97+ Camaro tail light conversion to '93-96 version
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97+ Camaro tail light conversion to '93-96 version
I did a lot of research on this, and I couldn't get ANY straight answers from anyone, so I just went ahead and did it myself. The results turned out great, and I want to help everyone who's considering this swap by giving a detailed write-up of how to do it. It's very simple to do, and I'll walk you through step-by-step. Unfortunately, I don't have any real pictures, but I will make the directions very easy to follow and have some simple pictures I made to help you along.
Why do the later model Camaro owners want to switch to the earlier style tail lights? In my opinion, the earlier style lights looks 1000 times better than the later versions. The yellow turn signal ruins the look - it looks out of place. The earlier style lights were much smoother-looking and much more attractive. This is all a matter of opinion, though, so to each his own.
Ready to get started? Let's begin.
1. First, get yourself a set of '93-96 Camaro tail lights. This can be accomplished by browsing various forums, or by searching eBay, or going through your local junkyard.
2. Open the rear hatch of the car. Lift up the passenger-side speaker panel (the one that covers the spare tire). Remove the jack first, then the spare tire. Lift the carpet that surrounds the hatch lock over the lock, and you'll be able to see two plastic nuts holding each tail light in. Unscrew them, and pull the light housings out. Each light will have 4 bulbs attached to it. The three large bulbs have a tab that you must squeeze in to be able to unlock them from the housing. The smaller bulb just needs to be twisted to unlock it.
3. So now you have the stock ugly tail lights off of your car, and you're ready to install the new ones. There are two problems confronting you at the moment:
The turn signal bulb (2nd bulb from the inside) and large tail light/brake bulb (2nd from the outside) will not fit into the '93-96 style housing. You'll notice that the sockets have three cutouts in them, to match the raised portions of the bulb housing that lock the bulb in. The sockets have two small cutouts and one large one. The large one is the problem, as it's too small for the later model bulb housings. Use a pair of cutting pliers to enlarge the cutout. Cut about half of the overhang off. This should make it large enough to get the bulb housing in, and still have enough to be able to lock the bulb in securely. Here's a crude drawing of what i'm talking about:
Do this for both the turn signal and the tail/brake light sockets. Test fit the bulbs, and if they don't go in, cut a little more.
The second problem is whether or not you want the turn signal to come on with the rest of the tail light when the lights are on, or when braking. You could just put the turn signal in the housing, and leave it alone. For a cleaner look, though, you can wire the turn signal to work with the rest of the tail light. It's very simple and will only take you a few minutes for each side.
1. REMOVE THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE FROM THE BATTERY FIRST. Don't do any electrical work with the battery hooked up. Look at the turn signal bulb housing. You'll see two wires coming out of it, a green wire (power), and a black wire (ground). In the middle is a green rubber plug. Remove this plug with needle nose pliers. Inside this hole is a pin from the bulb socket. The other two wires are connected to the other pins of the socket. Take a piece of wire (I forget what gauge I used, but it was about the same thickness as the wires hooked up to the bulb housing) and strip about 3/8's of an inch of the insulation off the wire. Stick it into the middle hole, making sure it's making contact with the pin. Then, stuff the green rubber plug back into the hole. This will keep the wire from falling out of the bulb housing.
2. Look at the large tail/brake light housing. You will see three wires coming out of it - a green wire (power), a black wire (ground), and a brown wire in the middle. I figured out that it must be the wire that connects to the light switch. Take a pair of wire cutters and snip this wire in half. Strip a 1/4 inch of the insulation off of each piece. I used this connector:
-to splice the wires together. Take the two pieces of the brown wire and insert them into the slots of the connector. Get a pair of pliers and clamp the slots flat. It won't be easy, make sure you have a strong grip and squeeze hard. Once the wire pieces are securely clamped, take the wire you spliced into the turn signal and strip about 1/2 of an inch off of the other end and insert it into the connector. Clamp the connector hard, and make sure the wire is connected securely. Repeat the procedure on the other side.
3. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Test your work by turning the lights on, and using the turn signals as well. If you did it correctly, the turn signals should come on with the two outer lights, and still retain the turn signal function. If not, check your connections. The end of the wire that's spliced into the turn signal housing is usually the problem. Make sure it's in contact with the pin of the bulb socket, and that the green rubber plug is holding it in tightly.
4. Once you've confirmed that the turn signals are working as it should, use electrical tape to wrap up the splice connectors, and then tape the wires to the wire looms protecting the other tail light wires. Insert the bulb housings into the sockets in the tail lights. Re-install the tail lights. Pull the carpet back over the hatch lock, and push it back underneath the weatherstripping that lines the hatch. Put the spare tire back in, and then put the jack back in it's place. Replace the passenger-side speaker panel, and close the hatch. Stand back and admire your work. There will be a lot of people getting a good look at your tail lights when you pass them
sticky anyone?
Why do the later model Camaro owners want to switch to the earlier style tail lights? In my opinion, the earlier style lights looks 1000 times better than the later versions. The yellow turn signal ruins the look - it looks out of place. The earlier style lights were much smoother-looking and much more attractive. This is all a matter of opinion, though, so to each his own.
Ready to get started? Let's begin.
1. First, get yourself a set of '93-96 Camaro tail lights. This can be accomplished by browsing various forums, or by searching eBay, or going through your local junkyard.
2. Open the rear hatch of the car. Lift up the passenger-side speaker panel (the one that covers the spare tire). Remove the jack first, then the spare tire. Lift the carpet that surrounds the hatch lock over the lock, and you'll be able to see two plastic nuts holding each tail light in. Unscrew them, and pull the light housings out. Each light will have 4 bulbs attached to it. The three large bulbs have a tab that you must squeeze in to be able to unlock them from the housing. The smaller bulb just needs to be twisted to unlock it.
