C 10 Tag Light (plate Light) Light Installation

eaglescou1984 · October 16, 2009

Ok, so as you can see, I'm new to this forum and that's because I just got a "new" truck. I'm trying to make it inspection worthy and issue #1 is the tag lights. They are the bayonet style kind for step bumpers and the ones that were on the truck were rusted and dirty and one was missing a connector, so I got brand new assemblies made by "HELP!" But, as best as I can tell, the old assemblies were held on by rust/dirt because they were just stuck there and after removing the cover I popped them loose. The new assemblies won't stay on, and I even tried puting the backplate behind the bumper and screwing the cover on which was ridiculously complicated, didn't look right and I could only get the top screw in a thread or tow and then it would pop loose.

So, how are these supposed to hold on to the bumper? I'm considering just getting some bolts and nuts and reengineering the thing, but is there a proper way it should be done?

Edit: I made a somewhat to scale drawing trying to show the relative size of the screws vs. the cover, the back plate and the hold in the bumper. Please not the bumber hole is not tapped.

Draenor · October 16, 2009

They screw in, as you mentioned. If it is that rusted or the holes are stripped out, just bolt them in.

eaglescou1984 · October 16, 2009

They screw in, as you mentioned. If it is that rusted or the holes are stripped out, just bolt them in.

Well, there are no screw holes, it's just a hole that about 1/4" that allows the cover screw to go through. Maybe something has been changed from factory, but seeing as this truck is 25+ years old, it wouldn't suprise me.

txab · October 16, 2009

Have you tried this type of light? It just pops in the hole.

eaglescou1984 · October 19, 2009

Have you tried this type of light? It just pops in the hole.

The hole is too big. I have a friend with an 84 C 20 and that's what his bumper will take. I ended up just running a bolt and nut through it. I would like to more make the cover to come off without the backplate, but for now that shouldn't be an issue when it's inspected.