Tail light retainer clips (3rd Gen Charger)

[Hilljack68]

Upon disassembly of the rear bumper assembly, I found the tail lights are held in by plastic retaining clips - three of which were broken. I was looking for them online, but am coming up empty so far. Does anyone know where I can source these?
(*edit* 1973 Charger)

 

[RTDaddy]

What year car? Nothing like that on my original 71. Maybe a "jury rig" job?

 

[Hilljack68]

What year car? Nothing like that on my original 71. Maybe a "jury rig" job?

'73... I don't think the car has ever been apart, so I'm guessing they're oem.

 

[70chall440]

I recently assembled my rear bumper and taillights on my 71 and there is nothing like that. That clip looks like something from a more modern car. That said, go to Harbor Freight, they have full kits of those type of push clips.

 

[Hilljack68]

What do you guys have on your '71s? What holds the tail light assembly to the bumper?

 

[Paul_G]

I used 1/4-20 bolts with nylock nuts. The plastic housing will break if it is firmly fastened to the bumper. It has to have some wiggle room. I don't know what the factory used.

 

[Hilljack68]

I used 1/4-20 bolts with nylock nuts. The plastic housing will break if it is firmly fastened to the bumper. It has to have some wiggle room. I don't know what the factory used.

That's funny - I was about to do the same thing... with the nylocs. Seemed like the best option. Thanks Paul!

 

[RTDaddy]

71 R/T uses screws through the bumper mount into the taillight housing. Agree those "push pin" fasteners are not factory. Also agree I would use the 1/4-20's and nylocks since the bolts won't see high heat.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

I found something like those holding the tail lights on my 74 the first time I dissasembled back in 1997. Can’t tell if those exactly, but if not, pretty much similar. Replaced them installing plastic fastener inserts on tail lights tabs and using regular screws throught the bumper provisions

 

[Hilljack68]

Ok, I'm not crazy then... they probably were OEM in 73/74. I'm actually putting the original 73 tail lights into a 72 bumper, so I may just go ahead with the nyloc nuts on 1/4-20 bolts anyway.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

This is what I inserted on tail lights tabs, small ones to fit into the existant hole… then self taping thread screws through the bumper

 

[Hilljack68]

Hey, now that's pretty ingenious!

 

[71Beeper]

What do you guys have on your '71s? What holds the tail light assembly to the bumper?

I used stainless set screw studs and Ny-lok nuts on mine.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Hey, now that's pretty ingenious!

I think had to enlarge a bit the tab holes to fit them easier.

 

[Hilljack68]

Well, I ended up going with the 1/4" bolt and nylocs. I had to customize an old wrench to hold the nut, bit it's solid.