Tail light bezel retaining clips

[asolde]

I am looking for a good picture of a tail light bezel with the stock retailing clips installed. I got some NOS bezels and clips and still haven't figured out how to install the clips on the bezels yet. Thanks Alex

[Grumpy old man]

Install the clips with the spring on the left side looking from the back ,Once the head of the bolt is in the moulding use your left thumb to push the spring up into the slot ,this allows the clip to bind inside the mouding while you tighten the nuts .

[Classic Bowties]

Originally Posted by asolde

I am looking for a good picture of a tail light bezel with the stock retailing clips installed. I got some NOS bezels and clips and still haven't figured out how to install the clips on the bezels yet. Thanks Alex

I'll can take a look and see about getting you a picture of an old used bezel. Mel

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Install the clips with the spring on the left side looking from the back ,Once the head of the bolt is in the moulding use your left thumb to push the spring up into the slot ,this allows the clip to bind inside the mouding while you tighten the nuts .

There are no nuts to tighten on the T/L bezels, only push in clips were used on them along with two screws (69-72).

[snipescastle2]

If you are using anything but OEM/NOS bezels, I went through three sets of "Counter Parts" trim bezels before I realized just how flimsy they are, dented/mangled everyone of them....guess I should have bought the "MAR-K" trim pieces....
Ben

[asolde]

That would be great Mel if you could post up a picture. I have done some searching and cannot find the proper installation of these clips. I have seen several post but not one of them looked correct to me. I know this has to be simple but I don't want to chance damaging my new bezels. Someone has to have a good picture. Thanks Alex

[Already Gone]

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[kehstr]

subscribed also

[asolde]

I have looked at the assembly manual diagram and it even says clips must be installed as shown. I can not figure out how they got those clips orientated?

[davepl]

There's a huge difference between NOS and repro on these. In particular the slot that receives the clip seems to be a different thickness, or depth, so the clips don't retain the reproductions well.

At least that's what I found - once I switches to the NOS pair I had the clips worked reasonably well. I imagine you might be able to "adjust" the tabs on the repros. Once you've tried to install, if they won't clip in, they're likely not deep enough, and if they're loose, too deep.

[Classic Bowties]

Originally Posted by asolde

That would be great Mel if you could post up a picture. I have done some searching and cannot find the proper installation of these clips. I have seen several post but not one of them looked correct to me. I know this has to be simple but I don't want to chance damaging my new bezels. Someone has to have a good picture. Thanks Alex

Well I went through all of the old used pull off tail light bezels and only found this one single with an OE mounting clip still installed, makes sense as they usually stay clipped into the bedsides after bezel removal. I then went out to have a look at a few of our trucks and also took some pics, found the OE push in clips to all be mounted the same direction (five trucks in all) which also matches the one clip still intalled on the above pictured tail bezel. Note the outer most rearward facing tab on each OE clip (towards bezel), it's pointed the same direction on all of these trucks, coincidence I doubt as to rotate the clip you would have to remove lens. Mel

[Already Gone]

Thanks for the pics Mel. Is it possible to remove the factory clips without breaking them. The original bezels are on my truck and I have set of NOS I want to install. Should I be able to take off the originals without breaking the clips so I can reuse them.

[asolde]

Thanks Mel for the pictures. I think that the male portion of the clip should be parallel with the bezel so it is free to collapse and fit in the hole on the truck side. I also think the long tang should fit under the outer edge of the bezel so it can't slip out. My question now is which way does the long tang get bent to fit in the outer edge? Seems like it is pre bent in one direction? Also do I have to bend the outer edge of the bezel to fit these clips in? I have search this forum over and over and just haven't found the answer I am looking for. This should be a simple project.

[snipescastle2]

Great pics for sure, now try and get the to stay in those slotted areas on the back of the bezel, had an awful time with mine, broke several clips trying to get them to stay....hope you have better luck than I did. I did finally manage to get my last set of counterpart bezels to go on....
Ben

[Ed F]

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[asolde]

Here's what I'm thinking. I have to be getting close. You guys let me know what you think.

[asolde]

more

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by snipescastle2

If you are using anything but OEM/NOS bezels, I went through three sets of "Counter Parts" trim bezels before I realized just how flimsy they are, dented/mangled everyone of them....guess I should have bought the "MAR-K" trim pieces....
Ben

I agree. I bought a pair too and they are complete garbage.

[asolde]

Or maybe this way....but you have to bend the long tang quite a bit.

[asolde]

Second way with bending the long tang, fitting the S under the lips and they point outwards at a angle is how they fit the best. Hope this helps some other poor guy when the time comes.

[asolde]

one other tip for you guys. The RT (passenger) side bezel at the top has a extra tab for the long tag to fit under because you have to put that retaining clip in backwards compared to the rest of them. The left bezel dose not have that because all the retaining clips go in the same direction.

[asolde]

Oh and one more thing. Make sure your bezel is fitted over your tail light lens. I am all done with this project!

[Classic Bowties]

Originally Posted by asolde

I have looked at the assembly manual diagram and it even says clips must be installed as shown. I can not figure out how they got those clips orientated?

Alex, we took those above posted pictures last night, before reading your above reply. Just went and had a look at our assembly manuals and both the 67/68 style and the 69-72 style (use same OE clip) manuals show the clips positioned in a way that is NOT at all even possible given their design and way they are built, the drawings show one tab of the clip going one way with the other tab of same clip facing another, not at all possible unless you bent each spring tab the opposite direction which would then cause the clip to want to turn out of the piece of trim? Wow, this ended up turning into a few hour project to try and better help figure out these OE tail light bezel mounting clips, in the end you did end up getting your NOS bezel mounting clips from us so glad to try and help. I need to try and get some work done now but this is how we would position the clips if we were doing the install, again am not telling you that it has to be done this way, just sharing what we would try. (fixed & added pics for future ref.) Thanks, Mel.

[Classic Bowties]

Last pics...

[asolde]

Thank you for all your help Mel. Hope this thread will help the next guy that comes along with the same question.

[72_K10_Vegas]

Excellent info. Bookmarking this thread.

One question, Are the NOS available? What part # and where to buy?

I see after market have issues, are there other manufactures?