I have been working the lighter in my 69 Hurst. Is the lighter supposed to pop out when heated? The inner element is new, and the housing is also new.

Also, I have found that the inner element edge keeps touching the outer casing of the lighter, which causes the lighter to ground out and blow the fuse. It appears that the inner element slants to one size and is not centered. The white ceramic insulator is installed. Any thoughts on how to keep the element centered and not grounded?

 

Do you still have the original parts ? Yes it should pop out and its probably grounding out because the repo parts are made wrong

 

GM was using two lighter designs in that time. CASCO and Rochester Products. They don't work correctly in each others' sockets.

CASCO:


Rochester:

Note the "shrouding" on the RP design. Which do you have? And more importantly which socket do you have?

 

The lighter is the original 1969 with a new internal element and housing. When ordered the housing was stated as being a Rochester. I think I may have picked up the element locally.
Here are some pictures.