Removing tail light bezel.

[DougZ]

I give up. I can't figure out how to remove the tail light bezel on my 1972 Overlander. I sure hope I don't have to remove the interior panels to get to them.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by DougZ

I give up. I can't figure out how to remove the tail light bezel on my 1972 Overlander. I sure hope I don't have to remove the interior panels to get to them.

That tail light bezel is riveted in place, from inside the exterior metal.

You can easily remove it by shearing off the rivets with a putty knife.

Then you can reinstall the bezel with long # 8 pop rivets.

Andy

[DougZ]

If I am reading this correctly, I do have to remove the interior panels to insert the rivets - correct? Do you have to do this each time you want to change a light bulb too?

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by DougZ

If I am reading this correctly, I do have to remove the interior panels to insert the rivets - correct? Do you have to do this each time you want to change a light bulb too?

Insert the rivets from the outside.

They will show, but that will not hurt anything.

Andy

[TG Twinkie]

If I understand Andy, you can do it from the outside by shearing off the rivets then using new #8 long rivets reattach the bezel from the outside.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by TG Twinkie

If I understand Andy, you can do it from the outside by shearing off the rivets then using new #8 long rivets reattach the bezel from the outside.

Right on.

You got it.

Andy

[mfranken]

Did it work? And can you share pictures? I'm about to do the same on my '71 Overlander.

[DougZ]

Originally Posted by mfranken

Did it work? And can you share pictures? I'm about to do the same on my '71 Overlander.

I didn't try it. I have no place to insert rivets without drilling through my tail light bezels, and I'm not about to do that. I will wait til this summer and go at it from the inside. It's going to be a pain, but it will be better than having cobbled up tail lights.

[mfranken]

Hi Andy, I'm about to reattach my bezel again, but what are #8 long rivets, googles for it, and looked at Blind Pop Riveting

Can I also use screws? Any references, as I need to find corresponding material in Europe.

Thanks in advance

[Aerowood]

I inserted heli-coils on mine after I converted them to LED. Now they just screw on from the inside. I plan on making access panels on the inside so if I ever have to remove them again it will be easy. My Taillight mod begains on post 276 below.

[mfranken]

Did it! Used 3mm drill and screws in four corners.

[ewaegeman]

Originally Posted by mfranken

Did it! Used 3mm drill and screws in four corners.

Hi, Can I ask how to remove the taillight the easiest way ?, I removed the lenses and saw a couple of rivets in the middle, are these the ones to drill out?

Thanks.
Erik

[mfranken]

Hi erik, There are 4 rivets in each corner. From the inside though. My left one was pretty loose and came off by using a knife.

Groet, Michael

[mfranken]

Originally Posted by mfranken

Hi erik, There are 4 rivets in each corner. From the inside though. My left one was pretty loose and came off by using a knife.

Groet, Michael

Here's a picture

[ewaegeman]

Dank U, where you backup reversing lights connected ? I am planning to swap the indicators with the backup lights, and indeed put an amber bulb in it as you can't have red indicators in Australia, at the front connect the reversing wire to the brake lights. Hopefully I can rescue the bulb fitting as it it stuck down, didn't come up when I replaced the bulb.
Veel dank en groetjes. Erik, The Belgian in Australia.

[mfranken]

Hi erik, i did change the lights too. Reverse are now left and right indicators. Using orange bulbs. I had to make an extra wire though since the indicators are normally connected to the the red (middle lights) and the outer white lights are one the same wire from the front.

Mike

[ewaegeman]

OK ,did it ... removed them as you suggested ... cleaned them up, put them back ... not sure about the colour , what do you guys think?
I have reused the reversing lights wire as brake lights (red light) and moved the indicator wire to the white lens, with an amber bulb in it, to be legal in Australia

[DougZ]

Looks good Erik!

[mfranken]

Hi Erik, nice work. Good idea to change the wiring to make it work. I made an extra wire since I took only the left one off. I'm less impressed by the grey paint job. Why not sand it, polish and put back the blue line? Specially on a nice trailer like yours. Just my 2 cents.

Mike

[ewaegeman]

You probably right Mike, it was a trial I guess, I thought it was a good idea ... but still not sure, will sit on it for a while and decide later .... :-)