68 Tail Lights and Brake Lights Reversed

[Michael M.]

Got my car back from the body shop after a looooong time. I am sorting through some mechanical, vacuum and electrical issues that have arisen I since I received the car back.

Main problem is that my brake lights and tail lights are reversed. When I turn on my parking lights, all four tail lights illuminate both filaments in the bulbs as if the brake pedal was depressed and if I use my brakes there is no change in brightness of the tail lights. If the lights are not on at all and I depress the brake pedal, all four tail lights illuminate but not bright like brake lights as only one of the filaments in each of the light bulbs are coming on as if the parking lights were turned on but nothing else.

I can't seem to figure this one out. It would seem something simple since obviously there is power to all the lights. I even switched out a bulb for another 1157 to see if the bulbs were somehow defective. No luck there. I restored the tail lamp housings, but it seems that those plastic connectors at the back of th tail lamps only go in one way. Did I make an error in re-assembling th tail lamps maybe?

Any ideas/help is appreciated. Thanks.

- Mike

[Michael M.]

Re: 68 Tail Lights and Brake Lights Reversed

I guess I posted too soon. I figured it out. The body man had reversed the electrical connections at the tail lamps. All fixed now.

[Richard M.]

Re: 68 Tail Lights and Brake Lights Reversed

Yup, I'd have figured that's what happened too Mike. Good Catch!

[Michael M.]

Re: 68 Tail Lights and Brake Lights Reversed

Thanks Richard. You know, it's very frustrating, but I know I'm not alone. Almost 2 years in the body shop, EVERYTHING worked when the car went in. Now I have a punch list of a dozen items I need to fix. Ridiculous but I couldn't leave the car there any longer. The paint and body work is excellent, but the electrical and mechanical work in putting the car back together was sub-standard, in my opinion. Guy knew his shop let in water when it rained and he left parts on the floor which in turn rusted and that's just the beginning. He should pay for everything he ruined, etc., but I'm done. Just chalking it up to experience.

[Richard M.]

Re: 68 Tail Lights and Brake Lights Reversed

Wow, not a very pleasant situation. I hope you can salvage the damaged items. Yes frustrating, but, at least you have your car back...........

I just heard a story yesterday, a true story about a 1963 Corvette Coupe in Minnesota about 15 years ago. A husband and wife, owners of a quilt shop in central Florida, came here yesterday to install a new longarm machine that my wife bought. We've been to their shop before, and he was here once to service a machine. We got to talking about Corvettes, and he came in the garage and I showed him a project I'm working on, and mentioned we used to own a '63 Coupe.

He then told the story about his wife's dad, who over 15 years ago sent his SWC to a body shop, then scheduled to go to the upholstery shop. Well, the Dad got ill and couldn't follow up right away. When he got better, he went to the body shop to check the car. It was gone. Owner allegedly said he sent it to the upholstery shop. Dad then went to the upholstery shop to check on the car. Guy there said he never saw it.

Car was never to be seen again. Reported stolen then, never retrieved, never admitted by either shop. The Title is still in their possession in the deceased father's name, of which she is entitled rights to ownership. Years ago when her Dad passed, he had over a hundred cars she had to send to auction, along with a countless parts inventory.

He is going to get the vin# and try to locate the car now. Now that there's technology and resources to try to find it.

Rich