Why does one taillight look higher than the other?

[Tom Magdaleno]

Tom, what are the measurements from the base of each tail light to the tip of their respective fenders? What is the distance from the base of each tail light to horizontal line described by the lower lip of the trunk?

If those numbers don't jive, the only explanation for the discrepancy would be an incorrect fender, an incorrectly mounted fender or an incorrectly mounted tail light.

I would suggest getting these measurements from the black car and comparing them to yours.  This should quickly isolate what part is actually the problem.

Otto, Good idea.  I get 8 3/4" from bottom of taillight to bottom of fender on both.  Since these fenders have been off a few times I am thinking it is mounted wrong along with the sagging spring. 

Thanks all for helping me narrow this down. 

[Steve Passmore]

Sounds to me Tom its just a case of one fender too far forward on its slotted body bolt holes and the other too far back, I don't think you could have that much difference on just one fender, coupled with the fact as you say that they have been off recently, theres your answer. A nice easy inexpensive fix.
This doesn't help with the whole car sag, but will line the lights up with the trunk bottom line.  Steve

[Jim Stamper]

     It may be an optical illusion, but that left taillight doesn't look quite vertical . It looks canted to inboard to me. As  soon as the light mount moves off center this is what happens.  My 37's light looks like that too . When my list is a bit shorter this winter I figure to loosen it up and straighten it. I wasn't even concerned about equal heights until now, they may well be OK in that regard. But appearing "eye sweet" is essential.

[Steve Passmore]

Your dead right there Jim, things have to look right by the Eye.

[Tom Magdaleno]

You've started to narrow it down now ... by saying you 'get 8 3/4" from bottom of taillight to bottom of fender on both'
To narrow it down ... you'll have to check a few points to know where the difference is occurring ...

Frame to ground ... both sides ...
Bumper to ground ... both sides ...
Fender to ground ... both sides ...

If the frame to ground is different ... it would be the springs ...
If the bumper and frame to ground are fairly close ... it could be body mounts or fender alignment ...
If you measure the body to ground in several places ... it would likely be the fender alignment of one or both fenders ... since you say the measurement from the taillight to light is the same ...

Does this make sense ... seems to narrow it down

Frame to ground Drivers - 16 3/4, passenger 17 3/4
fender to ground drivers  16 1/2   passenger   17 1/2
Bumper to ground Drivers 16       Passenger 16 1/2

a 1 inch sag for sure and a crooked bumper.  I'll jack up the driver side an inch and take another picture and measure again when it is light out. 
Thanks for brain storming with me.

[Tom Magdaleno]

I'll have to have the spring done to be sure because when I jack up one side it still has a half inch difference side to side.  I think it looks a little better.

I was thinking that it would be strange to be a different fender, because only the V16 has the spears on the fender. 

[Jim Stamper]

     Tom, that left light still doesn't look vertical in this new picture to me. The right one is "eye sweet" vertical, the left does not look that to me.  I know it is only a picture, nothing like being there and seeing it first hand, but if it is crooked, it will never look right until that is addressed. 

[Steve Passmore]

Tom, Do you have the same alignment on both sides where the fenders ends at the bottom level with the bottom rear body line?

[DaveW]

Tom,

You might want to check the front springs while you are at it.  I had a similar problem on my '57 where the wheel openings in the rear in relation to the wheel covers was different side to side.  Turns out the problem was in one of the front springs that had sagged over time.  As it was explained to me, changes in the front springs have a bigger effect due to the higher spring rate required to support the higher mass of the front compared to the rear.  My fix was to install a spacer under one of the front coil springs.  Not saying you have the same condition as mine, but worth checking before you go through the trouble of replacing a rear spring.

Dave