79-81 TA smoked lenses

[Wallington]

A question for the 79-81 crowd. A question elsewhere has popped-up that has gone unanswered.
A guy wants to put smoked TA brake light lenses over his base model red lights, wants to know if they'd fit. I suggested they may be similar size and not able to do it, one or the other. And the special TA inner red lens are much smaller to cater for the covers.

[FormTA]

Do you mean he wants ro remove the base model red lenses from the reflector and put the smoke lense on? I have to see if I have a base model tail light to look at. I have a few of the smoke ones though.

[Wallington]

The clear smoked lens covers, as used on TA and Formula, but over the base model red lights, instead of the red lights used under TA/Formula. They are not the same thing, but also doubt they work fro probably same reason. I believe, based on nothing at all, that the smoked covers and the base model red lenses are almost already size for size and similar molds, other than one being a clear cover and the other having a back on it.

TA repro set, TA inner red, Base model outer red. To me it appears straight forward just looking at the pics.

https://www.classicindustries.com/product/r278140.html

https://www.taillightking.com/images/Pontiac-Firebird-Fiero/79_Guide2F2_TransAm_RH_InnerTailLens.JPG

https://www.ebay.com/itm/325333303089?hash=item4bbf603f31%3Ag%3AbsIAAOSwU-NjF7Ip&fits=Year%3A1979%7CModel%3AFirebird%7CMake%3APontiac

[b_hill_86]

I feel like I’ve seen this before 

[Wallington]

It's like I have nothing better to do and the answer doesn't even help me!

[FormTA]

Oh, ya I'm pretty sure they are close in size and they are a pretty right fit into the tail. I'll still look to see if I have any base model lenses.

[b_hill_86]

It's like I have nothing better to do and the answer doesn't even help me!

Sorry

[tinpusher]

My solution:

[firebirdparts]

I haven't tried this, (and you'd never have a need to) but I think they are incompatible.  The reason you'd never have a need to is that if you had a set of T/A taillights with good covers, then the rest of the lamp is going to be good too.  Taillights are the least rare part of a car.

The reason I think they're incompatible is that Trans Am taillights have a nice bright and shiny red taillight under the smoked cover, and they need that.  Firebird taillights don't need that and as far as I know, it's not in there.  I've never taken the cover off a firebird taillight.

They also have different numbers of bulbs, but anybody with an ounce of sense would be fine with that.

[Wallington]

As mentioned, guy had a base model, wanted to fit the smoked repro covers only. Different guys with same scenario have posted this a few times. I said it wouldn't work,