1970 Dart front side marker light pigtail?

[1MeanA]

My car has no socket / pigtails for the front side marker lights and I am wondering what to do. I think it had either 194 or 1895 bulbs. I can't find a 2 wire socket that fits a plain round hole. I assume the original had the expanding metal prongs to hold it in (maybe not?). I can find the SAE quick connect...no problem there. Oddly enough the new M&H rear harness I bought uses a single wire socket for the rear side marker lights. How is does the grounding work? Has anybody found a solution.
Note: I just found that P&G supplies a pigtail but its $100 landed....might be my best bet...tba
3215-W Mopar 1970-71 Dodge Dart / 1971 Dodge Demon Front Side Marker P

 

[autopar3000]

I just used one of these:

Dorman Products - 85814

 

[1MeanA]

I just used one of these:

Dorman Products - 85814

Does that style push into a 5/8" hole? I thought it was twist and turn.

 

[autopar3000]

The white part is rubber, so I just sliced these little pieces out and pushed it over the hole. I may have also sealed it up with some RTV so it doesn't slip out. I did this probably 20 years ago, so the memory isn't totally clear!

 

[1MeanA]

Amazon wants $17 ea for them! I might as well just buy the P&G pigtails.

 

[OttawaCharger]

I did the same thing autopar did. Not concours restoration quality but it is doing the job

 

[autopar3000]

Amazon wants $17 ea for them! I might as well just buy the P&G pigtails.

Ha ha, $17 each is kind of nuts. But also kind of expected, as Amazon isn't cheap for auto parts. I think I paid a few dollars for them at Canadian Tire, but again, probably 20 years ago. I avoid that place now because it seems NOTHING is cheap at Canadian Tire anymore!

I would bet that if you go to your local auto parts store they'll have them in the Dorman Help section for a lot cheaper than $17. Not sure what your go-to store is in Edmonton, but I have a local independent auto parts store I go to and they are way cheaper for most things. Carquest is also really good around here.

Or if you don't mind ordering from the big US outlet, there's RockAuto:

http://[URL]https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=262127&cc=0&pt=4084&jsn=3

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Goods + taxes + shipping to my location looks like about $27 for 2 of them. Throw in some other stuff you know you're going to need (e.g. couple of oil filters) and as long as they're shipping from the same warehouse you'll be even further ahead than the $34 at Amazon.

 

[slantsixdan]

The '70-'71 Darts use a BA9s (SC mini bayonet) base bulbs, originally type 1895, for the side markers. The socket + wire pigtail are integral to the housing.

The rear side markers have separable sockets, but not the fronts—this was done because the back of the front marker light is in a splash zone, while the back of the rear marker light is kept dry inside the trunk. The permanently-integral sockets up front meant no water would get in.

If your front housing has an empty hole in it, either it's a rear housing or a hacked front one. You could try using the rear-type socket/boot 2983 545, tho it looks like it's for a bigger-than-5/8" hole.

This is a BA9s socket designed to snap into a 5/8" hole.

While you're at it, move the (front only) side marker lights' ground wires as described here to add side turn signal repeater function to them.

 

[str12-340]

Rear marker lights ground through the nuts and the interior galvanized metal bracket to the quarter panel. I never liked scratching off the paint in the trunk to make the ground so I made a wire with two ring terminals - one goes under the marker light nut and the other under an nearby existing body bolt.

 

[1MeanA]

Ha ha, $17 each is kind of nuts. But also king of expected, as Amazon isn't cheap for auto parts. I think I paid a few dollars for them at Canadian Tire, but again, probably 20 years ago. I avoid that place now because it seems NOTHING is cheap at Canadian Tire anymore!

I would bet that if you go to your local auto parts store they'll have them in the Dorman Help section for a lot cheaper than $17. Not sure what your go-to store is in Edmonton, but I have a local independent auto parts store I go to and they are way cheaper for most things. Carquest is also really good around here.

Or if you don't mind ordering from the big US outlet, there's RockAuto:...

Bit of a rant....I use Rockauto quite a bit. I put together an order for some electrical bulbs, connectors and a socket for $20 and it was going to be shipped from 3 locations for $40 extra shipping. Its about the same price shopping on Amazon and local, if you can find the stuff. Yesterday I complained to the local Canadian Tire manager because I was tired of having to get someone to take things out of locked cases and walk me to the cashier. It was a $6 light bulb!

The '70-'71 Darts use a BA9s (SC mini bayonet) base bulbs, originally type 1895, for the side markers. The socket + wire pigtail are integral to the housing.



If your front housing has an empty hole in it, either it's a rear housing or a hacked front one. You could try using the rear-type socket/boot 2983 545, tho it looks like it's for a bigger-than-5/8" hole.

While you're at it, move the (front only) side marker lights' ground wires as described here to add side turn signal repeater function to them.

I looked at some pics of new and used front housings and they have a recessed plain hole which is what I have. The rear housing has a hood over the hole probably to protect it from getting knocked. Perhaps the later cars had a built in housing? I'll probably order new pigtails from National Moparts as they have them and I have a dozen other parts in my cart with them anyway.
70 front housing

1970 - 71 Dodge Dart & 1971 Scamp Side Marker Lamp Housing Right Rear, OEM MOPAR | eBay

1970 - 1971 Dodge Dart Swinger - 1971 Plymouth Scamp Side Marker Housing Right Rear. The #3403688 R.H. is on the backside housing. The housing has the retaining studs and look good.

www.ebay.com

Rear marker lights ground through the nuts and the interior galvanized metal bracket to the quarter panel. I never liked scratching off the paint in the trunk to make the ground so I made a wire with two ring terminals - one goes under the marker light nut and the other under an nearby existing body bolt.

I think I will add that. The quarter has new primer and undercoating on it so it will certainly be difficult to ground.

 

[autopar3000]

The '70-'71 Darts use a BA9s (SC mini bayonet) base bulbs, originally type 1895, for the side markers. The socket + wire pigtail are integral to the housing.

View attachment 1716340662

The rear side markers have separable sockets, but not the fronts—this was done because the back of the front marker light is in a splash zone, while the back of the rear marker light is kept dry inside the trunk. The permanently-integral sockets up front meant no water would get in.

View attachment 1716340664

If your front housing has an empty hole in it, either it's a rear housing or a hacked front one. You could try using the rear-type socket/boot 2983 545, tho it looks like it's for a bigger-than-5/8" hole.

This is a BA9s socket designed to snap into a 5/8" hole.

While you're at it, move the (front only) side marker lights' ground wires as described here to add side turn signal repeater function to them.

I'm sure my front marker light was jacked up because a previous owner or mechanic tried to pull the harness out of the housing.

Thanks for posting that set of instructions on getting the marker lights to blink! I'll definitely be doing that up front, and probably use the relay method in the back.

 

[1MeanA]

I'm sure my front marker light was jacked up because a previous owner or mechanic tried to pull the harness out of the housing...

I think the sockets corrode into the housings eventually so good luck changing a bulb. A plastic socket is a good idea not that most of our cars will endure a harsh life ever again.

 

[autopar3000]

On the front the harness is supposed to be permanently attached. The bulbs are meant to be changed by removing the lens.

 

[1MeanA]

On the front the harness is supposed to be permanently attached. The bulbs are meant to be changed by removing the lens.

If that is the case I'm wondering if the tabs (see the pics on the repro pigtail) are supposed to be bent over thereby holding the socket in the housing. Looking at the pics they don't look like springs. I could see how people would rip them out instead of removing the 2 screws. My housings are still a mess so its hard to tell.