68 Charger tail light silver ring question

[Car #4]

The 68 Charger I bought was missing two of the silver rings in the centre of the light. I believe these are reproduction lights. A friend gave me two rings from an old set he had and they polished up real good. The old ones have four tabs bent slightly inward to grip the plastic, the reproduction ones do not. How do I get the old rings affixed? Bend the tabs back to slide it on and crimp them? But how to crimp? Or trim the tabs off and glue them on? Has anyone dealt with this?

 

[QOTHL]

Do not glue it. There's got to be a set of special pliers that will take care of that. Or use a very small amount of windshield 3M strip adhesive.

 

[Runner 68]

No expert on this part but by the looks of it have you tried slightly bending the tabs in then springing it into place, so it snaps in?
That looks like a tricky part. If you get it to snap in, it may stay but be a little loose. Maybe get it close to where it looks like it will snap in then just a dab and I mean just a whiff, of super glue on a contact point then snap it in.

Without seeing the female side of things it's hard to tell.

 

[QOTHL]

3M windshield strip adhesive - a VERY small amount will hold it, be flexible and weather proof. Just my 2¢.

 

[Car #4]

No expert on this part but by the looks of it have you tried slightly bending the tabs in then springing it into place, so it snaps in?
That looks like a tricky part. If you get it to snap in, it may stay but be a little loose. Maybe get it close to where it looks like it will snap in then just a dab and I mean just a whiff, of super glue on a contact point then snap it in.

Without seeing the female side of things it's hard to tell.

On the old lights that I have you can see where the ring tabs bit into the plastic. With the tabs bent as pictured they won't slide on far enough. Where the ring sits is slightly smaller diameter than where the tabs rest. I could get it on if I open up the tabs but then how do I get them to bite into the plastic again. I think I need some kind of special pliers maybe. Looking for other methods.

 

[QOTHL]

I think I need some kind of special pliers maybe

Ya, that's what I thought in post #2. Maybe careful use of small vise grips with the jaws adjusted the right amount. Maybe a pair with curved jaws.

 

[QOTHL]

Ok, I change my mind. I'm looking at a set I just bought that has the rings in them. I called the expert Mopar guy I know and he said: they're glued. So, sorry, I was wrong.

 

[Car #4]

Ok, I change my mind. I'm looking at a set I just bought that has the rings in them. I called the expert Mopar guy I know and he said: they're glued. So, sorry, I was wrong.

@QOTHL Are the set you bought originals or reproductions? I would guess the repro ones are glued because there are no tabs to hold them.

 

[Jesse6869]

I’m missing mine as well repos i guess.

 

[QOTHL]

@QOTHL Are the set you bought originals or reproductions? I would guess the repro ones are glued because there are no tabs to hold them.

Originals and I can see the tabs going it to the plastic which makes me think there are slots or a tiny space they go in to. Have you tried putting them on?

 

[Runner 68]

Ok, I change my mind. I'm looking at a set I just bought that has the rings in them. I called the expert Mopar guy I know and he said: they're glued. So, sorry, I was wrong.

Glue is always good. Just make sure you use something made to withstand the elements, washing, etc. If that ****** falls off its gone.

 

[Car #4]

I checked my old originals and you can see where the tabs “gripped” the plastic but there’s no slots as such. I did try putting them on. I bent the tabs outward a bit but I still couldn’t get the ring to slide on all the way. May have to bend them more or else trim them off and glue the ring on but thought I’d ask here first.

 

[CHARGERSTEVEN]

I would say they were pressed on with a special socket type tool,check over on the dodgecharger forum for a old thread there regarding these rings