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Need question answered about something being illegale...

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Old May 2, 2002 | 01:12 PM
  #1  
twiztidz28's Avatar
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From: garfield, nj
Car: 86 Z28
Engine: 355 carbed
Transmission: t-5
Need question answered about something being illegale...

After reading a post a little further down, don't know where it is now, I ahd a brain storm. The third brake light! TWIZTID int he third brake light cut out of vinal. Would the vinal get beatup from the heat? Is this illagle to do? Mod your 3rd brake light? I meen I am going to be drawing a lot of attention to myself driving my 86 when I get it back as it is. Don't need to be pulled over everyday. The car is going to be sick sounding and fast verry fast. Hell I meen I was going to get TWIZTID on my front windshield, but hell all people are going to be seeing is tail lights. so why not right? I have the 3rd brake light on my hatch glass. Any help if it is illegle would be great. Damn I can't spell to great today.
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Old May 2, 2002 | 01:54 PM
  #2  
TransAm's Avatar
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From: Somewhere in between Lynn, MA (home) and Lakeland, FL (school)
Don't take my advice as legal counel, but i would wager that moding a 3rd brake light isn't illegal-- it's a 3rd brake light. Some people (like myself) dont even have such a light, so i don't see how it could be illegal to mod something that isn't required by law in the first place.
As far as the heat & vinyl goes, i believe you are talking about the mod in the Tech Arcitles; that person used the vinyl stickers as a stencil-- put them on, then spray painted the light. When it dried he took the stickers off, so the PONTIAC actually light up-- much easier to see than a red light with pontiac darkened within it. (or TWIZTID for that matter.)

The tech article can be found here
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Old May 2, 2002 | 02:31 PM
  #3  
twiztidz28's Avatar
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From: garfield, nj
Car: 86 Z28
Engine: 355 carbed
Transmission: t-5
I wasn't actually talking about that. I was talking get a solid piece of vinal and have the letters cut out of it. I can get vinal pretty cheap compared to most places. I would give them my idea dn they would do it. Would the vinal hold up. I guess there isn't much heat involved since the 3rd brake light isn't on all the time. I guess I will try both. I have 2 camaros.
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Old May 2, 2002 | 02:48 PM
  #4  
wiggy'sIROC's Avatar
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From: Mt. Home, ID
Car: 1986 IROC
Engine: 305 going to 355
Transmission: 700R4
Originally posted by TransAm
so i don't see how it could be illegal to mod something that isn't required by law in the first place.
I tought it was a federal law theat manufacturers were required to put third brake lights on ALL vehicles starting model year 1986. That is why the 86's third brake light looks like it was a last minute mod, it was (as far as I know from what I have read)

Mark
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Old May 2, 2002 | 11:50 PM
  #5  
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From: Bristow, VA
Car: 91 Z28 Convertible
Engine: 305TPI
Transmission: 700R4
I am not sure the laws either but when i bought my 91 z28 I had 4 of the lights out in my third brake light. I had it inspected and the guy would not pass it. He said it had to be functional. This was in MD.

Last edited by Twistopher; May 2, 2002 at 11:52 PM.
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Old May 2, 2002 | 11:52 PM
  #6  
TransAm's Avatar
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From: Somewhere in between Lynn, MA (home) and Lakeland, FL (school)
hmm that's interesting. I bet if you took the thing completely off he would have passed you though..... typical

Anyways you could always just run down to your local inspection station and ask. May be your best bet. This would also account for your local state laws.
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Old May 3, 2002 | 12:19 AM
  #7  
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From: Amarillo, Tx
Car: 1986 Z28
Engine: 355TPI 380hp
Transmission: Rebuilt 700r w/ Transgo Shift Kit
From what I understand, and I have verified w/ the state transportation laws, as long as it isn't completely blacked out, hence, GTS blackouts or VHT Niteshade, it legal. I'd show you the one I did, but no camera...go figure. And also, as far as the vinal is concerned, it worked fine for me, as a safety precaution, I sprayed a clear laquer over it to seal it from moisture, and that seems to work great. I hope this helps.
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Old May 3, 2002 | 12:48 AM
  #8  
StngKlr's Avatar
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Paris, Tx. USA
Car: 89 RS
Engine: LS1
Transmission: TH350
Hmm, I took the whole assembly off, never had a problem. Tell you the truth I dont think anyone even notices it being gone. I've passed three inspections with it off so... I dunno.
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Old May 3, 2002 | 06:17 AM
  #9  
twiztidz28's Avatar
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From: garfield, nj
Car: 86 Z28
Engine: 355 carbed
Transmission: t-5
Helps a lil from what everyon is saying. I'll have to experiment with a couple of different things
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