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Topic: 1981 third brake light

in Forum: C3 Body


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1981 third brake light (1/7)
 7/4/23 8:49pm
Domer94
Former Member

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NJ, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1996 c4 coupe black / black
2000 c5 coupe pewter / black


Joined: 2/13/2023
Posts: 58

was this standard or did somebody add this? it looks factory. has anybody changed the bulbs? lookls like i have to take a part the whole b pillar trim to get at it

 

 







|UPDATED|7/4/2023 5:49:12 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
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Re: 1981 third brake light (2/7)
 7/4/23 11:01pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20129

No 3rd brake lights on Corvettes until 1986. Yours has been added....but it looks nice.



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Re: 1981 third brake light (3/7)
 7/5/23 12:51am
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 866

According to the pictures I found on the internet, that is the factory CHMSL.  You might see if you can pop out/remove the red lens to gain access to the bulbs.  You can also find things like that on YouTube sometimes.  



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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: 1981 third brake light (4/7)
 7/5/23 1:36pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1410

Adams' Apple said:

No 3rd brake lights on Corvettes until 1986. Yours has been added....but it looks nice.



Corvette Black Book agrees with Adam.



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Re: 1981 third brake light (5/7)
 7/8/23 12:43pm
Domer94
Former Member

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NJ, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1996 c4 coupe black / black
2000 c5 coupe pewter / black


Joined: 2/13/2023
Posts: 58

ok yes, i have now deduced that it was an 86-90 c4 unit. damned thing looked factory and i thought it may have been one of the early cars to start adopting that feature in the 80s. bummer is , i cant see how the red lens pops out. there is a body colored bezel that seems to lock it in and i dont want to pry on it. i found some on ebay and it looks like an odd lens setup. 

Re: 1981 third brake light (6/7)
 7/8/23 1:13pm
manchestersharkLifetime Member
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Equinunk, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.


Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2390

Hi, It may sound a bit laborious, but check to see how it's mounted on the body. It may be possible to replace the bulb from the bottom. Remove it from the car.  OR, if is came from a vette originally, there may be a thread as to how to change the bulb from the year it was O.E.M. 



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Re: 1981 third brake light (7/7)
 7/8/23 5:04pm
Domer94
Former Member

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NJ, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1996 c4 coupe black / black
2000 c5 coupe pewter / black


Joined: 2/13/2023
Posts: 58

ok so i ended up having to pull the trim down and saw the bolts on the inside of the b pillar. the unit came off pretty easy, then had to take apart the actual bulb housing. all the bulbs looked ok so i traced the power wire back to make sure there wasnt a break. turns out the wire was just shoved in the positive side of the brake pedal switch and had pulled out. i used a suitcase connector to reattach it and now the light works.  i must say , that housing is made to last.. its diecast and the bulb housing is earthquake proof. i just wish they has a face that came off so you could just access the 4 bulbs in it!  so a sore back and one screw lost to the carpet monster and i got away clean

 



|UPDATED|7/8/2023 2:04:41 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
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