The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 1958 Chevy step side tail light issues

The truck has sat for several years and with it rust has caused some grounding issues with the tail lights. To my understanding the bulb, in this case a LED lens assembly, grounds through the housing, through the bolts to the bracket and then from the bracket to the truck bed. Correct? If so, I will attack these areas by cleaning them up and seeing what works. I know its a ground issue since I can ground the assembly to the rear bumper and it turns right on.

Second, I would like to make and install a metal conduit loom for the tail light pig tails. I have seen the tech tip that addresses the SS loom sold by the vendors. Has anyone made there own? If not, I don't see how that SS loom attaches to the back of the tail light assembly.

As always, any and all advice is appreciated!

I can't help on how the loom attaches, but you might want to run a ground wire through it from the housing to at least the box frame.

So sure enough, the lights were not grounding to the frame via the bed. The bed is falling apart and in need of restoration. I attached a wire to the driver side tail light mounting bolts and then attached that to a wire on the frame where I sanded down the rust and left over paint. The whole rear, both tail lights and LP light, lite up like Christmas! After nearly 6 years I then took my truck for a drive around the block! Can't wait to work out the kinks and get her tagged and insured!