Close



Results 1 to 12 of 12
  1. #1

    Default 79-82 taillight gasket

    Hey all (I'm pretty sure this is the right section),

    I tried searching but I can't seem to find anything about the seal/gasket for the 79-82 taillights, or even where I can buy them from. I have a leak getting into the trunk and I would like to take care of it before anything starts to rust.

    Does anybody know of a company that sells just the gasket for these lights? Otherwise I'm going to resort to using a whole bunch of silicone and I don't really want to have to do that.

    Thanks in advance!

  2. #2

    Default 79-82 taillight gasket

    I have used to cut tent mattress foam to places where I can’t find proper seals. They are cheap and waterproof, sometimes I cover them with leather if you are able to see it.

    I hope you can find the right seals for your car, my car would need those same seals and I wouldn’t want to make those myself.
    Last edited by Firebolt; 11-03-2018 at 07:04 PM.

  3. #3

    Default

    That's a very interesting fix idea, maybe I'll see if I can fab something up using that idea, I don't see me finding those gaskets anywhere,

    Thanks!

  4. #4
    Moderator wraithracing's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Grand Junction, CO/RR TX
    Posts
    14,206

    Default

    Unfortunately NO ONE reproduces the 79-82 seals, I am not sure why, but . . . .

    Since I have several early cars that require those gaskets I have horded all that I can find, but getting good ones is becoming more difficult every day. Since the 83-93 gaskets are reproduced and have a similar seal shape to the one piece 79-82 seals, I have considered buying a set of the later model seals to see if I could cut and piece together a seal. No it's not the optimum option, but may be a better option than other materials. I haven't tried it yet myself, but it is something I have considered for my 79 PC, 82 GT, 82 RS, and 81 BM so I do feel your pain. Good Luck!
    ​Trey

    "I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"

    "I've spent most of my money on Mustangs, racing, and women... the rest I just wasted."

    Mustangs Past: Too many to remember!
    Current Mustangs:
    1969 Mach 1
    1979 Pace Car now 5.0/5 speed
    1982 GT Stalled RestoModification
    1984 SVO Still Waiting Restoration
    1986 GT Under going Wide Body Conversion Currently

    Current Capris:
    1981 Capri Roller
    1981 Capri Black Magic Roller Basket Case
    1982 Capri RS 5.0/4spd T-top Full Restoration Stalled in TX
    1984 Capri RS T-top Roller
    1983-84 Gloy Racing Trans Am/IMSA Body Parts

  5. #5
    FEP Power Member dagenham's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Duncannon PA
    Posts
    1,047

    Default

    What is the original material? Iirc the newer gaskets look to me to be just rings. The material reminds me of the closed cell foam that I have for mats in my garage.
    Current Mustangs
    1966 6 cylinder coupe
    1984 SVO 9W
    1985 Saleen #132

  6. #6
    Moderator wraithracing's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Grand Junction, CO/RR TX
    Posts
    14,206

    Default

    There is a replacement one piece gasket like this:

    Name:  Tail light gasket.JPG
Views: 157
Size:  25.0 KB

    There is also the OEM style replacement seals like this:

    Name:  Tail light seals.JPG
Views: 157
Size:  27.4 KB

    https://www.npdlink.com/product/gask.../204720/150948
    ​Trey

    "I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"

    "I've spent most of my money on Mustangs, racing, and women... the rest I just wasted."

    Mustangs Past: Too many to remember!
    Current Mustangs:
    1969 Mach 1
    1979 Pace Car now 5.0/5 speed
    1982 GT Stalled RestoModification
    1984 SVO Still Waiting Restoration
    1986 GT Under going Wide Body Conversion Currently

    Current Capris:
    1981 Capri Roller
    1981 Capri Black Magic Roller Basket Case
    1982 Capri RS 5.0/4spd T-top Full Restoration Stalled in TX
    1984 Capri RS T-top Roller
    1983-84 Gloy Racing Trans Am/IMSA Body Parts

  7. #7

    Default

    Alright, so I just ordered the newer gasket set, I'm going to see if I can cut it up and make it work. I'll take some pictures and let you guys know if it's a legitimate solution or if it's just a butcher hack job.

  8. #8

    Default

    Okay, so I took a bunch of pictures and am going to make a write up of the process. I don't really know if it's write up worthy, but I just want to prove that the 83-86 seals DO work, and you really don't have to do anything special to get them to work. Also I figure since it's not really documented I would do it. This is also my first write up, so bear with me.


    So here's the water that would pool into my taillight from the top.



    Here's right about where it was leaking from, the seal just didn't touch the body of the car






    I matched up the newer style seals with the old one piece one, luckily it came out to be right about the same length.



    Here's it on the tail light for reference





    So unfortunately I don't have pictures of the ones where they went, but the big one went where it is in the pictures, and I cut it on the left side in about the middle of the loop. then the middle one I cut in the same spot, and it started where the big one ended on the side on the bottom of the pictures and then wrapped around the other end. Then I cut the small one to fill in the last spot. (I hope the pictures help make sense of that).





    Also there is more than enough left so you don't have to worry about stretching it out to fit.




    I picked up a tube of silicone from home cheapo to seal the sides together and also stick the seal to the taillight itself




    Here's my finished product







    There were some spaces in between the rubber itself but I just squeezed a whole bunch of silicone in there to fill it and also glue the pieces together.

    I know it's not a great picture, but here's the tail light mounted back on the car.




    From what I can tell there aren't spaces in it anymore, I shined a flashlight from the inside out to try to find any spaces or gaps and couldn't find any. It's supposed to rain all day tomorrow, so I'll let you guys know if it works or not. Hope this helps anyone who is looking for a good fix and if it's even a valid option.

    Also, I only used the rubber seals for one tail light, so if you get the set of both you can do both of the lights if you need to.

  9. #9
    Moderator wraithracing's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Grand Junction, CO/RR TX
    Posts
    14,206

    Default

    Awesome Job! Glad it worked out for you. Definitely let us know how well they seal. I thought it would work pretty well, but as stated above I hadn't actually had the chance to give it a shot myself.
    ​Trey

    "I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"

    "I've spent most of my money on Mustangs, racing, and women... the rest I just wasted."

    Mustangs Past: Too many to remember!
    Current Mustangs:
    1969 Mach 1
    1979 Pace Car now 5.0/5 speed
    1982 GT Stalled RestoModification
    1984 SVO Still Waiting Restoration
    1986 GT Under going Wide Body Conversion Currently

    Current Capris:
    1981 Capri Roller
    1981 Capri Black Magic Roller Basket Case
    1982 Capri RS 5.0/4spd T-top Full Restoration Stalled in TX
    1984 Capri RS T-top Roller
    1983-84 Gloy Racing Trans Am/IMSA Body Parts

  10. #10
    FEP Senior Member BMW Rider's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Calgary, Alberta, Canada
    Posts
    949

    Default

    Until someone makes a true replacement, that is a more than suitable solution. Good work.

  11. #11

    Default

    So I checked the trunk (after all the snow finally melted) and it looks to me like there's no more water getting into the trunk

  12. #12
    FEP Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Lake City Pa 16423
    Posts
    510

    Default

    If you need a seal that just fits around a lip, check out McMaster Carr. They sell seals like that, that you can make out of a single piece with only one splice.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •