Doing cadillac tails

Wes52478 · 11-01-2009, 01:58 PM

It would be nice to have a thread showing how, i looked couldnt find one, sorry if im posting up same shit someone already has. I know alot of you think its played out, so 4 years ago, but i like the look, and no one here in Albuquerque is rolling them. With that said, do any of you guys have pics of doing these? i ran into a few little hurdles, the major one is the bucket sticking out what i think is too far. I know its going to stick out some, and the rest is body work, but i just want to see if im doing anything wrong before i final weld this stuff in.

I didnt want to go back in further cause it would look dumb so recessed back, and all the pics ive seen of them done, are the same as mine or less. Ive looked everywhere and for many hours, and no one really shows the process, they all just show primer pics, and final pics. Everyone says its easy if you can weld and stuff, well its not easy, lol. So is it really all body work? my main concern is the bottom outside corner, even with body work, it looks like its out too far. Well hopefully some of you guys have pics and helpful advice, and dont rip on me too hard, i really need to final weld all this stuff, thanks guys.

Bought the cheap buckets, fit like crap, so i reshaped them and welded in supports.

just tacked in just incase

is this as good as it gets? rest body work i guess

sorry for all the pics, just wanted to show my process, and i dont mind constructive critism, so i can see if i did it right.

jasonwayne222 · 11-01-2009, 02:26 PM

Dude u need to trace out the shape with a marker and trim the bucket down, when ur done the bucket will be completely flush, and to get the tail light to go all the way in ur gonna need a saw zaw to cut out some material for the light housing for the bulbs, ull see what im talking about, i just got done doing mine and if u take ur time make sure u trim ur buckets and they are flush u can float it out with a little bondo and make it perfect, my chrome trim on my lights is flush with the finished body work

Wes52478 · 11-01-2009, 03:10 PM

dude if i trim anymore off the outside of the bucket anymore, the chrome trim will show from the side, if you look at this pic its pretty close, like 1/8 lip.

I can push the bucket back further, but then it looks way weird cause of the big recess on the inside of the bucket, its like 1 1/2 inches, example below.

i cant split the difference, but its still kinda sucked in too much

look at the spacing on this truck, it not huge, and his shits not sticking out, look at the inside of the bucket.

Wes52478 · 11-01-2009, 08:19 PM

ok i listened, and moved them back some more, i think its good, didnt got too far back, just enough to where it would be easy bodywork. Im still going to take off some on the outside of each bucket, so it will be even better, just ran out of time, ill weld up everything tomorrow, and then on to body work.

had to add some metal

c.r.o. · 11-01-2009, 09:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Wes52478

ok i listened, and moved them back some more, i think its good, didnt got too far back, just enough to where it would be easy bodywork. Im still going to take off some on the outside of each bucket, so it will be even better, just ran out of time, ill weld up everything tomorrow, and then on to body work.

had to add some metal

lookin good dude i like it !

draggindime072010 · 11-03-2009, 01:27 AM

id say you did a damn good job that looks great

jasonwayne222 · 11-03-2009, 11:55 AM

lets see some pics with it floated out and painted, but i dont like the way it looks right now, the chrome trim on mine are flush with the surface of the truck and i think it looks way better then anybodys that is recessed in like that,

sorry just being honest

tyhodge07 · 11-03-2009, 09:49 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jasonwayne222

lets see some pics with it floated out and painted, but i dont like the way it looks right now, the chrome trim on mine are flush with the surface of the truck and i think it looks way better then anybodys that is recessed in like that,

sorry just being honest

share some pics of the tails u just did. better than talkin about them

draggindime072010 · 11-03-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by tyhodge07

share some pics of the tails u just did. better than talkin about them

ha thats true. i bought some of the older style caddy buckets awhile back but i never got around to doing it now i dont even want to

