Question for 1966 300 Owners

[Boomer]

Because I think it's the only year with this issue:

How in the HELL do you change the front directional bulbs??? The PO told me he couldn't replace them due to having fat fingers, so I figured - no problem. My hands are kinda big, but my fingers and long and skinny.

No effing way. Spent half an hour trying to put new bulbs in. I can push the base in, but can't quite manage to turn the bulb enough to get the bayonet prongs to snap into place.

Also curious about lens gaskets as none came with mine. And it's missing 2 screws and one of the inside lenses, but that's nowhere near as frustrating as getting the damned bulbs back in.

Am I missing something obvious? Do I need to train my daughter to do it? She turned 3 yesterday, has small hands, and responds well to instruction. Usually.

Don't tell me - Chrysler had a special tool for this? Because there sure as hell isn't room enough for a normal/average hand to do it.

 

[commando1]

It is not specific to 66 300's.

I had this same problem.
Disassembled everything and found the problem.

See the socket?

See the spring loaded contacts at the bottom of the socket?
It's binding up. It won't compress all the way even though it feels like it is.
You have to soak it good with some PB Blaster or euivalent and push it in and out from the backside with the wires to free it up.


Or put in a new pigtail which I did the next time it happened.

I just routinely replace them now.
If you have to disassemble the entire housing, so be it. Nothing is easy.

 

[300rag]

What I might suggest is to put on a thin latex glove to get just that little bit extra grip to turn the bulb. That's what I did to remove one when my fingers would just slide on the glass bulb.

 

[commando1]

Another trick that works.
I slip an appropriate sized neoprene tube/hose over the bulb and it works like an extension of your fingers.
I use this trick on installing spark plugs, too.

 

[300rag]

Another trick that works.
I slip an appropriate sized neoprene tube/hose over the bulb and it works like an extension of your fingers.
I use this trick on installing spark plugs, too.

You are pretty good with Paint, I see.

 

[commando1]

Another three minutes and I would have done it in animated 3D..,

 

[bluefury361]

There is a tool for that......... The front park lamp bulbs on a 61 Plymouth are near impossible to change without one.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

I was just going to suggest a piece of heater hose as I had to do this just the other day on my Polara.


Alan

 

[commando1]

There is a tool for that......... The front park lamp bulbs on a 61 Plymouth are near impossible to change without one.

Is that SAE or Metric...

 

[Zymurgy]

The guys are right, they are rusted in there. I have a '66 300 and hadn't changed the bulbs until this summer. They would not come out, I ended up break the glass and wiggled the bulb socket back and forth with needle nosed plyers, until they finally came out.

How are the lens. I know a guy that can make you new ones.

 

[Dobalovr]

The guys are right, they are rusted in there. I have a '66 300 and hadn't changed the bulbs until this summer. They would not come out, I ended up break the glass and wiggled the bulb socket back and forth with needle nosed plyers, until they finally came out.

How are the lens. I know a guy that can make you new ones.

View attachment 64117

I sure could use the name of your guy. I need replacements for both of my cars.

 

[Zymurgy]

I sure could use the name of your guy. I need replacements for both of my cars.

It is a guy in Australia that has make a mold off a good set and makes them to order. I will look for an old thread, my computer crashed and I lost all my old e-mails.

Found the original post. http://www.forcbodiesonly.com/mopar-forum/showthread.php?5116-My-new-turns-lens-from-OZ-came-yes!

George Laurie is his name I will see if I can locate his e-mail address.

Found it georgelaurie@bigpond.com

 

[traintech55]

Hey Zymurgy please post the info on who makes these lenses. I need both.

 

[Dobalovr]

Thanks Zymurgy! I bought a whole front bumper just to get the lenses in it as the seller would not part them out seperately(didnt blame him). Having some repopped units will be great. Now if only someone would do the same for the taillights!

 

[Zymurgy]

Thanks Zymurgy! I bought a whole front bumper just to get the lenses in it as the seller would not part them out seperately(didnt blame him). Having some repopped units will be great. Now if only someone would do the same for the taillights!

Yes that would be great if some one did. Ask George in the e-mail if he has them but he didn't a couple of year ago, doubt if anyone sent him a good set to make a mold, but we can be wishful. A good left or right side will pop up every once and a while and they are always around $700-$800. Ouch!

 

[Dobalovr]

My Canadian 300 uses the Newport Taillights so I have had better luck finding those(I am upto 3 sets now) but my American cousin car has the usual busted bezels and cracked lenses. I picked a set up this fall at my favourite honey hole but they were only in slightly better shape. I'll give George a try and update you.

 

[Boomer]

Thanks for the tips. Relieved to hear that it's not the only model to suffer from such a crappy set up after all. It's frustrating to look down 8-10 ft of contoured rear fender and admire the stamping involved, thinking - wow, that took some balls to come up with. Then to try to change a simple bulb and not be able to do it.

Stan - I'll try to work the pigtails more as you mentioned. I did spray both with some cleaner and got some crud out. They both seem to push in okay, it's just right at the point of twist/turn where the base won't quite go, and there's not enough room to muckle onto the bulb.

I've got some gloves I can try, also have a pair of tongs for pulling radio tubes from tight places. They don't have an indent to hold the bulb for pushing, but maybe they will work.

Nice to know someone is making repop lenses. Mine are crazed and I think one edge may be cracked, but with everything else that needs attention, they'll do for now. I do need to find one of those inner Fresnel lens plates, though. One is missing along with two mounting screws. Rear lenses are fine though one side the metal casting is pitted considerably. Makes me think the other side was replaced at some point.

Bought some 'amber' bulbs online that ended up really being spray-painted bulbs. Trying to get them into the sockets resulted in a lot of loose paint.