Rear Tail Lights and Exhaust Bezels

[bobmanx]

Thanks for all the answers so far. New question time, on my 67 can the rear tail light and exhaust bezels be rechromed? Mine are pitted and look Ok from a distance, but at a closer look they are dotted with little bumps/pitts. Would it be better to keep them and rechrome, or replace with new. If replacing with new are there any that are better than others (fit and finish) or?

I'm replacing the front parking lights as the housings have sort of decided to crack and slowly return to their elements.
Thanks for the info.

Bob

 

[vigman]

Help BOB Help!

I need new exhaust...
( Blown out Glass packs)..

But my rear panel has no holes for the tail pipes to feed through..

Could you take a measurement of

a) The hole size ( without the bezel )
b) distance from some place to hole edge in 2 planes.
c) Any notes of interest about the Bezel mounting.. so I don;t goof & cut the holes correctly.

Vig~

 

[bobmanx]

Vig, I would be glad to help with measurements. But I havent pulled mine apart as of yet, letting sleeping dogs lie at this time until I get some feedback as to which direction to head, replace/rechrome. Is there a local place that carries C2 parts that we could do a info run to? Bezels and lights for me and hole sizes/locations for you.

I'd say come over and will check out the rear of the Convert, but its still in Orange County, till the probate stuff gets done! If your up to a drive we can shoot down and measure it in person.

Let me know if there is a Vette store closer than Corvette Mike's to check out the possibilities.

Bob

Vig, check out a C2 post by markiemyster, about a rear valance. He's got a new valance that he can get dimensions from. he should be able to help ASAP.

 

[bluestripe67]

Bobmanx, glad to see and hear of your progress. I think you will ultimetly be more happy buying new stuff and will cost less. A lot of time/labor goes into rechroming especially small parts. Most of the big Vette suppliers have what you want. Get a copy of the NCRS Driveline for parts ads. Check prices and location. Good luck!

 

[markiemyster]

vig, maybe I can help

Vig,
I would be happy to trace the holes in the valance and mail you a layout but, one thing you won't have is the ring that is molded into the rear that supports the bezels. Let me know if I can help.
Mark
Email: A353@aol.com

 

[markiemyster]

bobmanx

I purchased my exhaust bezels fron ZIP as I do with most of my parts and am very pleased with the quality and the prices are the best I've seen.
Good luck, Mark

 

[72VETTETORONTO]

parts supplier

does anyone know if zip has website and what is their address

 

[markiemyster]

Zip Products

Web site www.zip-corvette.com
telephone 1-800-962-9632
Good luck, Mark

 

[bobmanx]

markiemyster & bluestripe67, have you tried Long Island Corvette for any of your parts. I just got their catalog and their prices seem a little lower than some others. Lower than what Zip quoted on the phone.

I ordered a pair of their repro. front parking lamps and will let you know what they look like when they get here. They are due early this week. (exactly the same,without GM P/N)

I was looking at the price of the rear lights and exhaust bezels and wasnt sure what a chrome shop might want, I understand the labor part to smooth them out and all, but was curious as to the difference if someone had already tried it.

Thanks all, Bob

 

[markiemyster]

Long Island Corvette

I've heard of them. Do you have a telephone number or web site so I can order a catalog.
Thanks, Mark

 

[bobmanx]

Mark,

Long Island Corvette's phone number is (631)225-3000, Toll free order number is (800)466-6367. And their web site is listed in the portals above and is www.licorvette.com. You can request a free catalog from their web site, and their catalog is also viewable at their website.
Let me know if they pass the test.

Thanks Bob

 

[bobmanx]

Bluestripe67,

I'm not even sure that the taillight bezels could be rechromed, arent they a complete unit, bulb socket and all, that would make it a no/go from what I'am told. so looks like new is the choice. It was just a "I wonder if" idea.

Thanks, Bob

 

[bluestripe67]

Bob, Your right on the complexity of the lights, new is right.

 

[bobmanx]

bluestripe, I got that impression, the farther that I looked into trying to rechrome the pieces. Hopefully the replacements will last another 30+ years! LOL

I just got my "new" front parking lights from Long Island Corvettes, and they look great! Now for the new question, since the front parking lights are tapered, or when mounted one side of the parking light chrome housing/bezel is thinner where it mounts to the body which way should it be turned? The exsisting light housings have taken a beating over the life of the car (remember I just got possesion of it, when my uncle died) so where is the thinner part of the chrome housing supposed to be (based on a clock looking at the lens from the front, and which way are the lens screws supposed to be positioned (-- or l)?
Thanks for all the info, just want it right.

Bob

 

[Subfixer]

I got my new front parking light from Volunteer Vette products. www.volvette.com

It was the least expensive around ($65 ea.) You do get what you pay for though; I had a real hard time pluging in the harness connector at the front of the fenderwell. Seems the recess in the replacement parking light pigtail is slightly undersized and the material is not as soft as the original. It eventually fit. Looks and works like new.

 

[JohnZ]

Bob - On mine, the thick portions of the park light bezels are on the bottom and outboard side, and the thin portions are on the top and inboard sides. If you look at the mounting surface on the fender from the side, you'll see that it's on an angle (forward at the top, rearward at the bottom). This puts the lens screws on a horizontal line through the lens center.

The taillights and exhaust bezels are chrome-plated zinc die-castings, which cost a fortune to have pit-repaired and re-plated; new reproductions are excellent, and are much cheaper than repair/re-plating the old ones. I just bought a complete set (4) of '67 taillights from Corvette Central (made by Trim Parts) for mine a few months ago.

 

[bobmanx]

JohnZ and subfixer,

Thanks for the info on the parking lights. I had heard that there was a correct orientation for the light assembly but did not have acces to the car till later this week. I got two new front parking lights, (reproductions @ $50.00 each) from Long Island Corvettes and they look nice. They are supposedly exact duplicates, but do not have the GM P/N on the them. I hope they fit and plug in OK, I will let you know when I try to put them on the car if everything goes without a hitch!

The originals on the car are desintegrating, about all thats left is a portion of the chrome housing/bezel and the lenses, but they still work. I guess they did not build stuff to last in 1967! LOL If the duplicates last half of that I will be happy!

I agree, that rechrome would probably be more than replacement but was curious, since they are original! But everyone that I have talked to mentioned the cost and if replacements were avail. , why rechrome the old.

Thanks for the info on the lights and bezels. I just want it to be a nice,clean,original looking driver.

Thanks , Bob

 

[JohnZ]

Bob - Your question about parking light orientation got me to thinking again about my answer, and after some more research, I've concluded that the parking lights on my '67 were oriented incorrectly by the previous owner. I've checked back through the A.I.M. and seven other references in my library, and the correct orientation is with the screws aligned on a VERTICAL line through the lens, not a horizontal line as I stated above; this also places the stamped sheet metal retainers on the back side in a horizontal orientation, as shown in the A.I.M.

Haven't taken mine off yet to re-orient them, so I'm not sure which of the two possible orientations is correct; at least they're not right and left parts - just one part number for both sides.

 

[bobmanx]

Thanks for all your research and time JohnZ.

So if I follow this closely, with nothing up my sleeves, the lens screws should be vertical, and the parking light housing/lenses should be as straight to the front as possible? I will try fitting one to see what looks correct/better, heck I only have two choices if the lens screws need to be in a vertical alignment. I will also check the remaining semi complete original housing on the car for its orientation, the drivers side has nothing left of the outer chrome bezel so it will not help, but the passenger side has most of the bezel intact. Its getting two new ones if it likes it or not! lol

Thanks, Bob