71 Tail Light Housing Sockets

[Dave]

Hey all!

Does anybody have a source for the sockets for the tail light housings on a 71? I'm working on the ones for Project Blue Bird, and found that the original sockets were in pretty bad shape. My best / only solution is to replace them and effectively rebuild the harnesses. Yes, while I'm at it, I will be adding a ground wire to ensure I don't have to struggle with that issue later.

[72RoadRunnerGTX]

Acknowledging the 71’ housings are different from the 72’s. I believe the socket configuration is the same for both years. I had a couple sockets with some corrosion issues somewhat limited to the contacts and the spring located behind the contact plate. As we know the sockets are sealed to housing and the flexible wire sheath. The sheath runs about 10” or so and is then sealed around the wires and taped inside the tail light harness. Not wanting to compromise this water tight set-up, I had a bunch of extra front turn signal housings that use this same socket design. Basically removed the contact plate with spring and a length of wire from a front housing and replaced the same parts on the rear. Carefully spicing and resealing the wires exiting the sheath. Once the tail light harness was re-taped the repairs can’t be seen.

The 71’ sockets are not grounded by wire originally? Are the 71’ housings metal? The 72’s have a ground wire connected to ring that sits under the contact plate springs and runs through the sheath with the two other bulb wires. Grounded on a screw at the rear body, this wire provides grounds for all but the license plate light, which I ended up having to add. With powder coated bumper brackets and fresh paint on the body, all bumper bolts tight, the bumper was a very poor ground source.

[71440 gtx]

Are the 71’ housings metal?

yes they are
i have a set ofthe tail light housings for u for 1 billion dollars or a case of beer

[scotts74birds]

Seems I saw this on another site. It was for a 72RR, but if the housings are the same, he used a Dorman #85806 to replace the socket, and grounded the housing.

[landon1]

no ground wire on 71s...lights ground through the bumper...i spent hours trying to figure that one out several years ago...

anyhow, i don't know where to get the press-in sockets - i drilled-out the socket area and put in a new socket from O'reilly's. my new plan is to remove the original sockets and drill holes through the back of the housings, letting my LED bulbs project the light out.

[JosephGiannini]

http://www.nosmopar.com/query.asp?secti ... par+B+Body


CollectorsAutoSupply.com
1-888-772-7848

[72RDRNR]

Seems I saw this on another site. It was for a 72RR, but if the housings are the same, he used a Dorman #85806 to replace the socket, and grounded the housing.

Scotts74 is correct about this. I was able to use the Dorman socket and solder a ground wire to it. If the 71's are the same size it would work great, since it grounds through the housing/bumper no need to add the ground wire. And they are about $2!
Replaced one a month ago for a trip and planning on the others soon (able to clean them up enough to get through the summer).