Wes52478 · 11-04-2009, 01:03 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jasonwayne222

lets see some pics with it floated out and painted, but i dont like the way it looks right now, the chrome trim on mine are flush with the surface of the truck and i think it looks way better then anybodys that is recessed in like that,

sorry just being honest

i wasnt going to go back anymore, there is already like 1 inch or more on the bottom of the light to the end of the bucket. Going in too far back looks dumb, i actually like the brown truck, how his comes out, but i was trying to minimize the body work. Well thanks to the guys who had positive comments, i build old vw's, first time doing shit like this, i did mess up, but i think i did ok fixing the one, a little body work, and im good. Ill get them done soon, waiting for my tailgate to come in, so i can make sure they are shaped correct.

oh and lets see pics of yours, at least i posted pics, even of my mess up.

jasonwayne222 · 11-05-2009, 12:37 AM

hey dont get me wrong u did a good job and they will look good when its all finished up, and honestly i havent seen anybody flush theirs like i did mine, wish i could post up pics but im 4 hours away from home, i work outatown for another two weeks, each is own i guess, no matter how u do it, if ur body work is good and paint lays down right its gonna look good.

ezrider · 11-05-2009, 07:30 PM

Wes52478 · 11-05-2009, 09:34 PM

Well, i noticed the cheap fillers i ordered were shaped weird, they flatened out, im waiting on my tailgate, but i figured i could use my old wrecked one as a template, less body filler the better. Cut a few strips from the end of my old tailgate, and used them to acheive the right shape, should be good.

GoingCustom · 11-06-2009, 05:08 AM

Are you in the East Mountains? Looking at the pics, kinda looks like Carnuel (sp?). I'm near Juan Tabo and Menaul if you want/need any help? Or want to cruise sometime

I've done a few sets of Cadi tails so if you need a local resource, I'd be glad to help.

Wes52478 · 11-06-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by GoingCustom

Are you in the East Mountains? Looking at the pics, kinda looks like Carnuel (sp?). I'm near Juan Tabo and Menaul if you want/need any help? Or want to cruise sometime I've done a few sets of Cadi tails so if you need a local resource, I'd be glad to help.

WOW, good eye man, yes i live in carnuel, off 66 right past the fruit market headed east, lol. Yeah for sure man, im new to the truck stuff, its my daily driver, i usually do the old vw's, custom beams, spindles, slam jobs, ect, not a body guy really, so any info or help would be apprieciated. Ill pm you my number, maybe we can get together sometime and shoot the shit.

ur2nvs · 11-06-2009, 03:08 PM

Sry, But just gotta say the bug in the back ground is awesome!

MINIGfather · 11-06-2009, 05:43 PM

Good job on the caddys man. I did mine on my 89. I think mine we easier since they were the recangle ones and didnt have one straight side and one curved side. Deff post some pics when your done...

Sammytheorangutan · 11-06-2009, 07:22 PM

Personally, I'd sand the chrome off the bezels and paint them to match the body color.

Wes52478 · 11-06-2009, 09:22 PM

last pics until body work is done and its primered, finished reshaping the buckets, ill still trim the outside down more, got the gaps on the tailgate pretty good. I forgot about the nuts for the gate latches, but solved that, guess the first time doing stuff is always the worst, and i really need to finish up the welding, lol.

damn bucket was too close, and had to make it work

not too bad, lines are pretty good even with no body work.
Not too bad for my first time i dont think

