Makonut

After years of work on various systems, I just finished the fiber optics. What a pain. The question is what holds the wire into the lenses in the console? They were just stuck in the holes held in place with electrical
tape.

oldgto

There should be a little brass tube on the end of the fiber optic tube, and I think there is a boot that that goes into?

7T1vette

Those are no "wires". They are glass-stranded cables that only transfer light from specific bulbs to the display lenses in the console. No electricity; no metal in the cables. If you see light in a console lens, its respective bulb is lit.

Alan 71

Hi M,
You may have already discovered that the lens for the 3 rear fiber optics indicators are generally VERY brittle and easy to break.
Try to use your original lens because the reproductions don't work well… especially the one on the left side which actually has a tiny prism in it.
BE CAREFUL!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

As you can see I split the end on mine!

oldgto

Thanks (again, as always!) for an excellent picture Alan! So... the rubber boots go on the end at the light, and only the brass fitting goes to the console end, correct?

Alan 71

Hi,
Yes, the light end has a lens on it.
This is typical for the parking, tail/brake, and license lights.
The headlights have a different kind of connector that works with the sealed beam nipples; it's both the electrical connector and fiber optics connection. There's a nifty little 'tube' that's part of the fiber optics connection.
Regards,
Alan

Parking light.

Rcdizy

Not to thread jack... But I also have a 70.

Where would be the easiest places to look for breaks in the fiber optic lines? My rear ones do not work and I would like them to. But I do not want to disasemble the car much.

The ends at all the lamps are intact and clean

Alan 71

Hi R,
Have you attempted to clean the very ends of the cable filament itself? Sometimes the tip can be sanded with ultra fine paper to smooth it and create a new clean surface.
Since for the rear lights the 3 fiber optic cables are wrapped in the rear lighting electrical harness I'd begin by looking at the condition of the harness that can be seen at the taillight panel and along the driver's side frame rail.
After the harness enters the interior it travels forward under the carpet to the lower part of the drivers side lock pillar and then the fiber optics cables separate from the harness and travel across the seat bulkhead and forward along the transmission tunnel to the rear of the shifter plate.
Have you lifted the carpet on the bulkhead and the rear of the shifter plate to see if the cable is even there?
Regards,
Alan

The wrapped fiber optics cable.


Here you see hit turning to run along the transmission tunnel.

BBCorv70

I addition to the brass ferules, my 70 had these clips, retainers which held each ferule in the clear lens assy. You can see them in Alan71's picture, looking through the plastic. There were used to retain the fiber optics in the rear lens, clear, on the console.

Alan 71

Hi bb,
I think it's the slight pressure of using those clips that may have contributed to the lens' failures as they got old and brittle.
Regards,
Alan

DUB

These actually look like the retainers used on metal cars to help hold emblems on. I have never seen these on fiber optic cable ends. NOT 'saying' that they weren't used....but I HONESTLY can not ever remember seeing them...because if I had...I would have taken them off the fiber optic harnesses I have and used them on something else when needed.

Just 'saying'.

DUB

BBCorv70

Hi Dub, no problem...

I definitely took them off of my fiber optics, rear console. You can see them in Alan71's photos as well. Yes, they do tend to crack the plastic as Alan said. Mine was broken in the same place as Alan's. These retainers hold the fiber optics in place. When I replaced my fiber optics, a mouse had chewed through the bundle, I used RTV to keep them from falling out. Kept the clips in a bag.

The same clips may have been used to retain emblems, wouldn't surprise me, but these definitely came off my fiber optics.

BBCorv70

Hi Alan,
Yes, my lens was broken in the same place as yours. I didn't use the clips when I had to replace the fiber optics and lens.

DUB

I can 'say' that the reproduction rear fiber optic lenses are basically junk. I have had to go through quite a few until I found one that actually would work....and the PROBLEM is the one that plugs in from the rear.

When the part is made...if the angled piece of clear plastic is not PERFECTLY CLEAR and PERFECTLY FLAT...it will NOT allow the light to bend/reflect to the lens and shine as well as the two fiber optics that plug in from the bottom.

DUB

axlr8r

Would you happen to have an extra FO sleeve as pictured in your post? I've looked everywhere!

BBCorv70

I don't recall the exact diameter but you may try some of these.
I've found them on amazon as well.
The clips act as emblem retainers as DUB said, they provide a light grip on the sleeve of the FO, keeps them from falling out.
I've installed mine a while ago, not available to measure.
You should be able to measure the hole diameters and maybe the diameter of the ends on your fibers to get an idea what size would work for you.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_6...457&ir=3&tps=8


Another option may be to ask Lectric Limited.
Here's a photo of their rear fiber optics harness.
Looks like the clips some with this harness.



I think I've seen them in photos of their fiber optic harnesses.
They may sell you a few?

Rescue Rogers

start a new thread....no one has been here since 2016

Try Lectric limited since Im typing anyway

7T1vette

Brass ferrules are not necessarily required. You just need something that holds the fiber bundle tightly and that will fit snugly into the 'lens' so that the light fiber cable will not fall out. Heat shrink tubing will do the job, I think. You may need more than one layer to get the fit right.
P.S. If you glue them in, you will regret it later....