My tail lamp socket fell out of it's housing, it looks like it is supposed to be permanently attached to the housing and I don't see how I'm able to replace or repair this one. There is nothing to hold it in. Anyone have some input on repairing a 68-9 socket? Or replacing one? I searched but can't seem to find anything. Thanks
Hey Matt, I fixed mine by going to the "Help section" of any auto parts store. I'm way to buzzed to be advising, but it's not that hard. If it is rotten get a new light socket, tap out the old one. You just gently pry up the old one out and put a new one in with a little tapping. You can do it!!! John
Any body else have any advice? Maybe pics of the "help section" part mentioned? I can't seem to find anything here that even remotely resembles something that would fit.
Thanks for the link. I'll look through. I don't see how that one mentioned would work. It has to be narrow enough to pass through that 3/4" or so hole i posted and be locked down because the socket is to be grounded to the lamp housing. My brain just isn't contemplating how to rig something up here... :-|
I think you mount it from the back side and push those tongs through the hole and bend them over on the inside of the reflector to retain the socket. Not sure about the grounding. There might be others on there. Probably a low cost item you can buy and try it.
Isnt the housing plastic? Thatll take a bayonet style plug (insert and make a 1/8 turn to seat) with a special gasket. It looks like yours got stripped out. The plug itself should have a dedicated ground wire attached. You may be able to find a busted up fixture, and cut out and graft the socket hole into place. A completed housing would probably be best in the long run. JMHO... ws
I think the 85803, as mentioned above, is the ticket, installed from the back. Sure wish 68-9s had the twist in sockets...
Sure wish 68-9s had the twist in sockets... As I mentioned above, the curvature of the housing looks pretty similar, so why not cut out some 70-72's and heat them with the heat gun to conform perfectly, then glue them together? The judges are usually too fat and old to climb underneath with a mirror or colonoscope (!) to look up the cars A$$ end LOL. I think the earlier housings are probably pot metal (or are they plastic; EXSPURTS?) with a crimped in steel (plated) connector. With electricity going through something that gets wet with 2-3 dis-similar metals is asking for trouble. Even crappy lights that work are gonna get a lousy ground. I think its time to re-engineer that one! ws
Yes they are metal, At least my 68 is. And the socket is also metal and pressed or crimped on to the housing permanently. The lip of mine ended up breaking off and the rest of the housing fell out. I couldn't come up with a good way to adapt a typical plastic on to it so I ended up holding what remained of the socket inside the hole, left about 1/16th of an inch protruding out into the housing and lightly tapped with a body hammer until it mushroomed out enough to remake it's lip and hold it tightly. Been a few weeks now and no issues.
