67 Lighter Housing

**Richard M.** · April 4, 2016, 09:02 AM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

Bill,

Even though the ceramic is in pieces, if it stays locked in to the housing you should be okay. Just do a test to ensure the center contacts are not shorted to the case(ground).

For safety, you could add another fuse directly in series with the lighter center terminal. I suggest 15 Amps. If there was ever a problem this fuse would be additional protection to the main harness wiring back to the fuse panel.

Rich

**Joe R.** · April 4, 2016, 09:48 AM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

Bill,

I sent you a PM telling you that I have several of those insulators and will be willing to give you one if you pay the shipping via USPS. Just send me your address and I will get it out to you today.

JR

PS. Problem Solved!

**Joe L.** · April 4, 2016, 11:20 AM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

Originally posted by Bill Lucia (8620)

Hi there:

I have a nice old '67 coupe that I am messing with and just started restoring the main instrument panel. Need to get the speed minder working again!!!!

I noticed that the original lighter housing (3 prong unit) was looking pretty sad so I disassembled it and cleaned it up --- it looks great now but the ceramic insulator came out in three pieces ---- oops.

I ordered a new one thinking I could just swap the new ceramic piece into the original housing .... two problems... 1) the repro housing uses a two prong unit and the ceramic insulator is cast specifically for two prongs NOT three 2) the ceramic two prong insulator came out in three pieces!!! just like the original.....so much for "that" idea----- Ebay has a three prong unit for $229---ouch!!!!

My question is this... I was able to reassemble the original by carefully placing the ceramic pieces back into the holder and using the three prong receiver to hold it correctly in place. --- it looks great --- does anyone have any experience in trying this fix? Will it work? It seems that it should given that the ceramic piece is a heat and conductivity insulator and is only in service momentarily--- seems like it should not be a problem as the three prong receiver holds it place pretty firmly.......Any Ideas???

Regards
Bill

Here is the overall unit --- looks way better than it did----

[ATTACH=CONFIG]69729[/ATTACH]

Here is a shot of the inside of the housing... the red arrow shows one of the lugs on the ceramic insulator that protrudes into the housing....there are six in total so the ceramic insulator is held in place pretty firmly....

[ATTACH=CONFIG]69730[/ATTACH]

The victim!!!!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]69731[/ATTACH]

Bill------

GM still supplies a lighter housing that is a "direct descendant" of the original housing for your application. It's GM #11516142 and it costs about 15 bucks. It does not include the light (original part numbered SERVICE housings didn't, either). It might not be correct in every nuance of detail but it should be 100% functional.

**Bill L.** · April 4, 2016, 06:09 PM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

Thanks to everyone who responded !!!!

I appreciate the information!!

Regards
Bill

**Gene M.** · April 4, 2016, 06:17 PM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

I would be less concerned about the cigar lighter and more on the car sitting too high on it's suspension.

**Bill L.** · April 5, 2016, 06:44 PM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

Thanks Gene.... you have a good eye...

The front of this car is clearly too high---that is one of the bigger items on my list ---

I have a ton of other smaller issues (the cigarette lighter was one --- it cropped up while restoring the man gauge panel)-----

I am still trying to determine what the fix is for the ride height ---- I may generate a detailed post a bit later ---but for now I am sorting through many of the previous threads on the subject---- (You KNOW how that goes....)

Thanks Again --- for your observation!!!

Regards
Bill

**Richard M.** · April 5, 2016, 07:24 PM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

Bill, Take a close look at the bases of the coil springs in the lower control arms. Maybe someone installed some spacers.

If the part# tags are still there you may get a clue if they're correct for the application.

Rich

**Bill L.** · April 5, 2016, 08:02 PM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

Thanks Rich:

Good idea.... I also checked to make sure the spring ends are seated in the recesses in the lower A-arms....OK there --- and it does not appear that there any spacers --- a '69 I used to have had the spacers and they were well up into the frame area and hard to see so I will double check that area ----

New shocks are on the way (previous owner / restorer just used some after market pieces that he painted grey) so I will have a clear view when I change those.

