Question on tail lens replacement (seal)

[stone43]

Just got through replacing the seals on my H4 headlights, this time with the rubber glued connecting spot down (lesson learned). It still amazes me what very little (basically 1 screw) holds these things on......

Just took apart the tail lens where the seal has dry rotted. Took off the old seal, looks like it was held on by 3M goo. Question: Do I have to use adhesive or can I just install the seal without?

[cary]

I don't think you can get it to stay without a little adhesive.
I used just regular silicone.
While your there pull the whole thing out and clean the entire assembly. A lot of crap gets thrown up on it from the tires.

[nostatic]

how did you get the lens off? Gently pry with a screwdriver? I got new seals, but the lens is stuck on pretty good. I was told that you need to use some goo to keep the new one in place.

[stone43]

My lens had three screws, and popped off, with a little tugging. I suspect that my seal was the factory original. So pry a little and check out how the seal reacts.

[carreradpt]

I just replaced both of my seals (original). 3 screws remove the cover. Just pull it off as it got stuck with age. Then 2 more screws will remove the taillight assembly from the car. You can easily remove the seal from the assembly now and clean it (assembly) with 3m weatherstrip remover. Clean the whole assembly off, the area collects mucho rocks and gunk. Use a plastic cleaner on the inside and outside of the lense to spruce it up a bit. I applied Meguiars #40 on the seal before glueing it. I then used 3m weatherstrip glue and put the new seal on. It is difficult to keep it in place when you reinstall the assembly w/o the glue. Be careful when you tighten the 3 screws as you will be bending the cover some. Sorry for the long answer for simple question.

[CHILI]

Ditto on the 3m weather-stripping glue. As for not tightening them too much, I noticed a thick paper washer behind my lenses, but they were toast, so I went to the hardware store and bought some small plastic spacer washers. That way when you tighten them down it bottoms out on the washer and doesn't crack or warp the lens. Also, if you take the assembly out, you might have to slide the vertical metal piece that separates the brake light and running light. Be careful when doing that. I pulled and when it slid out it gouged the paint right off the top of my bumper cuz the metal edge is sharp! What a bummer

[stone43]

carreradpt,

Not an overly long answer, but a thorough one. Thanks for the insight.

I also noticed that when I took off the lens cover, there was this clear reflector that fell out, not sure where in the hell it goes?? It was just loose, but must go somewhere. Unsure if this is true on the passenger side, as I only took one off.

[Hockey fan]

Stone43,

On my 73 the clear reflector snaps in place (under the lens) over the side marker bulb. If you picture the lens wrapping around from the back to the side of the car, it's the bulb nearest the door. It's held in place with two little clips.

Hope that isn't too confusing. It's one of those things that's much easier to explain with an actual car for visual purposes!-)

Jeff

[Jdub]

You may find a squarish piece that has fallen flat - this may be the divider between the lights. Look for a pair of runners, top and bottom, into which this might slide (think book on shelf).

A note on the rear light buckets (the entire assembley that holds all the bulbs). Pull them out completely and clean the heck out of the bodywork upper and lower. Like Cary says, you will find all sorts of things waiting to rust up this area. Wash with water and wax the area twice before putting the bucket back in. If you are of a mind to do so, remove the rearmost metal backpiece to the bucket and clean that up. Have a care with the reflective material as it loves to just wipe right off, even when using Windex!

Reseal by removing all of the old caulking-like hardened goo and use a caulk gun with bathroom/tile silicone to lay a bead in the channel. Put it all back together.

An evening's worth of work. Very much worth your time to do this. You won't BELIEVE the amount of packed wet dirt in there just eating at your car.

John

[stone43]

Yes, when I removed the housing last night, a clump of assorted crap landed right on my shoe.

Years of dirt, perhaps a piece or two of that dead cat I accidentally ran over a few months back.............

As for the clips that hold that clear piece in, it appears that they are history. I don't have time to research to actually find replacements (probably a needle in a haystack anyway). Will figure out a way to keep it in there. Now where is that pack of bubblegum............