Wrkn prgs · 11-07-2009, 12:22 AM

That bug is awesome

11-01-2009, 01:58 PM	#1
Wes52478 Registered User Age: 31 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 17 Location: User is: OffLine	Doing cadillac tails It would be nice to have a thread showing how, i looked couldnt find one, sorry if im posting up same shit someone already has. I know alot of you think its played out, so 4 years ago, but i like the look, and no one here in Albuquerque is rolling them. With that said, do any of you guys have pics of doing these? i ran into a few little hurdles, the major one is the bucket sticking out what i think is too far. I know its going to stick out some, and the rest is body work, but i just want to see if im doing anything wrong before i final weld this stuff in. I didnt want to go back in further cause it would look dumb so recessed back, and all the pics ive seen of them done, are the same as mine or less. Ive looked everywhere and for many hours, and no one really shows the process, they all just show primer pics, and final pics. Everyone says its easy if you can weld and stuff, well its not easy, lol. So is it really all body work? my main concern is the bottom outside corner, even with body work, it looks like its out too far. Well hopefully some of you guys have pics and helpful advice, and dont rip on me too hard, i really need to final weld all this stuff, thanks guys. Bought the cheap buckets, fit like crap, so i reshaped them and welded in supports. just tacked in just incase is this as good as it gets? rest body work i guess sorry for all the pics, just wanted to show my process, and i dont mind constructive critism, so i can see if i did it right.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-01-2009, 02:26 PM	#2
jasonwayne222 Registered User Age: 25 Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 85 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails Dude u need to trace out the shape with a marker and trim the bucket down, when ur done the bucket will be completely flush, and to get the tail light to go all the way in ur gonna need a saw zaw to cut out some material for the light housing for the bulbs, ull see what im talking about, i just got done doing mine and if u take ur time make sure u trim ur buckets and they are flush u can float it out with a little bondo and make it perfect, my chrome trim on my lights is flush with the finished body work
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-01-2009, 03:10 PM	#3
Wes52478 Registered User Age: 31 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 17 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails dude if i trim anymore off the outside of the bucket anymore, the chrome trim will show from the side, if you look at this pic its pretty close, like 1/8 lip. I can push the bucket back further, but then it looks way weird cause of the big recess on the inside of the bucket, its like 1 1/2 inches, example below. i cant split the difference, but its still kinda sucked in too much look at the spacing on this truck, it not huge, and his shits not sticking out, look at the inside of the bucket. Last edited by Wes52478 : 11-01-2009 at 03:14 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-01-2009, 08:19 PM	#4
Wes52478 Registered User Age: 31 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 17 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails ok i listened, and moved them back some more, i think its good, didnt got too far back, just enough to where it would be easy bodywork. Im still going to take off some on the outside of each bucket, so it will be even better, just ran out of time, ill weld up everything tomorrow, and then on to body work. had to add some metal Last edited by Wes52478 : 11-01-2009 at 08:22 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-01-2009, 09:25 PM	#5
c.r.o. Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 27 Location: kamloops b.c User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails Quote: Originally Posted by Wes52478 ok i listened, and moved them back some more, i think its good, didnt got too far back, just enough to where it would be easy bodywork. Im still going to take off some on the outside of each bucket, so it will be even better, just ran out of time, ill weld up everything tomorrow, and then on to body work. had to add some metal lookin good dude i like it !
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-03-2009, 01:27 AM	#6
draggindime072010 ROLL TIDE!!!!!! Age: 17 Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 958 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails id say you did a damn good job that looks great
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11-03-2009, 11:55 AM	#7
jasonwayne222 Registered User Age: 25 Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 85 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails lets see some pics with it floated out and painted, but i dont like the way it looks right now, the chrome trim on mine are flush with the surface of the truck and i think it looks way better then anybodys that is recessed in like that, sorry just being honest
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-03-2009, 09:49 PM	#8
tyhodge07 88 S10 Owner Age: 24 Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 236 Location: Indianapolis, IN User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails Quote: Originally Posted by jasonwayne222 lets see some pics with it floated out and painted, but i dont like the way it looks right now, the chrome trim on mine are flush with the surface of the truck and i think it looks way better then anybodys that is recessed in like that, sorry just being honest share some pics of the tails u just did. better than talkin about them
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-03-2009, 11:09 PM	#9
draggindime072010 ROLL TIDE!!!!!! Age: 17 Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 958 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails Quote: Originally Posted by tyhodge07 share some pics of the tails u just did. better than talkin about them ha thats true. i bought some of the older style caddy buckets awhile back but i never got around to doing it now i dont even want to
