Restoration of the College Tiger

Main Disassembly
and
Stripping Prep
&
Paint Engine Assembly Dashboard Electrical Interior Cooling Sys. Suspension Wheels
&
Tires First
Refurbishment Tiger Times

Here are the semi-cruddy taillights from the car.

The disassemble easily. Note, this is not the correct taillight assembly for the update I have planned.

If you have the correct taillight assemblies, the bulb holders will pop out without altering or damaging either the housings or the sockets.

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I had two styles of taillights. L763 on the left does NOT have removable sockets. L654 on the right, is presumably an earlier taillight and probably corresponds to the taillight lenses with the inner screw fastenings L654 is preferable for this conversion (in my opinion) because it is entirely reversable.

Bulbs and sockets after cleaning and removal, these will be saved.

New gaskets from Rick at Sunbeam Specialties, combined with custom LED panels from Gary at vintageleds.com.

Cleaned, polished, and assembled, they look better than they have in years. I think new lenses may be in order.

A side-by-side comparison with another Tiger will be down the road, but these look exceptionally bright. I think they will be a big safety improvment for the old car.

.

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The front turn signal housing looked especially bad. Since these hang out in the front fender, they are exposed to weather and road crud.

Here I have masked off the reflector.

The bead blaster, with my tired glass beads and low pressure makes these look pretty good. There is pitting in the pot metal castincs, but not in the areas that show.

These will get the LED treatment as well. I have plenty of signal lenses and they look like they will polish up well, but all my parking light lenses are broken.

The leftover debris is a mess.

Here are the semi-cruddy taillights from the car.
The disassemble easily. Note, this is not the correct taillight assembly for the update I have planned.
If you have the correct taillight assemblies, the bulb holders will pop out without altering or damaging either the housings or the sockets.
.
I had two styles of taillights. L763 on the left does NOT have removable sockets. L654 on the right, is presumably an earlier taillight and probably corresponds to the taillight lenses with the inner screw fastenings L654 is preferable for this conversion (in my opinion) because it is entirely reversable.
Bulbs and sockets after cleaning and removal, these will be saved.
New gaskets from Rick at Sunbeam Specialties, combined with custom LED panels from Gary at vintageleds.com.
Cleaned, polished, and assembled, they look better than they have in years. I think new lenses may be in order.
A side-by-side comparison with another Tiger will be down the road, but these look exceptionally bright. I think they will be a big safety improvment for the old car.
.
.
The front turn signal housing looked especially bad. Since these hang out in the front fender, they are exposed to weather and road crud.
Here I have masked off the reflector.
The bead blaster, with my tired glass beads and low pressure makes these look pretty good. There is pitting in the pot metal castincs, but not in the areas that show.
These will get the LED treatment as well. I have plenty of signal lenses and they look like they will polish up well, but all my parking light lenses are broken.
The leftover debris is a mess.