Clarification and Measurement re: 1969 Barracuda Backup Lights

[Mopar Virgin]

More fun with my '68 Bcuda Restomod project ... As some of you know, we've came to realize a few weeks ago the replacement trunk lid we were desperately searching for over a 6 month period in 2023 came from a '67. The aftermarket lower valance we ordered from Classic Industries is a 68/69 is painted and installed, but now needs cut-outs to accommodate the '69 Backup Lights since we will not be using the '68 taillights that have built-in back-up lights, as they mis-match with the '67 trunk panel detail.

Hoping one of you out there could respond back with:

• the actual hole diameter measurement
• a photo of the hole, in the event there are holes needing to be drilled to attach the bezels
• measurements to edges or on-center from some usable reference point

 

[A56]

More fun with my '68 Bcuda Restomod project ... As some of you know, we've came to realize a few weeks ago the replacement trunk lid we were desperately searching for over a 6 month period in 2023 came from a '67. The aftermarket lower valance we ordered from Classic Industries is a 68/69 is painted and installed, but now needs cut-outs to accommodate the '69 Backup Lights since we will not be using the '68 taillights that have built-in back-up lights, as they mis-match with the '67 trunk panel detail.

Hoping one of you out there could respond back with:

• the actual hole diameter measurement
• a photo of the hole, in the event there are holes needing to be drilled to attach the bezels
• measurements to edges or on-center from some usable reference point

Seeing how this isn't a '69 but you need to replicate the reverse light locations on the rear splash pan is it imperative to have the exact locations?
Here is a photo from another post found using the search function that gives approximate locations.

 

[Dana67Dart]

Something to be aware of...

The bulb housing in the backup lights fits into holes in the rear crossmember. misalignment will mean the backup lights will either not go in or will hit the cross member.

Also...

The 67 chrome bezel is shorter than the 69.

The repos are the length of the 67s from what I have seen.

Also, also...

There are 4 holes to be drilled each side...

The larger hole, 2 holes one on each side of the larger hole, AND.... an alignment hole.

The bezels are handed and the location of the alignment post hole is unique left to right.

 

[Mopar Virgin]

Something to be aware of...

The bulb housing in the backup lights fits into holes in the rear crossmember. misalignment will mean the backup lights will either not go in or will hit the cross member.

Also...

The 67 chrome bezel is shorter than the 69.

The repo scare the length of the 67s from what I have seen.

Also, also...

There are 4 holes to be drilled each side...

The larger hole, 2 holes one on each side of the larger hole, AND.... an alignment hole.

The bezels are handed and the location of the alignment post hole is unique left to right.

This sounds like a nightmare situation to align it correctly. I’m in Tucson for the winter and the car is with the build shop in The Washougal, WA. Might just push this off until Spring or forgo backup lights altogether. Given my car is a ‘68, do you think there are going to holes in the rear crossmember, as the ‘68s didn’t have lower backup lights? Also, I’m not clear what you were conveying in your comment “The repo scare the length of the 67s from what I have seen.” Could you elaborate a bit?

 

[Dana67Dart]

(I edited my original post)

You have done the best thing asking for dimensions.

Just be sure the dimensions come off of OEM original parts.

A friend had a repaired panel on his car and some of the holes are missing

69 on left 67 on right

Alignment pin on left of drivers side bezel

Left vs right (both 69)

The reason I know this is I reproduced the bulb holder and in test fitting learned that if the left and right were switched side to side the lights pointed outward rather than straight back. Many of the OEM chrome bezels are missing the alignment pin due to corrosion.

 

[Mopar Virgin]

(I edited my original post)

You have done the best thing asking for dimensions.

Just be sure the dimensions come off of OEM original parts.

A friend had a repaired panel on his car and some of the holes are missing

69 on left 67 on right
View attachment 1716339452

Alignment pin on left of drivers side bezel

View attachment 1716339457

Left vs right (both 69)

View attachment 1716339458

The reason I know this is I reproduced the bulb holder and in test fitting learned that if the left and right were switched side to side the lights pointed outward rather than straight back. Many of the OEM chrome bezels are missing the alignment pin due to corrosion.

View attachment 1716339456

Man-o-Man!! ... I'm going to push this off until I'm back up there and can eyeball this for myself. Thought the CI 68/69 lower valance would imply using the '69 backup lights, I think I should measure and look at it's depth the bumper to make sure the '69 bezel doesn't sit too proud.