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-04-2009, 01:03 AM	#10
Wes52478 Registered User Age: 31 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 17 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails Quote: Originally Posted by jasonwayne222 lets see some pics with it floated out and painted, but i dont like the way it looks right now, the chrome trim on mine are flush with the surface of the truck and i think it looks way better then anybodys that is recessed in like that, sorry just being honest i wasnt going to go back anymore, there is already like 1 inch or more on the bottom of the light to the end of the bucket. Going in too far back looks dumb, i actually like the brown truck, how his comes out, but i was trying to minimize the body work. Well thanks to the guys who had positive comments, i build old vw's, first time doing shit like this, i did mess up, but i think i did ok fixing the one, a little body work, and im good. Ill get them done soon, waiting for my tailgate to come in, so i can make sure they are shaped correct. oh and lets see pics of yours, at least i posted pics, even of my mess up.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 12:37 AM	#11
jasonwayne222 Registered User Age: 25 Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 85 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails hey dont get me wrong u did a good job and they will look good when its all finished up, and honestly i havent seen anybody flush theirs like i did mine, wish i could post up pics but im 4 hours away from home, i work outatown for another two weeks, each is own i guess, no matter how u do it, if ur body work is good and paint lays down right its gonna look good.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 07:30 PM	#12
ezrider The Mullit Age: 39 Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 171 Location: "Staven" User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails
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11-05-2009, 09:34 PM	#13
Wes52478 Registered User Age: 31 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 17 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails Well, i noticed the cheap fillers i ordered were shaped weird, they flatened out, im waiting on my tailgate, but i figured i could use my old wrecked one as a template, less body filler the better. Cut a few strips from the end of my old tailgate, and used them to acheive the right shape, should be good. Last edited by Wes52478 : 11-05-2009 at 09:39 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-06-2009, 05:08 AM	#14
GoingCustom s10 bagged on 24s Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 609 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails Are you in the East Mountains? Looking at the pics, kinda looks like Carnuel (sp?). I'm near Juan Tabo and Menaul if you want/need any help? Or want to cruise sometime I've done a few sets of Cadi tails so if you need a local resource, I'd be glad to help.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-06-2009, 02:18 PM	#15
Wes52478 Registered User Age: 31 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 17 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails Quote: Originally Posted by GoingCustom Are you in the East Mountains? Looking at the pics, kinda looks like Carnuel (sp?). I'm near Juan Tabo and Menaul if you want/need any help? Or want to cruise sometime I've done a few sets of Cadi tails so if you need a local resource, I'd be glad to help. WOW, good eye man, yes i live in carnuel, off 66 right past the fruit market headed east, lol. Yeah for sure man, im new to the truck stuff, its my daily driver, i usually do the old vw's, custom beams, spindles, slam jobs, ect, not a body guy really, so any info or help would be apprieciated. Ill pm you my number, maybe we can get together sometime and shoot the shit.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-06-2009, 03:08 PM	#16
ur2nvs Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 33 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails Sry, But just gotta say the bug in the back ground is awesome!
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11-06-2009, 05:43 PM	#17
MINIGfather Low N Slow Age: 30 Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 352 Location: Maryland User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails Good job on the caddys man. I did mine on my 89. I think mine we easier since they were the recangle ones and didnt have one straight side and one curved side. Deff post some pics when your done...
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11-06-2009, 07:22 PM	#18
Sammytheorangutan Registered User Age: 42 Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 556 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails Personally, I'd sand the chrome off the bezels and paint them to match the body color.
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11-06-2009, 09:22 PM	#19
Wes52478 Registered User Age: 31 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 17 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails last pics until body work is done and its primered, finished reshaping the buckets, ill still trim the outside down more, got the gaps on the tailgate pretty good. I forgot about the nuts for the gate latches, but solved that, guess the first time doing stuff is always the worst, and i really need to finish up the welding, lol. damn bucket was too close, and had to make it work not too bad, lines are pretty good even with no body work. Not too bad for my first time i dont think
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-07-2009, 12:22 AM	#20
Wrkn prgs Useless posting member Age: 20 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 8,736 Location: Conover, Oh User is: OffLine	Re: Doing cadillac tails That bug is awesome
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