C2 - 1963 Parking Lights

[Sydney G.]

Hello,

I've been having problems with one of the front parking lights on my '63.
I was told by my garage last fall that the socket was shot and that I needed to relpace it.

Would you guys suggest that I buy a repro and substitute the needed socket?
Should I be looking for a used light instead (eBay etc.)?
Or, can my original be repaired and by whom?

The wiring harness is new and it is not the bulb, that much I do know.

Thanks for any help!
Syd

[Chuck G.]

Re: C2 - 1963 Parking Lights

63 parking lights are unique, Syd. There are 2 styles, which have to do with whether the lens screw is exposed on the back (early) or is enclosed in a "nub" which covers the screw end (late).

Regardless of the type of the chrome back, 63's all use a rubber boot to cover the connector. The copper/brass connector is not exposed.

The ground wire solders to the copper jacket of the connector.

SO....it's tough to replace the 63 only socket with a later model, as the rubber 63 boot will not fit around the 64 up sockets, even if you slice them, and try to get them to fit.

You can do a pretty fair job of faking it by getting an extra boot, cutting it, piecing in the area that the 63 boot won't cover, and then coating the entire repair with black RTV.

Don't ask how I know this. Chuck

[Sydney G.]

Re: C2 - 1963 Parking Lights

Hi Chuck,

Thanks for the response!
I should have guessed that '63 parking lights would differ from the other C2's.

I was aware of the rubber boot covering for 1963's but did not realize that there was a diffence in the housing or that they could not just be swapped out.
Looking through catalogs loke LIC, I see that they only offer repro lights for 63-67 as a group. I also see no sign of a replacement rubber boot for '63.
Where should I look for this part?

Is there no way or no one who offers the service to fix the existing light socket?

Chuck, another dumb question but what is RTV?

Thanks!
Syd

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: C2 - 1963 Parking Lights

Syd, we had a chapter meet today to discuss C1 and C2 parts. (factory installed, NOS, repro's etc). Anyway, a member showed an original 64 parking light. This is an early 64. It had the rubber boot and was not drilled all the way through where the lens screw was attached.

Summary, yes, 63 only part for boot and screw exposure and 63 and early 64 with boot and no screw exposure. All as Chuck described.

Salvage what you can from what you have.

Harry

[Sydney G.]

Re: C2 - 1963 Parking Lights

Hi Harry,

Hard to believe that swapping for a repro light is about my only option.
I've seen quite a few sets (NOS) on eBay and now I'm glad I did not bid seeing as they all were probably for late 64-67.

Are salvage parts the only way to find the correct boot and attempt what Chuck described or does anyone know of a vendor who has them?
And what about the coating Chuck mentioned?
Looking at my front lights the boot and harness look clean, apart from 40+ yrs. of debris.

Am I be able to see the area of lens screw exposure you and Chuck refer to with the parking light installed on my car?

Thanks,
Syd

[Chuck G.]

Re: C2 - 1963 Parking Lights

RTV is a black silicon/rubber "goo" in a tube.

I fooled with a bunch of 63 parking lights. Bought them at swap meets, etc. Had a pile of them at one time.

PIA to try to "uncrimp" the copper/brass connector from the chrome bezel and do a good job. I never was able to do it well.

What did I do? I took a pair of nice new repro's, that have the exposed copper/brass connector and the "nub" that covers the lens screw in the back. (I have a late 63)

On early 63's, you can see the screw protruding out of the back, and that's one of the first things judges look for. For an early 63, you could grind the nub with a die grinder, and touch up the grind area with some silver paint.

I sliced the rubber boots off of a pair of original 63's. Wrapped them around the exposed connector. They won't fit all the way, so I took another 63 boot, cut a slice out of it, and glued it on too, so that the boot completely covered the connector.

Then, I took either RTV or some of that black rubber dip (the kind you buy in a jar to dip tool handles in) and "massaged" my repair so that the rubber looked smooth all around.

Looks great on the car. Nobody reproduces the 63 early 64 parking lights.

I've never found a nice set of originals either. Most are pitted and beat up. Chuck

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: C2 - 1963 Parking Lights

Chuck, I agree with the Rubber Boot on the back, but I can't find that in the JG. Anyway, My right light has the boot and the screws from the lens can not be see. My left light has no boot and I can see/feel the screw, strange. It could be bubba. I'll pull the lights when it gets warm here.

The car is an April car. 13xxx. Did the lights with the open back to see the screw have a boot?? Inquiring minds want to know.

Harry

[Chuck G.]

Re: C2 - 1963 Parking Lights

Yep, all 63's had "the boot" regardless of the exposed or covered lens screw. Chuck

[Ray C.]

Re: C2 - 1963 Parking Lights

I have a July 63 and the lights have the boots and the screws are not exposed.

Ray

[Sydney G.]

Re: C2 - 1963 Parking Lights

I'm not sure if I'm looking at it correctly or not, but on my mid-May car as seen through the wheel wells I see protruding screws.
I had thought that these screws were for the retainer bracket? Guess not.

I remember at the Quebec regional meet in '02 that a very knowledgable judge went around the '63 cars with me and felt in this area for the boot.
He said at the time that mine were original.

Syd