1965 Newport Tail lens

[501Newport]

Anybody know where I can get tail lens for my 65 newport? Mine are cracked and distorted. Also, are all c-bodys lugs left hand threaded on the driver side or just mine??

Thanks
J.G.

 

[Bryan]

If you can't get one here or in a junkyard, ebay is a good place to keep looking. Make sure they are a match pair. There were 8 different rear lens types and 2 different housing types in 1965. All the lugs were until 1971 (if my memory serves me correctly).

 

[501Newport]

Thanks Bryan. Any specific member who might have a matching set?

Thanks
J.G.

 

[BigblueC]

There were 8 different rear lens types and 2 different housing types in 1965

Wow. I thought there were only two, red or clear. Can you post pictures of all of the differences?

 

[Bryan]

I don't have pictures of all of them, but here is kind of a rundown.
Housings:
single bulb type, and double bulb type.

Lenses:
Lenses with painted silver vertical lines.
Lenses without silver the silver lines.
Lenses with clear small center reflectors.
Lenses with red small center reflectors.
You also have all the above with and without back up lights (not part of the tail light lens though)
Then you get to the clear lenses..........................................

 

[CBODY67]

Left-hand threads on lh lug nuts/studs was a Chrysler exclusive until the 1971 model year. There was the concern that they might loosen in time, as when the wheels turn, the lug nuts would turn the same way the wheel does. An "over-engineered" situation from the 1940s or so? Many people update them to the later rh thread items as lh thread lug nuts are becoming harder to find . . . AND few service techs know about them as time progresses.

Be sure to observe the factory torque specs, which are less than on modern cars with allow wheels.

CBODY67

 

[BillGrissom]

I haven't seen where to buy rear tail-lamp plastic lenses for my 65 Newport. I do have spare lamp assemblies which I got on ebay and junkyard (not for sale). Worst-case, you might buy plastic material on ebay and cut your own.

LH threads on the left side wasn't Chrysler-exclusive. I recall a chart (Tire Rack or such) which showed several manufacturers using them thru the 1960's, including several Japanese. I am sure there was engineering data which showed loosening was less likely, though it proved more problems than benefits. For sure, give explicit instructions to tire monkeys. Even when I have had the service guy write "LH threads driver's side" on the shop sheet, I still saw them fussing with the wheels, then asking the boss. If their policy is "no customers watching in the shop", I find another shop. A Goodyear once spun the stud on my 69 Dart, then re-installed the tire w/ the spinning stud and didn't tell me. I found out on the highway when trying to change the tire and couldn't get the lug nut off. On ebay, you can buy chrome mag or acorn wheel lugs w/ LH thread. C-bodies are 1/2"-20 LH, my A-bodies are smaller (7/16" I recall). If changing wheel studs, I suggest changing to RH thread.