I have one of the tools I bought back in the late 90's and they have not changed. I HATE that thing. Yes, putting a rubber "O" ring between the bezel and your door paint is a great idea and I even use an "O" ring inside again the inside of the metal to try get it to tighten up but the tool still sucks!
George, yes, you put the bezel through the door and then put the taper lug nut on the inside of the door with taper toward the outside. I've seen a couple of originals that were still in the door from the factory and it looked so neat an simple. From the inside it looked like a "funnel" like the ones folks put over a dogs mouth!
Either Chev's of the 40's, or The Filling Station, has a tech tip on using that darn tool. It seems to state that you go around the ferrule a little at a time...going around the ferrule at least twice. I boogered up a couple of new ones with the tool before I got one tight enough to be half way satisfied....and yes, I tried clipping the back side and a few other things that didn't work. It is definitely a booger to get TIGHT in the door.
The lug nut trick sounds like it'd work even though I have not tried it yet. The door sheet metal is so thin its had to spread the bezel and make it tight. That's why the O rings help.
...I seem to remember that the tip I mentioned above says you don't need the tool after about '38. I'll see if I can find that article and come pack and Edit this post.
EDIT: FOUND IT
https://www.fillingstation.com/articles/installferrules.htmMaybe this will help someone and explain what I was trying to say above!!
