1979 tail light socket
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 11
From: LA CA
1979 tail light socket
I bought the car with a set of bubble tail light lenses on. Redoing the rear end I realized that the tail light sockets are not all the same I got 3
different sockets back there and I am wondering wich to use to replace all of them with the same kind? Part number, pic. I am thinking I might have to go with a universal fit since I have the bubble lenses but.. Any advise or ideas appreciated as always...
different sockets back there and I am wondering wich to use to replace all of them with the same kind? Part number, pic. I am thinking I might have to go with a universal fit since I have the bubble lenses but.. Any advise or ideas appreciated as always...
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 406
Likes: 1
From: Maroochydore QLD
I'm not sure I understand the question, you only have two different type of lights on the rear, the outer ones and the inner ones which are dedicated to reverse lights. The outer ones are brake, indicator and tail (park) all in one. The two units (inner and outer) are not interchangeable as the plastic is different. ZIP or Ecklers have the correct tail lights and can be ordered but I think you wil lfind they are not cheap. Parts recycler may be cheaper. I know mine intimately as I had to change to amber indicators etc to make road worthy here in Australia and recently did much work to make this happen in the original light fitings so if you need to know anything specific just ask me.
Thanks, Dennis.
Thanks, Dennis.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 11
From: LA CA
I'm not sure I understand the question, you only have two different type of lights on the rear, the outer ones and the inner ones which are dedicated to reverse lights. The outer ones are brake, indicator and tail (park) all in one. The two units (inner and outer) are not interchangeable as the plastic is different. ZIP or Ecklers have the correct tail lights and can be ordered but I think you wil lfind they are not cheap. Parts recycler may be cheaper. I know mine intimately as I had to change to amber indicators etc to make road worthy here in Australia and recently did much work to make this happen in the original light fitings so if you need to know anything specific just ask me.
Thanks, Dennis.
Thanks, Dennis.
I do have the bubble lense as I said before so When they made the change I guess they could'nt keep the inner sockets and just got something that worked and installed that.. So I am trying to find out If I shoeld just use another set of outer ones, since I lost the back up light when the bubbles were installed.. Thank You for replying
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 406
Likes: 1
From: Maroochydore QLD
Hmmmmm, how weird, both my inners are identical, in fact I can interchange the lights left to right no problem, I wonder if someone hasnt done a little modification to your bumper? Do you have the standard original neoprene bumper or is it an aftermarket glass one? If it's factory then your car is a complete mystery to me.
All I can confirm is that the one brown 1979 I have is identical left to right, I presume that is how they all left the factory but your know the General did some weird stuff on that assembly line from time to time.
Cheers, Dennis.
All I can confirm is that the one brown 1979 I have is identical left to right, I presume that is how they all left the factory but your know the General did some weird stuff on that assembly line from time to time.
Cheers, Dennis.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
The assembly instruction manual might help you with a diagram. The bubble light conversion requires two pigtails and sockets be crimped in to the stock rear harness in order to get the inner lights to work. The stock back up light sockets are not used. Most folks take the lamps out of the back up sockets and tape them to the harness to keep them out of the way.
I'm guessing you are seeing two stock sockets (outers), two aftermarket sockets (new inners for the bubbles), and possibly one of the original backup sockets.
I'm guessing you are seeing two stock sockets (outers), two aftermarket sockets (new inners for the bubbles), and possibly one of the original backup sockets.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
The bubble light conversion requires two pigtails and sockets be crimped in to the stock rear harness in order to get the inner lights to work. The stock back up light sockets are not used. Most folks take the lamps out of the back up sockets and tape them to the harness to keep them out of the way.
For the inners you can use the same type of sockets you have for the outers; outer and inner lights behave exactly the same with bubbles because they feed off the same feed wire. I updated my inners with ones from Advance auto with no issues.
Enjoy, Steve
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 11
From: LA CA
I agree...I have bubbles and this was done for mine. Orignal inner sockets sealed and snugged away for future use.
For the inners you can use the same type of sockets you have for the outers; outer and inner lights behave exactly the same with bubbles because they feed off the same feed wire. I updated my inners with ones from Advance auto with no issues.
Enjoy, Steve
For the inners you can use the same type of sockets you have for the outers; outer and inner lights behave exactly the same with bubbles because they feed off the same feed wire. I updated my inners with ones from Advance auto with no issues.
Enjoy, Steve
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
