[DeTomaso] '74 Taillight Lens

[Forest Goodhart]

This is what I use. The head is slightly smaller diameter than a standard fillister/cheese head and fits the lens recess. I chuck them in the drill press and use a file to remove the threads from the portion that resides in the lens body so when they are screwed into the lens they become a captured screw like the factory.
Metric JIS Pan Head Phillips Machine Screw

M4 Size, 25mm Length, .7mm Pitch
 Forest     
 
 
      From: Larry Finch via DeTomaso <detomaso at poca.com>
 To: DeTomaso Forum <detomaso at poca.com> 
 Sent: Monday, November 30, 2015 9:31 AM
 Subject: [DeTomaso] '74 Taillight Lens
   
regarding Larry Weston’s two sets of tail lights: one with threaded machine screws, the other with ‘wood’ screws.

As in all things Pantera, we have come to accept variations in assembly/equipment as indicative of factory-created variety.

What we tend to forget is these cars are FORTY+ years old and until just recently they have not been seen as collector-worthy cars. Thus repairs made by all the previous owners have not been restricted to “originality”.

I have received used lights from Europe with numerous ‘incorrect’ lens screws. Even in metric Europe, folks often tend towards the “I’ll use what I have on-hand” repair approaches.

And here in metric-phobia USA, not many garage coffee cans have 4mm phillips, filiister head machine screws.

The observation that the ‘wood screw’ lenses do not show signs of screw-hole cracks just tells me that set's lenses are newer than the other set. I suspect that set was compiled from housings/lenses some time after manufacture, perhaps from different sources, and the P.O. fell prey to the “use what I have” option for the lens screws.

The white nylon washers with the ‘wood screws’ are original to Carello, however.  They often remain attached to used lenses after the screws have been removed.

Larry -  Are all four lenses marked Carello? There are reproduction ‘Carello style’ lenses on the current market - MrFiat and Hall sell that version.

Also, since Jeff had to reduce the diameter of the machine screw heads he found I suspect what he used were in fact pan head machine screws. The two styles are closely similar, but the fillister style tends to have sharper head edges and sides; some fillister head sides are totally flat and parallel to the threaded shafts.

I still do not believe any Carello lights originally came with ‘wood screws’.

Larry



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-------------- next part --------------
   This is what I use. The head is slightly smaller diameter than a
   standard fillister/cheese head and fits the lens recess. I chuck them
   in the drill press and use a file to remove the threads from the
   portion that resides in the lens body so when they are screwed into the
   lens they become a captured screw like the factory.

Metric JIS Pan Head Phillips Machine Screw

M4 Size, 25mm Length, .7mm Pitch


   Forest







     __________________________________________________________________

   From: Larry Finch via DeTomaso <detomaso at poca.com>
   To: DeTomaso Forum <detomaso at poca.com>
   Sent: Monday, November 30, 2015 9:31 AM
   Subject: [DeTomaso] '74 Taillight Lens
   regarding Larry Westonas two sets of tail lights: one with threaded
   machine screws, the other with awooda screws.
   As in all things Pantera, we have come to accept variations in
   assembly/equipment as indicative of factory-created variety.
   What we tend to forget is these cars are FORTY+ years old and until
   just recently they have not been seen as collector-worthy cars. Thus
   repairs made by all the previous owners have not been restricted to
   aoriginalitya.
   I have received used lights from Europe with numerous aincorrecta lens
   screws. Even in metric Europe, folks often tend towards the aIall use
   what I have on-handa repair approaches.
   And here in metric-phobia USA, not many garage coffee cans have 4mm
   phillips, filiister head machine screws.
   The observation that the awood screwa lenses do not show signs of
   screw-hole cracks just tells me that set's lenses are newer than the
   other set. I suspect that set was compiled from housings/lenses some
   time after manufacture, perhaps from different sources, and the P.O.
   fell prey to the ause what I havea option for the lens screws.
   The white nylon washers with the awood screwsa are original to Carello,
   however.  They often remain attached to used lenses after the screws
   have been removed.
   Larry -  Are all four lenses marked Carello? There are reproduction
   aCarello stylea lenses on the current market - MrFiat and Hall sell
   that version.
   Also, since Jeff had to reduce the diameter of the machine screw heads
   he found I suspect what he used were in fact pan head machine screws.
   The two styles are closely similar, but the fillister style tends to
   have sharper head edges and sides; some fillister head sides are
   totally flat and parallel to the threaded shafts.
   I still do not believe any Carello lights originally came with awood
   screwsa.
   Larry
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   use the links above.

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