3. So now you have the stock ugly tail lights off of your car, and you're ready to install the new ones. There are two problems confronting you at the moment:
The turn signal bulb (2nd bulb from the inside) and large tail light/brake bulb (2nd from the outside) will not fit into the '93-96 style housing. You'll notice that the sockets have three cutouts in them, to match the raised portions of the bulb housing that lock the bulb in. The sockets have two small cutouts and one large one. The large one is the problem, as it's too small for the later model bulb housings. Use a pair of cutting pliers to enlarge the cutout. Cut about half of the overhang off. This should make it large enough to get the bulb housing in, and still have enough to be able to lock the bulb in securely. Here's a crude drawing of what i'm talking about:
Do this for both the turn signal and the tail/brake light sockets. Test fit the bulbs, and if they don't go in, cut a little more.
The second problem is whether or not you want the turn signal to come on with the rest of the tail light when the lights are on, or when braking. You could just put the turn signal in the housing, and leave it alone. For a cleaner look, though, you can wire the turn signal to work with the rest of the tail light. It's very simple and will only take you a few minutes for each side.
1. REMOVE THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE FROM THE BATTERY FIRST. Don't do any electrical work with the battery hooked up. Look at the turn signal bulb housing. You'll see two wires coming out of it, a green wire (power), and a black wire (ground). In the middle is a green rubber plug. Remove this plug with needle nose pliers. Inside this hole is a pin from the bulb socket. The other two wires are connected to the other pins of the socket. Take a piece of wire (I forget what gauge I used, but it was about the same thickness as the wires hooked up to the bulb housing) and strip about 3/8's of an inch of the insulation off the wire. Stick it into the middle hole, making sure it's making contact with the pin. Then, stuff the green rubber plug back into the hole. This will keep the wire from falling out of the bulb housing.
2. Look at the large tail/brake light housing. You will see three wires coming out of it - a green wire (power), a black wire (ground), and a brown wire in the middle. I figured out that it must be the wire that connects to the light switch. Take a pair of wire cutters and snip this wire in half. Strip a 1/4 inch of the insulation off of each piece. I used this connector:
-to splice the wires together. Take the two pieces of the brown wire and insert them into the slots of the connector. Get a pair of pliers and clamp the slots flat. It won't be easy, make sure you have a strong grip and squeeze hard. Once the wire pieces are securely clamped, take the wire you spliced into the turn signal and strip about 1/2 of an inch off of the other end and insert it into the connector. Clamp the connector hard, and make sure the wire is connected securely. Repeat the procedure on the other side.
3. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Test your work by turning the lights on, and using the turn signals as well. If you did it correctly, the turn signals should come on with the two outer lights, and still retain the turn signal function. If not, check your connections. The end of the wire that's spliced into the turn signal housing is usually the problem. Make sure it's in contact with the pin of the bulb socket, and that the green rubber plug is holding it in tightly.
4. Once you've confirmed that the turn signals are working as it should, use electrical tape to wrap up the splice connectors, and then tape the wires to the wire looms protecting the other tail light wires. Insert the bulb housings into the sockets in the tail lights. Re-install the tail lights. Pull the carpet back over the hatch lock, and push it back underneath the weatherstripping that lines the hatch. Put the spare tire back in, and then put the jack back in it's place. Replace the passenger-side speaker panel, and close the hatch. Stand back and admire your work. There will be a lot of people getting a good look at your tail lights when you pass them
sticky anyone?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,209
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,070
From: newton, kansas, USA
I just hate the way 93-96 lights look when they're lit up. The reflectors in them look really bad. The 97+ look so much better lit up thats why i made the swap and to give my car an updated look.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,595
From: Lenexa, KS
I'm considering doing this with my 97. I've always liked LT1 taillights better because I like my cars to only have 2 colors on them. (black and body color typicaly.)
Super Moderator
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 4,060
From: Inverness, FL
Actually, I'm working on a site designed specifically to allow people to upload their own guides for f-body related repairs and modifications. If I can get it done soon I plan to get in touch with skorpion to see if he would like to test it out. If not, I was going to ask him if he wanted me to make this into a page and put it on my site. So, basically, short answer would be YES
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,595
From: Lenexa, KS
Actually, I'm working on a site designed specifically to allow people to upload their own guides for f-body related repairs and modifications. If I can get it done soon I plan to get in touch with skorpion to see if he would like to test it out. If not, I was going to ask him if he wanted me to make this into a page and put it on my site.
oh okay.
Super Moderator
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 4,060
From: Inverness, FL
For people who would like to contribute to the f-body community and post write-ups of their repairs or mod installations (such as was done here with this thread) but don't have a website and/or the ability to create one, I'm providing an easy method to allow them to post their pics and information
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,209
Actually, I'm working on a site designed specifically to allow people to upload their own guides for f-body related repairs and modifications. If I can get it done soon I plan to get in touch with skorpion to see if he would like to test it out. If not, I was going to ask him if he wanted me to make this into a page and put it on my site. So, basically, short answer would be YES
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,595
From: Lenexa, KS
For people who would like to contribute to the f-body community and post write-ups of their repairs or mod installations (such as was done here with this thread) but don't have a website and/or the ability to create one, I'm providing an easy method to allow them to post their pics and information
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,028
From: Chicago, IL
agreed on the old taillights vs new... another thing i like about the 93-96 lights is that they follow the lines of the hatch and rear panel.. the 97-02 lights don't look like they fit the car too well
Super Moderator
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 4,060
From: Inverness, FL