Anyone restored one of these? A couple of my reflectors are checked/shattered pretty bad and so I'll be replacing them. Does anyone know what kind of adhesive was used to mount these at the factory? Since these are made of unobtainium and had just enough spares from junkyards to make a complete set I don't want them popping off going down the highway. Pic for reference, not my tailpanel.

i can't help with the adhesive issue, but the title of your thread may not help in your quest.
maybe posting this in the restoration section would be better ?
please don't take this as a bash of any kind on you.
just trying to help.

Also, your title says 17, may want to change to 71.

And “Chally” is so gay......just sayin.

THANK YOU!!! I've owned my 73 Challenger since 73, and I've never once called it that,
or ever heard that nickname used. MCG uses it, and it's like fingernails on a blackboard to me!

Originals had pretty thick foil backing behind the reflector lens with an adhesive backing to stick to the metal tail panel. The foil appears to have been glued to the backside of the lens with a very thin bead of adhesive along the inside edges of the lens. I’ll post some pics next time i get out to the shop.

I used super glue gel to attach the foil to the back of the reflectors and some high quality waterproof double sided tape to attach the reflectors to the tail panel.

Oh, there are two different sizes of reflectors BTW. The inboard ones are taller if I recall al correctly.

LOL saying "so gay" this day and age is pretty gay too. There's only so many letters in the title bar. Was trying to conserve them. Pretty sure everyone would know what car I was talking about if I hadn't mistyped "17" instead of '71. And if Chally (which I don't actually use either) keeps someone from replying, then screw 'em.

Thanks floyd for offering actual useable info. Got the two sizes part (yes inboard is the tall one) and the foil back though I am looking at replacing it with pieces of modern retroreflective tape. Going to test both and see which one does better behind the lens once I get them cleaned and polished. Also saw how the factory did it, just wasn't sure what they used to get it to hang on there for 50 years. I was trying to avoid superglue because the fumes have a habit of creating haze on nearby plastics. I take it you didn't have any problems like that? Are their different thicknesses of mounting tape out there? I tried the mounting tape option on one that is currently on the car but it was thick enough to make it sit out too far from the rest of the tail light surround for my taste.

How about e6000? I've used it on several different projects and the stuff remains flexible. I used clear to attach clear vinyl tubing to metal patio furniture legs. Split the hose glue and the stuff is still stuck and has not yellowed, furniture is outside, alll year going on 6 yrs now. I've started using it for all sorts of projects and have not had a failure. I like it stays flexible.

It’s been long enough that I can’t remember precisely what I used but I’m pretty sure it was crazy glue and I didn’t get any fogging. For the foil, I used the aluminum tape used for duct work. I still have some extra parts in a box and will check to see what type of 2-sided tape I used.

Not that this helps with the posters question but he did say they were unobtainium, Laysons Restorations shows the reflectors on their site for those in need.

Laysons does carry replacements. But from the posts I tracked them down from, they are reportedly a little shorter than the factory ones leaving a gap exposed between the reflector and tail light surround. Also they and most of the lenses they carry are on major backorder according to Laysons when I called last week.

x3

The repros I’ve seen didn’t include the adhesive backing. I’m not sure if they even had the foil backing?

I checked my leftovers and no sign of a the two-sided tape I used. It’s been a few years and I can’t remember exactly. Sorry.

DO NOT USE the reproduction lenses !!!! They are WAY to small ! NOBODY makes a correct repro of these lenses .