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So I had to correct the "relocation" of the license plate light. The wires for the one in the storage box were poked through between the original fixture and the body. A PO reconfigured the Onan compartment, and there was no access to the light from inside, so I took the fixture out from the outside.

The "rivnuts" were turning in the fiberglass, and when I pried the light out, they took some fiberglass with them.

The light is not in very good shape, and the wire to the bulb broke right at the socket.

So two questions:

1. What's the cheap and easy way to patch the holes where I pulled out the rivnuts?

2. Is the fixture one that is readily available, or is there a call to Jim K in my future?

I can't begin to give you a source for a replacement fixture, but I can tell you what I have done a few times where a "rivnut" or the like came out (or was ripped out by an impatient owner). This fix has been long term successful for a few now.

Get:
JB Weld.
Long nuts, aka coupling nuts or double nuts of the desired thread (OE was 10-32 iirc)
Large OD washers to fit (This may take varying sizes stacked if the resulting hole is large.)
New clean nice screws.
A block of wood to fit the space and across both screws
A store shopping bag.
Tape - any tape

You will be working overhead and that adds a measure of PITA to this.
Clean the holes of debris as best you can, make sure that the nuts you are putting in fit in the holes.
If you can wash the inside of the hole with acetone or lacquer thinner, that might help.
Wash the nuts you will be using too and try to not handle them much now.
Stack the washers on the screws and push through the plastic bag at close to the correct centers. Too far is better than too close. (If you concerned about the C-C of you new holes, use the replacement fixture in this set-up and then it will be perfect. I never had to do that.)
Run the nuts down on the screws carefully so as not to damage the POS shopping bag film. (The bag is your release agent.)
Put a tiny piece of tape over the open end of the nuts. (I failed to do this just once. Salvage was a bear.)

Ready??
Mix JB weld and when you are sure it is well mixed, use a small stick to put some in the edges of the ragged holes.
Put a fillet (circular glob) of JB around the nuts.
Push that whole affair into place and lock in with the block of wood and tape.
Quit for the day.
Resist messing with it until the left over JB weld is solid.

When you take the block down and the screws out, you should have two new screw holes.

I have two ways that I fix things and both are scheduled so I should never have to look at it again. The expensive way for the owners is so the repair cannot be detected even on close inspection. The more popular is the CD&E fix (Cheap, Dirty and Effective). This would only qualify as the later.

Sorry I can't help you with a source for an assmbly.

Good Luck

Matt

G'day,
Be VERY careful when you re-drill holes in the rear panel, it is FULL of wires! I did what Bob did and wound up drilling through a
wire which was the 12vdc supply to the Dometic 2 way fridge. I was able to splice a new piece of wire in to fix it but it was a
PITA!

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426

My rear license plate light fixture was shot when I got the GMC. The clear plastic lost it's seal and was quite a mess.
The fixture was rusted beyond repair, I don't know if there are any replacements but as lights are fast turning to LED, It would be pretty easy to find an LED light that wires to 12v dc. Just mount and reseal the clear plastic to the body.

The fiberglas can be repaired with epoxy and glass if you have it, you can also use body filler if there is enough there for it to hold onto.
Some glues will let you glue the holes shut but if it is in sight, you want to do a good job.

I finally got around to removing the monstrosity hanging off the back of the Sequoia (before picture below, after picture will be posted when I take one or two and post to the photo site).

So I had to correct the "relocation" of the license plate light. The wires for the one in the storage box were poked through between the original fixture and the body. A PO reconfigured the Onan compartment, and there was no access to the light from inside, so I took the fixture out from the outside.

The "rivnuts" were turning in the fiberglass, and when I pried the light out, they took some fiberglass with them.

The light is not in very good shape, and the wire to the bulb broke right at the socket.

So two questions:

1. What's the cheap and easy way to patch the holes where I pulled out the rivnuts?

2. Is the fixture one that is readily available, or is there a call to Jim K in my future?

What is the "monstrosity"?
Pete

thesmith wrote on Tue, 26 May 2015 15:13

What is the "monstrosity"?
Pete

The thing that extends the bumper two feet behind where it belongs with the ugly galvanized metal box on it.

If you want the stuff to move your bumper back you can have it. Otherwise it is going to the scrapyard for 11 cents a pound. The box is going to get cut up to line the wooden Onan compartment.

I was thinking it was a big generator, House AC unit, deep freeze or similar......it is ugly
Pete