Dome light lens

[Wallington]

I have several round dome light lenses and bases, all reproduction probably, and none secure in the base. It's like the locating lugs are not fully formed or made undersize so instead of squeezing the sides to get it to pop into place and take its original shape, it barely touched the sides and falls out (not now, Sally).
Has anyone else noticed this? Looks like mine all came from the same factory even if different brands and sellers, you know the story. You can turn the lens slightly, to make it a little firmer but still not seated correctly and will fall out with the slightest bridge jump.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/htsAAOSwJIJbKnqF/s-l1600.jpg

[roadking77]

I bought one from a vendor for my 77 and was surprised at how it was so cheaply made. I recall it was a pain to get it locked in correctly but since my bulb is still working I havent had to fool with it too much, so its still holding in place. And I have jumped a couple of bridges in the meantime, LOL.

[highway star]

Is it possible to heat it up and massage it or flatten it a bit so as to be a larger diameter?

[aussieta]

i had same problem with the square style used in the map light setup
i ended up buying an excellent used assembly for spare parts

[5th T/A]

When I got my first Classic Industries catalog in the mail, I thought this is great so many reproduction parts are available. But after hearing how hard it is to get decent reproduction side window glass, exterior door handles and now crappy dome light lenses. These repo companies are just teasing us with inferior products. I have bought a few plastic reproduction parts for my car, some were decent and other I would call better than nothing.

I am starting to think that original equipment is usually the best way to go, provided it can be cleaned up or refinished to acceptable standards.

[roadking77]

Original or NOS is def better. But some stuff you cant get, and some repro stuff is pretty good. Thats why I like using Ames. They will list in the catalogue if the part is inferior.

[Wallington]

The problem is, even if you spent big on NOS, plus shipping, you probably need both lens and base. Otherwise, which is oversize and which is undersize?! I don't have an original used piece to even test with the repro parts to get an idea. All I know is that they sell thousands of these things and no one seems to question that they don't even go together. I'd be embarrassed as a shop owner to stock it or pretend to act dumb like I was completely unaware. Just crazy. It hasn't changed in the nearly 20 years I've had the car, had a loose and rattly lens on it, bought replacements several times over the years, from different sellers claiming theirs was the good type. Nope, all the same, all selling lies and knowing it.

[aussieta]

i assume you have phoned dave clee from pontiworld
he will tell you over the phone what is worth buying, and he has had some aftermarket parts that he has sourced with better than oem quality

[Wallington]

That's where half of them came from.

[aussieta]

Doh

[highway star]

So, I went out to the garage and found my oem lens cover that I replaced years ago because it had a crack in it. Kept the package and it's a NOS GM package with part no. 20013679. This is on a 1978 Trans Am and the lens is round with a smooth pattern, some have the starburst pattern. I'm assuming there was a change in design, what year I dunno.

[Warren Seale]

The problem is, even if you spent big on NOS, plus shipping, you probably need both lens and base. Otherwise, which is oversize and which is undersize?! I don't have an original used piece to even test with the repro parts to get an idea. All I know is that they sell thousands of these things and no one seems to question that they don't even go together. I'd be embarrassed as a shop owner to stock it or pretend to act dumb like I was completely unaware. Just crazy. It hasn't changed in the nearly 20 years I've had the car, had a loose and rattly lens on it, bought replacements several times over the years, from different sellers claiming theirs was the good type. Nope, all the same, all selling lies and knowing it.

Not all, but most of these restoration parts vendors have no clue about what they sell.  They are just flipping them from wholesale to retail and pocketing the coin.  You have to search for the vendors that have the a good reputation for their knowledge of the parts they sell.