of EASY ways to mount your 59 caddie taillights. Let's start with the reproduction taillight. They are prewired for the standard 1157 light bulb. 

And here are your EASY mounts. That's right, stainless steel  kitchen sink baskets. I picked up a pair of them for under ten bucks. The inside of the baskets is slightly larger than the O.D. of the caddie taillights. And, that nut the holds the basket to your sink, makes it real, real easy to attach the taillights to a flat surface. The taillights will have a cool recessed look.

1.Drill this thing out with a 3/8" drill bit.

2.Then put a 3/8" rubber grommet in the hole. (This protects your wiring.)

3.Drill a 3/8" hole on the outside for the attachment screws. (Start with a smaller bit, and then work up to 3/8")  It doesn't matter where, but you must drill a hole on the exact opposite side. Also,take care when drilling that you don't mess up the threads.  see photo

4. Remove the 2 screws from the base of the taillight. Line up the holes in the basket with the holes in the tailight base, install screws, and you're done.

5. For flat mounting--Cut a hole in your vehicle body slightly larger than basket threads. Use sink basket nut to hold in place. Wire it, and you're done!

6. Alternate mounting--There are 2 other attachment points on the basket. see photo

7.Mounting from the pipe flange- here is a 21" sink drain (about nine bucks each). This is a good option if you want it to come out of a pickup bed, or body panel.

8.Paint the back of the basket, and the pipe nut, any color you want. If  you get any paint where you don't want it, 0000 grade steel wool will clean the paint off the stainless  steel. Take care not to scratch it, you can leave marks with the steel wool.

9.Drill a 3/8" hole in the drain pipe, and put in rubber grommet to run wiring through.

10. Figure out how you are going to mount taillight- this is up to you!

11.Feed wire down pipe, and out grommet, tighten nut, wire lights, and you're done!

Items Needed

reproduction Caddie tailight(s)

sink basket(s)

Drill Press and 3/8" (and smaller)drill bits

paint (optional)

1 package of 3/8" grommets

Wear safety glasses, keep guards in place, use all equipment safely!

Just Added

I was asked. "What if you don't have room to access the mounting screws on the basket after installation?' "You still have to replace burnt out bulbs."

Here's what you do if this is a problem

Basically, you install a bolt from the inside, put a nut on the outside, and the bolts will then function as mounting studs. First,.you will need to replace the screws on the outside of the lamp, with countersunk type screws. You now have a taillight that is 1 piece, and will still fit the sink basket.. Second, mounting the lamp. There are 2 screw holes on the base of the lamp assembly, you can't use them, they are in the wrong place (they are directly over the stepped part of the basket. You need to drill a couple of holes further out from the center of the base. You will then drill corresponding holes in the sink basket. Insert lamp into sink basket. Install nut on end of lamp stud that is sticking out of basket, you're done.Oh yeah, make sure you leave enough wire to pull out the lamp out of the basket when you change light bulbs.

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