Need question answered about Brazil tail lights and bulb trays/holders on 87 fox

[Hansel2]

I have an 87 fox sedan. I see reference here that you can use the brazil tail lights but need to use Fox II bulb trays with them. I thought that this meant a 91-93 bulb tray but, my spare parts car is a 91 and there is no way that this would work.

What do you have to do to utilize the Brazil tail lights on an 87 fox? This is killing me!

[alaincopter]

Well as far as origin, they are all "Brazil" lights. It is a Brazil car, after all. Fox II is commonly used to refer to the later style Foxes sold in North America ('91 to '93), whereas the '87 - '90 model years are referred to as Fox I.

I have Fox II (91-93) tail lights on my '90, and it really is not hard of a conversion to do. You will indeed need the newer model's bulb holders, and you do need to switch the wiring a little bit. This is explained well in this thread.

Now for mounting the lights, if you use the Fox II lights from a North American export Fox, only two of the holes/screws will match up, but if you get your lights from brazil (like brazilshopping for example) it will come with the correct four screws and go in just fine.

[redone17]

read thoroughly before posting

[Hansel2]

Ok. Thanks for the reply. I have new tail lights for the 87 from brazil shopping. They mount just fine as you said but I need bulb trays for them. So far I have yet to have a solution. I guess I should have been more clear. My other altirnative is to use 91-93 US tail lights. They r still avail from VW.

[j-boogie253]

Ok. Thanks for the reply. I have new tail lights for the 87 from brazil shopping. They mount just fine as you said but I need bulb trays for them. So far I have yet to have a solution. I guess I should have been more clear. My other altirnative is to use 91-93 US tail lights. They r still avail from VW.

If you got the early style tail lights it looks to me like they use the stock bulb holders as they are stock replacement tail lights

Post some pics of the lights

[Hansel2]

Picture 1 is a comparison of the US (creme colored) to the Brazil Shopping (black) tail lights.
http://s1146.photobucket.com/albums/...t=PICT1184.jpg

Picture 2 is the Fox I bulb tray fitting into the US tail light (as it should)
http://s1146.photobucket.com/albums/...t=PICT1185.jpg

Picture 3 is the Fox I bulb tray not fitting into the Brazil Shopping tail light. Also the bulb tray is wider than the slot in the tail light and does not take into consideration the 90 degree connector. There is no notch for it.
http://s1146.photobucket.com/albums/...t=PICT1186.jpg

[j-boogie253]

Well that's frustrating.....maybe you can modify the tail lights and remove some material to make the US bulb holders fit?

Surprising that no one has encountered this and made a thread about it

[redone17]

I dremel'd my tails last night - now I just have to pull the trays and cut those.



Just a note on measurement. The harness connects closer to the side of the car (as opposed to the center). The cut starts at (measured from perpendicular side) 2 1/2" and is 1 7/8" wide - making second cut at 4 3/8". It's exactly 1" deep. I can't imagine this needs to be exact for any reason.

Once I get the tray in I may have to shave a little on each side depending in where the US tray fits. I'll post more info if I come across any changes from what Hansel2 has posted.

cp

[redone17]

Just used a 10" metal cutting disc and a table saw and now the bulb trays fit perfect.

Thanks for the guide on having to trim both sides Hansel2. Having that strip of connector metal as a straight line to follow makes it easy enough.



This should definitely be in the FAQ

[alaincopter]

Looking good glad to know it's not too hard to get them to work

[redone17]

now they just have to get on the car

this week for sure!