Restoring parking lights

[Chris P]

Hi folks,
This lockdown is making me focus on restoring some small parts I can bring home and work on them in my "cave".
I usually refers back to Rus's post which I find it very useful. It is still available on the old 3B forum

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/cj3b_bulletin_board/green-gruntt-t4658-s20.html

I followed Rus instructions on repairing the parking lights. And it turned to be that the parking lights on my 3B are almost on the same condition to his.

Photo shooting when I brought the jeep home is still very helpful to see some details of the original condition.



And after removing the glass cover... original seals still there...



Here is the results of following Rus's post and removing those washers from the socket. I still need to get the rubber sleeves that are not available in Walck's wiring harness.


I have both sockets plated.



Glass still intact. I washed them carefully.



Everything almost ready to assembly. I will replace the ground cable.



Original seals are very dry but still keeping their shape. I think I might wet them with cooking oil or similar. Any thoughts?



I will post new pictures once I install them on the jeep.
Regards,

[Rus Curtis]

Chris,
It's just my opinion, but I feel that no one vendor has everything.  Some items are either mislabeled or one or two applications left out of the description for some unknown reason (I ran into this on the outside arm for the rear view mirror - as another example) so shopping around and avoiding filters to look at CJ3B specific items has helped me in the past.

For my gaskets, this is what I ordered (I measured then test fit):
https://www.kaiserwillys.com/category/electrical/parking-light-assemblies-parts/parking-light-lens-gasket-2-3-4-diameter-fits-50-64-truck-station-wagon-jeepster

I've done a few searches on the tube/jacket or what ever its called and it may just be easier to contact Vintage Wiring, https://vintagewiring.com/ , and order just those sleeves.  I've ordered individual parts from them, i.e. bulb contact points, wiring connectors, etc.) and they're easy to work with.

...Original seals are very dry but still keeping their shape. I think I might wet them with cooking oil or similar. Any thoughts?...

You may have better luck than me, but I tried to salvage a gasket that was dried out by soaking (on a taillight) - it ended up being still brittle but soggy.  I wound up just making some.

Good luck!

[Chuck W.]

My new wiring harness had the new pigtails for the parking lights and tail lights, but no rubber sleeves. I bought this shrink tubing and it worked great!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-4-Black-Adhesive-Glue-Lined-Heat-Shrink-Tubing-4FT-Marine-Tuner-Motec-AEM/321680635270?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649





EDIT: After looking at Rus's taillight rebuild photos, I realize the early wire boots are different. What I show in the above photos almost exactly what was originally on my 1964 model lights, but is totally different from the early lights. Sorry for the confusion.

I also bought this sheet of 1/8" cork/rubber and cut new gaskets.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/CORK-RUBBER-SHEET-1-8X12-x12/254177097132?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

[aboyandhisdog]

Chris,  I've had some luck reviving some rubber parts with soaking them in pure silicone.  CRC makes a spray and I found a SuperLube product that is pure silicone:
 https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OBV1JC2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 I even used it for soaking an accelerator pump diaphragm.  Haven't tried it yet but it seems to have come back to original pliable condition.  I used it for some rubber plunger items in my house and it has worked well even over time and much use.  Just a thought - have not tried it on an old seal like yours.  Best of luck to you!