Concours/original folks need not read further. But those who just want your taillight bulbs to light consistently, with all the exact same brightness, 100% of the time...read on...

As we all know, these tail lamps are chassis grounded, which can sometimes be an inconsistent annoyance depending on paint, rust, socket fit, fasteners, pinched gaskets, age, etc, etc.

When I plugged in my brand new repro wire harness to brand new bulbs, into my freshly restored and properly installed taillamps, I was greeted with one bright bulb and 3 dimmer bulbs. Wiggle/waggle action would make them change around at will. No amount of cleaning connection points seemed to get things consistent. So I re-engineered it a bit.

I know others here have utilized a "Ford/mopar" style metal socket for better grounding, which I feel is a good idea. Since I had brand new sockets, I didn't see much reason to go shopping again. And no matter which sockets you utilize (metal or plastic), I still feel a dedicated ground wire, securely bolted to a clean metal portion of the chassis (or direct to battery if feasible), is the ONLY way to properly ground any circuit.

So the following 3 photos show how I took an original (repro) plastic Pontiac style taillamp socket, and quickly modified it to accept a dedicated ground wire.

1. Unmolested socket.
2. Use utility knife to cut away the plastic to expose the retainer stub for the metal socket insert. Bend it out a little bit from the socket with small screwdriver/pliers.
3. Add a ground wire to this stub with a spade connector. Just crimp down the spade connector a little with pliers for a very tight fit, so the connector can't slip off.

I just linked the socket tabs all together with short wire runs, quality crimps at each spade connector, and 14 gauge wire, and then grounded that end wire to the chassis somewhere in the trunk with a good ring terminal, to a bolt that's perfectly clean and solid for a high quality ground. I worked my sidemarker lamps into this ground line also, just utilizing ring terminals on one of the attaching bolts for each lamp.

It all worked exactly as I hoped it would. I now have perfect and evenly bright taillights, with no more need to do a wiggle/waggle dance with the sockets every time the lights decide to do funny things...cuz they won't do funny things no more...

I just thought a few others here might be interested in a relatively easy fix for a common annoyance.