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96-97 Tail Light Swap.....?

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Old 02-28-2006, 03:45 AM
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96-97 Tail Light Swap.....?

I'm just wondering if anyone knows whether the Tail Lights out of a '97 will work in a '96? I like the look of the 97 and later, with the yellow in it better than just having the red and white.

Just curious if it's been done before. I've seen the Export lenses like in Chad's '94, but I thought why not just try the 97's?

Thanks ~
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Old 02-28-2006, 03:48 AM
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im pretty sure it will switch fine its just a different arrangement of the plastic but the light and everything is basically the same
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Old 02-28-2006, 04:31 AM
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I've done it.

http://projectcamaro.com/exporttaillights.htm
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Old 02-28-2006, 04:48 AM
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Originally Posted by ProjectCamaro
Yeah, I know you did the export lights in the '94, but I was wondering if same amount of wiring will be required to switch it to the 97's?
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Old 02-28-2006, 08:46 AM
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There is some wiring changes that are needed to be done, otherwise your brake lights will light up amber..I have the 97+ tails in mine but the previous owner didn't do the wiring swap, they light up orange when I press on the brake. I know it sounds kinda dumb, but it actually looks kinda cool and its different as well. It passed inspection more than once that way so I am not too worried about it.
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Old 02-28-2006, 09:37 AM
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V6Cam did it.
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Old 02-28-2006, 12:13 PM
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Originally Posted by FORCE_FED_Z
There is some wiring changes that are needed to be done, otherwise your brake lights will light up amber..I have the 97+ tails in mine but the previous owner didn't do the wiring swap, they light up orange when I press on the brake. I know it sounds kinda dumb, but it actually looks kinda cool and its different as well. It passed inspection more than once that way so I am not too worried about it.
The wiring change is that on the 96 cars (I had a 96) the brake lights are wired thru the turn signal switch. Cut the wire that goes from the brake light switch to the turn signal switch in the steering column. Theres a tutorial on it (I think on this MB) A wiring schematic will help. Chiltons or Haynes.
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Old 02-28-2006, 09:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Bowtie Guy
The wiring change is that on the 96 cars (I had a 96) the brake lights are wired thru the turn signal switch. Cut the wire that goes from the brake light switch to the turn signal switch in the steering column. Theres a tutorial on it (I think on this MB) A wiring schematic will help. Chiltons or Haynes.
He-He-He.....A wiring schematic? I can tear down and rebuild most any car to the last bolt, but when it comes to wiring......I'm a friggin retard! I was stumped so many times as a kid, that I gave up and let my buddy handle it. He came to me for engine building, and I left the wiring to him. The extent of my wiring ends with stereo installations, but if it's just a matter of cutting and splicing a few wires.....I can handle that!

I appreciate all the advice from you guys, and I'll have to see about getting some 97+ tail lights first. I'll research the tutorials and ask V6Cam if he knows.
If it's as simple as as you say there Bowtie Guy......I don't see it being too much of a problem.

Thanks again guys!
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Old 02-28-2006, 10:16 PM
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Originally Posted by str8upchevy
Yeah, I know you did the export lights in the '94, but I was wondering if same amount of wiring will be required to switch it to the 97's?
It's the exact same wiring as the '97-'02 Camaro taillights.
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Old 03-01-2006, 01:05 AM
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Ok...the way i did this was told to me by a friend...there is a wiring tuturial out there...but all i did...was use the harness from my camaro...i didnt splice anything...all i did was put the bulbs in the appropiate socket, but left amber section without a bulb...so instead of having the turn signal in the amber section where its suppose to be, its in the running light so my taillights act as LT1 style but are in LS1 taillights...its hard to explain...the revers bulb in in the reverse section, the turn signal being the LT1 taillights have the running lights and the turn signal in the same socket thats all it is in mine...like i said its hard to explain...i can ****** a couple pics...
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Old 03-01-2006, 01:07 AM
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the hard long way to have it proper would be to get a 97+ style wiring harness and plug that in and also get under the dash and find a wire that goes to the turnsignal and run that wire all the way to the back, which i didnt do...i did it an easy way...
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Old 03-01-2006, 01:20 AM
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Here is a pic to help tell what i have done...if you do it this way the plug is hard to twist into the socket bc of th differenc in taillight style...the plug isnt different just the locking positions...which is the hard part...
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Old 03-01-2006, 01:35 AM
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what a bummer...for us birds to swap its cake
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Old 03-01-2006, 01:47 AM
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The running lights is the Small bulb...and where i have running lights in that pic is suppose to be the brake light...so it brakelight/turn signal...so basically its the same setup, just wiht LS1 style lights...i plan on puttin strobes in the amber sections...
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Old 03-01-2006, 01:49 AM
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ok i found that web site...here is how you do it the other way...(the hard way to me, the right way)...

http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/fbody/97lights.htm
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