Re-plating 66 front grill turn signal housings - remove lamp socket??

[AR67GTX]

I'm taking a few pieces of my 66 Satellite over to the plating shop and planned to take the front turn signal buckets as it looks like someone shut the hood once without the bumpers and catch in place and put a shallow ding in the top of one of them. After removing them and stripping down what I can, it appears the lamp sockets are deformed into the housing bucket during manufacturer and I don't see a practical way to remove them without destroying the socket.

Has anyone dealt with this before and figured it out. I'm thinking they are going to say they can't re-plate them without removing or damaging the sockets. Is there a way they can plug off the socket and wrap the wire lead with something that will protect them from the stripping and plating processes?

If no one knows I will take them along and see what they have to say about it.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Don't think they're removable.

 

[Don Frelier]

They are swaged in place if you get them out you'll likely never get them back in without epoxy or something.

 

[AR67GTX]

Well, I'll see what they say. Maybe a silicon'd in disposable bulb and silicon tape wrapping around the wire harness or something like that - will let them re-plate them.

As far as I know, no one is reproducing these - right?

 

[Dodge33]

Well, I'll see what they say. Maybe a silicon'd in disposable bulb and silicon tape wrapping around the wire harness or something like that - will let them re-plate them.

As far as I know, no one is reproducing these - right?

I don't remember if it was on this site or not.. but do remember somebody saying
that the guy that own(s) BEA parts, believe he is in Ohio, has the machine (or tool)
that he could/can install new sockets in the housings. Might try to contact him. Wish
I could remember more information! @Dodge33

 

[gtx6970]

Im 99% sure Mike at BEA has the sockets and can reinstall them.
But ask him 1st

 

[AR67GTX]

Talked to Mike and he said he can still do the socket/pigtail replacement. So with his guidance I removed the existing sockets so the plating company wouldn’t have to mess with them.

 

[gtx6970]

Sweet.

Let me know how they come out.

I may get the itch to have mine replated sometime

 

[AR67GTX]

Sounds like the only downside is that his leads are for an E body and they are a little shorter. Also he said the terminals are not Packard 56 but the plug is correct. I have the Packard terminals and can change that out. The shorter lead will work fine as mine were long anyway. But those are the differences he stated. He texted a picture of them. I may be able to post it but going to be tied up for a couple of days.

 

[AR67GTX]

This is the pigtail leads Mike at AEB Mopars said he has for the parking lights.

 

[gtx6970]

completely different type of plug on the end.

BUT, not terribly difficult to change

I would remove the entire wiring pigtail out of my old lamp assy and transfer to the newly installed sockets

 

[AR67GTX]

Your right - I forgot the plug is different as well as the terminals. I bought a bunch of male/female plug pieces and packard 56 terminals so changing is not a problem. He also said the wire colors may vary too and might result in reverse wiring them by accident - but if that pops up just reverse them in the plug.

I still wonder if a plating shop couldn’t plug off the socket and wrap the wires and keep plating out. Mike said he didn’t think so and because the old sockets need to be cut off and ground down to pop out - I didn’t want to take any chances and just went ahead and removed them first. But after dropping them off and talking with my plater a little, I wish I had asked first.

 

[VFilms]

I recently sent mine to the plater without removing the sockets. He said he could do it with them in place. He couldn't. Lucky I have a extra pair. What I did, while not factory, AND I'M NOT TELLING YOU TO DO THIS, worked. I GENTLY pried up the inside lip of the socket all the way around just enough to clear the hole and wiggled it out. I installed the replacements and GENTLY peened over that lip. They are tight in place and work. I tiny bit of clear silicone around the back side to seal it just to be sure.

 

[AR67GTX]

Thanks - looks like I made the right decision to remove mine in that case.