"50 rear bumper/License plate lamp assembly question

[Joe G 12138]

Is there supposed to be a gasket or rubber piece between the license plate bracket/ light assembly where it bolts to the rear bumper on the '50-52 cars? Or is it metal to metal?  Thanks.....Joe

[rghobden]

No, you shouldn't put a gasket there.  I think this was one of the few design flaws on this car; they depended on too many good clean and tight contacts between the license plate lighting assembly and the bumper to ground the license plate light. I counted at least six contact points, all of them prone to rust or corrosion, dirt, loose bolts or screws, etc.  I ran a separate ground wire from the lamp base directly to the trunk floor, thus eliminating several potential problems.