C-1 Tail Lights

[Dennis C.]

I just sent my first 2 boxes of chrome & stainless steel parts out to the refinisher and I am working on assembling the next shipment. This would include the tail lights.

The refinisher said to remove the sockets. The sockets have a rolled over lip that attaches them to a galvanizrd cup, which in turn is held to the crome trip by tabs that have been peened.

I see no way of disassembling and then reassembling this. What have others done?

I am in the process of replacing the wiring using Lectric Limited cables. They have a harness with replacement scokets that snap in, or GM seems to have replacement tail light assemblies using the original part number, however, I do not know what they look like.

I assume I will have the same issue with the front parking lights.

I would appreciate hearing what others have done.

Thanks, for your help.

Dennis

[James F.]

Re: C-1 Tail Lights

Dennis,
Your plater is correct saying to remove the sockets. It's very obvious to a judge if the socket has been plated along with the die cast body. Possibly there is some plating resist that could be applied to the socket. I have never removed these sockets, maybe someone else has. Looks like it might start with a Dremmel tool and cut away part of the rolled lip, enough to force the socket away from the body. "Hot rod" creativity is need it this project ;-) . Regards,

[Kraig Bradtmiller]

Re: C-1 Tail Lights

Dennis

|had my 58 tail lights replated and did not remove the light sockets. the plater somehow "masked" the sockets and were not plated. I did remove the 4 cover brackets riveted to the taillight case. I would recommend buying new front parking lights as these are hard to replate because they are a zinc diecast and pitts in these need to be drilled out and filled - a lot of labor and cost to you. Most platers tell customers the cost to replate these exceed repro prices.

[John M.]

Re: C-1 Tail Lights

I agree with Kraig on this. I ended up with as much as a new set of Trim Parts parking lights in my replated originals and was stil not satisfied with the job!
The quality of Trim Parts parking lights is incredible.

Regards, John McGraw

[Dennis C.]

Re: C-1 Tail Lights

Thanks for the information. I had felt the parking lights would need to be replaced because they are in much worse condition then the tail lights.

I also think I could get the sockets out of the tail light housing OK, I am not sure there would be enough of a lip left to re-roll or the lip would break off when I went to fold it back over. Has any one used the snap in sockets, or am I better off buying reproductions for the rear also?

Dennis

[Robert L.]

Re: C-1 Tail Lights

I recently had a midyear tail light bezel replated. Before I sent it in I took a small die grinder bit & ground off the lips on the 3 spots that held the socket to the bezel. Then I drilled & tapped 3 holes (6-32, I think) where the lips are located.I ground off some of the phillip head & also shortened the screw so it just protrudes from the back side of the bezel.You won't see the screw conversion because they are covered by the felt & foam gaskets.
HTH, Regards, Bob L.

[Dennis C.]

Re: C-1 Tail Lights

Bob,

Thanks for the suggestion. That sounds like it will work well.

Dennis