[DeTomaso] taillight screw question

[Julian Kift]

The metric allen heads being tight in the lenses is likely a common problem, or at least I have found it to be so. I normally very carefully run a drill down through the lenses and open up the hole slightly.
 
I have also come across sheet metal screws in the lenses, which appeared to be factory as in that set the housings did not have the threaded brass insert, merely the sheet metal screws inserted into plastic. I was able to tap a metric thread into the plastic and get sufficient hold for the lens. I have also on one occasion replaced the brass insert when factory srews have corroded into the housing. 
 
If you prefer a more thorough retrofit you could drill and epoxy in brass nurled fittings if you wish, SAE ones are readily available at hardware stores and I just retapped them metric.
 
Julian
 
> To: detomaso at realbig.com
> Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2010 13:21:20 -0500
> From: panteratime at aol.com
> Subject: [DeTomaso] taillight screw question
> 
> 
> Folks--
> Awhile ago you recommended the replacement screw for the 72 taillights was a .7 pitch .04 metric machine screw. Of course you all were correct! Got some nice stainless screws with the allen head at a local ACE store. When I went to remove the second lights screws, passanger side, there were coarse thread, philips pan head screws on this light--all four. So one side had metric phillips .7 pitch pan head and the other had pan head, coarse thread phillips sheetmetal screws. Also-the metric screws are a hair too large to fit in the lens hole. I also think since course thread sheetmetal screw was in there, the receiving whole will not thread the .7 pitch metric machine screw. 
> Has anyone had this on their car? suggestions? Thanks 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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