Do you know if the bulb holders are available from an aftermarket supplier, or do I need to track those down as a refurb'd OEM item?

 

[Dana67Dart]

I make the bulb holders, I'm not aware of any aftermarket that makes them.

My understanding is AMD only makes a valance that does not have any holes, that way the same sheet metal fits 67-69


I just realized...

67 doesn't have the exhaust cutouts in the valance.

(The green arrow is pointing to black soot making the photo look like it has a cutout.)


67

68/69 has cutouts.

AMD catalog

 

[Dana67Dart]

Thought the CI 68/69 lower valance would imply using the '69 backup lights

The chrome bezels are the same 67 and 69 except the depth. So it will be personal preference.

My personal opinion....

If you have a 68 make it a 68, sell the wrong parts and find the correct parts.

I know it's a pain in the butt, but I can tell you with 100% certainty that you will be happier in the future and you will not have to deal with the never ending barrage of "that's the wrong {insert part name here}" Comments

 

[Mopar Virgin]

The chrome bezels are the same 67 and 69 except the depth. So it will be personal preference.

My personal opinion....

If you have a 68 make it a 68, sell the wrong parts and find the correct parts.

I know it's a pain in the butt, but I can tell you with 100% certainty that you will be happier in the future and you will not have to deal with the never ending barrage of "that's the wrong {insert part name here}" Comments

Totally get your point, but I'm past the point of no return on this car. It took 6months to find a usable trunk lid (e.g. the '67) and now the whole car is painted. If we could ever find a usable '68 lid, it would be challenging to paint the thin with the gray undercoat and 5 custom magenta paint layers to exactly match (we do have the formula). After realizing this quagmire, I actually prefer the '67 truck/taillight config to the '68, as the stark white on the taillight assembly detracts a lot from the rest of the car. I also don't sense a '68 trunk panel will properly attached to '67 trunk apron, and the predominantly black '67 panel plays nicely with the overall scheme/theme of the car.

Peter Bergman already scolded me for painting the engine bay black, sighting that the MOPAR purists are going to crucify me for it and would hurt the value. As I told him, we're building the car for our taste and use, I'll died before ever selling the car, so might as well follow our vision and avoid the societal group-think conformity IMHO .

If we get stuck, would you be willing to produce a couple of those light bulb holders?

 

[A56]

Just bite the bullet and make it happen. It's not a clone or numbers matching car. Purists have nothing to do with resto mods so think out of the box and find a less complicated reverse light setup that will work on that splash pan. You're going to be drilling through a painted part so the less complicated the better. If it were me I wouldn't even worry about reverse lights. My 2 cents

 

[Mopar Virgin]

Just bite the bullet and make it happen. It's not a clone or numbers matching car. Purists have nothing to do with resto mods so think out of the box and find a less complicated reverse light setup that will work on that splash pan. You're going to be drilling through a painted part so the less complicated the better. If it were me I wouldn't even worry about reverse lights. My 2 cents

I just took the dog for walk with my wife and wondered the same thing about whether reverse lights are even a legal requirement. Is so, I'll look into alternatives as well. Also occurred to me that the crossmember you referred to is not likely drilled open either, as it is a '68 car. So many unplanned moving parts in this project ... many thanks for your input !

 

[A56]

I just took the dog for walk with my wife and wondered the same thing about whether reverse lights are even a legal requirement. Is so, I'll look into alternatives as well. Also occurred to me that the crossmember you referred to is not likely drilled open either, as it is a '68 car. So many unplanned moving parts in this project ... many thanks for your input !

In all the years that I've been driving and going through inspections, I never recall anyone checking reverse lights. Good luck.

 

[65 Cuda 340]

Have you test fitted the 68 trunk trim to the 67 trunk lid? Never worked on a 68 trunk lid, but I ran 69 trunk trim (and taillights) on my 67 for a while. Only difference between the two trunk lids in the trim panel area that I noticed were some holes drilled in different places, that were covered up by whichever trim I used.

 

[Dana67Dart]

If we get stuck, would you be willing to produce a couple of those light bulb holders

I have a few in stock so just pm me.

 

[Dana67Dart]

67 dart but I think the holes are the same.

The crossmember is most likely the same 67 - 69