I got started on a new seat and tail for the new '78. With a cardboard framework everything can be made symmetrical, instead of trying to freehand it

The tail is striped to match the stock panels and cleared

I should have taken more interim pics. Here are the front and back pics of the completed headlight showing the wires exiting under the mounting ring where I cut demilunes for clearance and the six LEDs on each side on the periphery of the headlight

Since I had the rear turn signals incorporated into the tail light, I thought for symmetry, I would try to incorporate the front turn signals into the headlight. Sounds easy. I want to place 6 high intensity LEDs into plexi tabs that I will slide into the sides of the headlight, so I need to lay out the design on a piece paper first. There also has to be space for the required resistor. Once I was happy with the design, I spray glued it to some plexi and cut out the tabs. The edges of the tabs needed to be thinned because they get pinched between the headlight and the ring that mounts to the back of the headlight. Slots were cut into the sides of the headlight with space for the wiring. The LEDs were hot glued into the plexi along with the resistors and everything was soldered and tested. Everything worked well, so the tabs were inserted into the slots and hot glued to the flange that encircles the headlight.

The tear down of the new '78 has begun. That Volkswagen tail light looks like original equipment

I decided to fast track the LED installation by using an LED stop/tail light from a trailer light like the cafe tail previously and LED amber side marker light guts for the turn signals. They are mounted to a piece of thin plywood and the plywood is attached to the tail light mounting bolts. Everything fits like it was meant to be, so this may be the finished product. It will save me hours of work soldering LEDs

Since I'm going LED there will be a lot of empty space in the tail light so I decided to chop the lens. Here are some pics to compare with a stock light