I also checked the shims on the front end and at the cowl and nothing really out of the ordinary there at all ---- so the search continues ---

But like I said, this is just one of several fixes that need to be done...neat car really just not put back together exactly "right" --- oh well it could be a lot worse!!!! Can't have these old mid-year coupes running around looking like "A-Gassers" ..... :O)

Regards
Bill

**Gene M.** · April 5, 2016, 08:43 PM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

Bill
The car will sit high if the coil springs are installed up side down. The notches goes on the top. Also coils are a bit tighter on top, wider on bottom.

**Bill L.** · April 5, 2016, 08:59 PM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

Thanks Gene:

I knew about those points and need to check them ---- i saw an example of the higher winding at the top of the coils in a another post ---but always good to check ---- I'll get to the bottom of this ----no pun intended!!!

Thanks for your input --- all of these tips help a lot!!!

Regards
Bill

**Ed S.** · April 27, 2016, 01:51 PM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

I am going to jump into this thread with a related question and request for advice. I have a NOS 63 Casco 12V lighter element (thanks to a fellow NCRS member) that I want to use in my '64 Corvette. When I insert it in the lighter receptacle it will get hot but the prongs in the receiver are too weak to hold it in place. I removed the complete lighter unit, disassembled and cleaned it - it has some rust and nicotine crud buildup. The ceramic insulator at the bottom of the unit fell out in 3 pieces. I successfully super-glued them back together and it functions fine. The problem is the component that has the 3 prongs that hold the element in place as it heats up - the metal is fatigued and will not hold. It needs to be replaced.

Question:

Do the repro lighter housings that vendors carry, which I believe are P/N 11516142 that John Hinckley refers to in his paper on C2 lighter repair have a 3 prong retainer or a 2 prong retainer?

If it is a 2 prong retainer, will it hold a 63 Casco 12V in place properly and is there a point deduction for a 2 prong vs the original 3 prong device (and I think I know the answer to that one)?

Lastly, any advice on where I might get a 3 prong retainer would be appreciated. All I need is the prong device - all other parts of my housing are fine.

**Larry M.** · April 27, 2016, 02:08 PM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

Ed:

A sharp judge will deduct for the 2-prong socket. Many of us look for this.

Ebay or a WTB in the Driveline or on the C2 Forum should produce a 3 prong receptacle. I have gone in with a needle nose pliers and "adjusted" (i.e.. bent

) the prongs so that they hold the lighter in better during heating. There is also an adjustment to keep the lighter from popping all the way out when heated. DO THESE ADJUSTMENTS WITH THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED...........do a bit at a time so you don't overdo and have to go backwards.

FWIW.

Larry

**Ed S.** · April 27, 2016, 02:17 PM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

Larry,
Thanks for the quick reply. I tried the "bend the prong drill" - no success, the metal on the 3 pronged device is too fatigued - one prong almost flaps in the breeze, it is about to break off - adjustment is not possible. The prongs that keep the lighter from popping out are solid & snug and can be adjusted if needed. Battery switch is in the O-F-F position! Will search common sources (Drive Line, E bay) for a 3 pronged unit. Thanks again for the advice.

**Larry M.** · April 27, 2016, 04:27 PM

Re: 67 Lighter Housing

Originally posted by Ed Szeliga (60294)

Larry,
Thanks for the quick reply. I tried the "bend the prong drill" - no success, the metal on the 3 pronged device is too fatigued - one prong almost flaps in the breeze, it is about to break off - adjustment is not possible. The prongs that keep the lighter from popping out are solid & snug and can be adjusted if needed. Battery switch is in the O-F-F position! Will search common sources (Drive Line, E bay) for a 3 pronged unit. Thanks again for the advice.

Ed:

Use Joe Lucia or an old Parts Book to get the correct GM part number for your 3-prong lighter socket. Then search various sources/places with this number........ie "GM # xxxxxxxx". It is more efficient than just using the description.

Larry

67 Lighter Housing

67 Lighter Housing

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