License Plate Lamp Question???

[Tedredamphi]

Which is the correct installation of the license plate lamp covers? Flat silver side toward front or back of car? Does anyone have a good "o-ring" idea for the gasket? Also is there an electrical ground for the rear deck lid or does it ground through the hinges and latch?
Thanks,
Ted

 

[jfriese]

Hello Ted,

The flat sides goes towards the rear of the car and yes, those lights ground through the hinges. If Gordon's doesn't have those gaskets, I don't know of anyone who might have them separately but Allan Woodcock has some used Mercedes lights and they probably use the same gaskets. The last I hear of he was selling them for not many dollars.

John Friese
67 White
67 Red

 

[Tedredamphi]

Looks like a 2 inch by 3/32" O-ring can be made to fit. Will have to shorten it slightly and glue the ends back together with superglue. 1/16" O-ring is a little too small. Gordon Imports does not sell the gasket.
Ted

 

[Ed Price]

Yes, you can often get away with grounding through hinges. OTOH, it's not
the "right thing" to do. It doesn't take much effort to run a bypass ground
strap across a hinge point. Not only better for DC reliability, but also
helps to keep the engine cover at DC ground, helping suppress ignition
noise.


Ed Price
IAOC Membership Registrar
El Cajon, CA USA
WB6WSN
1961 Amphicar 770
1987 MB 420SEL





_____

From: jfriese [mailto:]
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 8:19 PM
To: edprice@cox.net
Subject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20854] Re: License Plate Lamp
Question???


Hello Ted,

The flat sides goes towards the rear of the car and yes, those lights ground
through the hinges. If Gordon's doesn't have those gaskets, I don't know of
anyone who might have them separately but Allan Woodcock has some used
Mercedes lights and they probably use the same gaskets. The last I hear of
he was selling them for not many dollars.

John Friese
67 White
67 Red

 

[SNOWBIRD]

VW Rabit has a similar light,, you may be able to get them still
I think gasket was the same,

 

[Tedredamphi]

#88 O-ring works good for replacing gasket on original license plate lamps. It is 2-1/8" O.D. x 3/32" thick. Had to cut about 1/2" off and superglue the ends together. It fits nice and snug into the groove of the original lens.
I also have a pretty good extra set of original license plate lamp sockets and lenses if anybody is interested. E-mail or P.M. me if interested.
Ted Matthews

 

[canitfloat]

80-92 VW Vanagon uses same light too.