Open Vehicle Body Socket

Charles Reese

Charles Reese

Well-known member
Not content after installing reproduction body sockets. Destroyed one (do not recall the vendor as they were ordered early in restoration) and the outer lip of the others do not lie flat against the sheet metal.

Suspect finding 8 originals is out of the question so am inquiring about anyone’s experience with Bratton’s #28880 body socket? Catalog states “new tooling much better quality than in the past”. Mac’s (A81002) seems to be a similar item but a bit less expensive.

Thanks, as always!
 

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I've been purchasing from Bratton's for a long time and know they usually try to stock the best available restoration repro parts for the old As. That doesn't mean they have a different product than everyone else is selling though. I would like to hear some experienced input on this as well since I will be needing to install some in a 29 roadster project soon.

Kerby

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I had so many cheap repro sockets that blew up and fell apart.

Used a washer to tap the crimping on the back-side and still had trouble with them.

Did find a quality set from a vendor in French Lick (MARC Meet), but cannot recall who it was.
 
A+L Parts had a supply of N.O.S. original nickel plated sockets.. He had them on ebay a couple of times . Their price was a set for roadster was $39.00 ...[Deluxe Phaetons had 2 more then roadster] .Don't know if they have anymore . ?? Before Al died he was looking on making them better then whats out there.
 
Original sockets were made out of brass and nickled plated. Some of the replacement are made of stainless; trying to set these in the body, due to their hardness, its difficult to up set the crimped end which locks the socket in the hole. I've tried using a wood dowel and a metal punch; you almost dent the area trying to up set the crimp.

I gave up and had some originals nickled plated.

Ron
 
It really hurts your feelings when you dent the door trying to set the socket. You can guess how I know. One of those mistakes you only make once.
 
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