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  #1  
Old 09-18-2015, 02:35 PM
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Where to find this material?

Over the past month I have been refurbishing many areas of my 68 280sec and I have run into a road block. To finish the taillight assembly I will need to rebuild the contact plate for the light bulbs. Does any one know where I could source the material for the backing plate?

Taillight Assembly




Light Bulb Contact Plate

 photo 7c333ace-cef6-49c6-9763-d08368ee7fca.jpg

This is what I am looking for.

 photo 0190db32-2316-4b83-9795-19cb6c17d900.jpg

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70 280 SL
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Last edited by twinockchef; 09-18-2015 at 02:46 PM.
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  #2  
Old 09-18-2015, 02:42 PM
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I think you would be fine in using an 1/8 inch fiberboard. Any good lumber yard should have it. Use the correct diameter hole saw to create the sizes needed.
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Old 09-18-2015, 02:53 PM
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1/8" is too thick
The backing plate has to fit in a grove to hold it in place. The thickness needs to around 1/32"
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  #4  
Old 09-18-2015, 06:41 PM
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Measure the exact thickness, 1/32 is pretty thin. What you have is reinforced fiberglass based. Have a look at some old electronic devices and cut a circuit board apart , sand / peel off the copper traces.

There is a spring under this disc correct? The tab is there only to keep the wire from contacting the housing. If you insulate it well and carefully insert the bulb, not having the tab isn't an issue. And, if there is enough depth slight added thickness over what you have may not be an issue.

You can also look as some older style tail light sockets and take the disc and contact out. If you can find a decent older auto parts / truck parts store they will have what you want though the wire will exit through the disc and not on top. .
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Old 09-18-2015, 07:34 PM
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Given that the light pigtails are spring loaded (?), I don't think the thickness of the material will be a problem if it is 1/8" or a little less. The other possibility is to cut off some pigtails from a wrecked car.
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Old 09-18-2015, 07:49 PM
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Sheet plastic (Evergreen brand) in various thicknesses is available in any decent hobby shop. I've used it several times in similar electrical applications.
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Old 09-18-2015, 08:07 PM
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Actually a light weight poster board will work fine also.
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Old 09-18-2015, 08:09 PM
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I am thinking that I could create the backing plate with fiberglass.
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Old 09-18-2015, 08:35 PM
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Fiberglass will work but an awful lot of trouble to create. The purpose of the material is simply an insulator to prevent the bottom of the bulb from touching the bottom of the bulb socket. As mentioned, several materials will do the job very well without needing to buy fiberglass, resin, etc.
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Old 09-18-2015, 09:07 PM
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Saw this in hobby shop too a while back; actually some really cool car application stuff can be found in places like these.
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Where to find this material?-image.jpg  
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  #11  
Old 09-18-2015, 09:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinockchef View Post
I am thinking that I could create the backing plate with fiberglass.
You can do a search for "G10 FR4 Phenolic Sheet" on eBay or Amazon, Grainger and McMaster-Carr used to carry it as well.

Phenolic is the plastic type think "Bakelite" and it has fiberglass strands reinforcing the matrix. Phenolic is much more heat resistant and stable than either polyester or epoxy resin materials.

I'll bet the original material is Phenolic based, you could probably test it and confirm it by using Happich Simichrome polishing paste, that's what the Bakelite jewelry buy/collectors/dealers use to confirm Phenolic material.
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Old 09-19-2015, 09:10 AM
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If you're looking for the original Bakelite, from the looks of it, check w antique radio rebuilders online. They're bound to have something close.
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Old 09-21-2015, 01:08 AM
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I second the phenolic
McMaster-Carr
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  #14  
Old 10-03-2015, 11:35 PM
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You can find experimenter's blank circuit boards at Radio Shack. Just cut one to shape.

Radioshack - Products

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