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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Tail Light Lens Alignment/Fit
Posted by: FlacaProductions Apr 13 2019, 02:16 PM
On my new-to-me 74, the rear tail light lenses don't seem to fit tight. They don't snug up on the inboard/reverse light section. Could they have been installed without a seal or without the proper (thick enough) seal?
I'm away from the car for a few weeks but working through issues that I noticed when it was delivered and I had about 48 hours with it - documented a number of them but didn't get the opportunity to pop the lenses off.
They are euro amber/red signals - in great shape but not sure of their origin....
(the pic seems to exaggerated the gap - it's not nearly as wide as it appears, but it clearly doesn't run parallel with the body)
Thanks!
b
Posted by: mepstein Apr 13 2019, 02:34 PM
Does the lense say "Hella" ?
Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Apr 13 2019, 02:36 PM
should be a seal on the lens itself, and because the segments are glued together and the old assemblies warp over time, it always takes some time to fit the lenses, we usually put them on carefully and then tap them as we snug the nuts one at a time it was a bad design by hella to glue three segments together. Often we would get new factory sets already in pieces in the box as the gluing did not last. Hold the nut in the tight position the tap the lens and as you tap the nut will snug. again make sure that there is a gasket on the lens and where the lens fits to the trough of the tail light body it is clean of debris
On my new-to-me 74, the rear tail light lenses don't seem to fit tight. They don't snug up on the inboard/reverse light section. Could they have been installed without a seal or without the proper (thick enough) seal?
I'm away from the car for a few weeks but working through issues that I noticed when it was delivered and I had about 48 hours with it - documented a number of them but didn't get the opportunity to pop the lenses off.
They are euro amber/red signals - in great shape but not sure of their origin....
(the pic seems to exaggerated the gap - it's not nearly as wide as it appears, but it clearly doesn't run parallel with the body)
Thanks!
b
Posted by: 914Sixer Apr 13 2019, 02:39 PM
Not unusual to find the lens are starting to bow out. I have noticed that on the 75 The way the lens mount cause the problem.
Posted by: Chi-town Apr 13 2019, 02:45 PM
They do that it they're over tightened also
Posted by: FlacaProductions Apr 13 2019, 07:33 PM
OK - I'll check em when I'm back with the car - not sure if they are HELLA or otherwise. That may/may not be part of the issue but they are in good shape.
Posted by: Chi-town Apr 13 2019, 07:37 PM
If you need a set of Hella lenses let me know
Posted by: rudedude Apr 13 2019, 08:22 PM
There were some lenses made a few years back, not hella, that did not fit very well.
Posted by: Mikey914 Apr 14 2019, 01:08 PM
What brand are they?
Posted by: rudedude Apr 14 2019, 05:56 PM
The ones that fit less than desirable are AUATL my hella fit perfect
Posted by: FlacaProductions Apr 14 2019, 10:27 PM
I'm away from the car until memorial day-ish so I'll check the brand then!
Posted by: FlacaProductions May 22 2019, 08:43 PM
Circling back to update this as I'm back with the car - these are AUATL versions. The fit is not good. There is a seal present and in good shape but the angle of the bend seems to just be wrong...I guess replacements go on the list.
Posted by: FlacaProductions May 29 2019, 03:19 PM
I have confirmed that I have the AUATL-stamped units.
I picked up a set of the US-config versions from Sierra Madre today but won't have a chance to actually check the fit until July. I hope it's better - and if it is, I'll have a set of the AUATL Euro versions for sale...for what that's worth. 
Posted by: raynekat May 29 2019, 04:41 PM
Keep us posted on the fit of the US lens.
Posted by: jmitro May 29 2019, 06:41 PM
i bought repro lenses from another vendor and the fit is not good either. I figure it's just the way it is
Posted by: FlacaProductions May 29 2019, 08:23 PM
After going down the wormhole on these AUATL units, I'm just hoping I have one of the "early" iterations that are known to have a really bad fit. (and wow...what a thread THAT is...)
Posted by: porschetub May 30 2019, 02:27 PM
Not unusual to find the lens are starting to bow out. I have noticed that on the 75 The way the lens mount cause the problem.
my euro Hella ones have done that but not as much and seem to still seal but not happy with them.Too chicken to try heating and bending them in as they are in pretty good condition...need to practice on a broken one if I had one
.Posted by: dcecc1968 May 30 2019, 02:42 PM
I bought a set of aftermarket lenses from a reputable vendor that had fitment issues like you talk about..... sent them back for another set... ended up with the same fitment issues. The nature of aftermarket. I've seen other threads mentioning the same issues.
Posted by: Mikey914 May 31 2019, 08:50 AM
The reputable vendor got them from Sierra Madre. They were from the same molds that AA used this last round. We had brought these in to try to support the production of a part that was being made. We did not make them. But it looks like we might have to as the there's nothing on the market that really fits well.
Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com May 31 2019, 09:51 AM
between the old warped bodies and the fact that the lights are glued in segments, alignment is difficult when fitting different lenses to old tail light bodies. Make sure you have the pillowed white or black gasket, then install the lens, and put the white nuts on loosely. Then hold the nut in the tight position and tap the lens with the palm of your hand letting the movement of the lens tighten the nut. Do this in an x pattern and that will let the lens move and snug to the body
On my new-to-me 74, the rear tail light lenses don't seem to fit tight. They don't snug up on the inboard/reverse light section. Could they have been installed without a seal or without the proper (thick enough) seal?
I'm away from the car for a few weeks but working through issues that I noticed when it was delivered and I had about 48 hours with it - documented a number of them but didn't get the opportunity to pop the lenses off.
They are euro amber/red signals - in great shape but not sure of their origin....
(the pic seems to exaggerated the gap - it's not nearly as wide as it appears, but it clearly doesn't run parallel with the body)
Thanks!
b
Posted by: FlacaProductions May 31 2019, 09:56 AM
I'll try that with the new ones - already tried that with the old ones with no joy. The reverse section of the lens seems to be too far inboard of the white nut to have much influence. These may have been over-tightened by the PO - if you look closely at the picture, the white section sticks out and then snugs up near where the post/white nut are but then starts to head back out when you get beyond that.
Posted by: burton73 May 31 2019, 10:08 AM
As I am in the plastic Biz and we have a over for curing plastic I would try to put it in the oven at say 250 degrees or so and let it get a little flexible and then bend it right for the fit. You may be able to put it on the body of the light and have it bend the way you need it to go. After cooling it should stay that way.
I would try this on an old lens at first to see.
Bob B
Posted by: FlacaProductions May 31 2019, 08:26 PM
good call. As soon as I get the opportunity - we'll see how well the new ones fit and if they're good, i'll heat up the old ones and see what happens...it won't be until July though...
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