i read something a while back in a post about someone removing the tailpiece from the trunk and fabricating it so just the taillights remain.

any upgrades on this?

Haro has a writeup on this somewhere for clearing the taillights. Basically 2 clips have to be broken to remove the center taillight. I dunno about anyone running without that piece, but I suppose with fiberglass/bondo experience you can fab something up.

Kotik did that IIRC. Search it and I'm sure you'll find his work. All you have to do is remove the centerpiece, weld in sheemetal, and then do the body work.