Technical Help loosening a taillight screw

2 minutes with a propane torch? Really?

 

4 pages of posts to get a f'n screw out... ! jeez...

The new age of hot rodders I guess !

 

Time for a Project Farm vid…

 

You can doooooo it !

 

I have to agree with Deuce 1932. If it takes that long to figure out the best way to get the screw out, how long will it take to finish the build.?

 

96 now .The very helpfull thread " little tips and tricks for garage hobbyists " has 1763 posts so maybe there is a future for this thread.

 

If you can lay this on a piece of wood and screw down some blocks on either side to keep it from moving, then use some clamps with padded jaws to hold it down so you have your hands free. Then you can get a screwdriver tip that fits the slot as close as possible, and push down while turning.
I've even put a vise-grip plier on the shank or handle of my screwdriver so I get good leverage while pressing down firmly. If the screw snaps it's no big deal. It will allow you to get the lens and trim off, and then you can drill and tap the broken screw for a new screw.

 

I heard this thread has made the Associated Press wires. As the world waits for news on this screw......

 

You could just buy these for $60, looks like the screws are already out!
https://www.rosiesgreatbody.com/stuff.html

 

What fun would that be. And what would we talk about?

 

ok maybe 3 min, the material is so thin it takes no time to heat it up, it works great with propane or MAPP gas.

 

Viola

 

Is that a sheet metal screw vs a machine one?

 

On the 4th page and the 102nd post the screw is out. Yea Now back to our regular programing.

 

It is a machine screw. Little specs of rust popped out as I turned it out

 

>>>Viola >>>

>>>Is that a sheet metal screw>>>

Looks more like a busted sheet metal screw than a viola.

 

Perfection ( In this case "Extraction" ) cannot be rushed!
I think we all deserve to see some pictures of the tail light assembly taken apart, to see what else is questionable.
Congratulations on not breaking anything so far!

 

Put a screwdriver in slot, make sure it’s perpendicular to the taillight then give the screwdriver handle a good rap with a hammer. Then try to “tighten” the screw to see if it budges at all, if so try to loosen. Repeat Repeat. Sometime you get dissimilar metal corrosion especially with zink/aluminum die cast alloys and a sharp rap will sometimes break the corrosion loose. Your milage may vary!

 

Now......PLEEZE don't drop the lense.....and, no, I don't care about getting the last post....ha, ha...

 

Upon magnification it is not a machine screw

 

Everything looks good

 

Now I have a pattern to repair the sad one

 

See post #99

 

"Anticipation, it's makin' me Wait..." .
Marcus...

 

Yes, it may have involved four postings to get the screw dilemma resolved, but then again, it seems at least a few postings in the not-too-distant past were the subject matter of guys toying with mockups for months on end, but let's give them credit for seeking opinions before screwing up a good part or project!.

 

I will soon start a build thread on my 39 Plymouth coupe. An old time mechanic as finished the 354 Hemi and chassis and I will start on the rest.

 

So which of the 2,000 suggestions worked, how did you get it out ?

 

Whew... boy I can sleep again... Yuk Yuk.....

 

A proper screw bit and muscles

 

Now can we have a thread on the proper way to wash a barn find again?