OK, I know it may seem like a stupid question..... Uh, I want to french my headlamps like Gary Frye did on his 52, but where does one access the lamps/bulbs? Im missing something here for sure... Maybe its just 3:30 am and Ive been painting all night. Nah! Lil insight please?
2 ways. 1. Make the stainless ring remove-able. Not hard, I usually weld a clip on the inside (bottom) and drill a hole for a small screw on top (less visible there). My old boss used to make clips that would snap onto the ring, but I never got the hang of making them "just right'. 2. Make the headlight bucket removeable from the backside. More work, but you can get a deeper french, and looks cleaner.
I did the latter on mine. They go in from the backside through the wheel well. It gave a real clean look while pushing the headlights an inch back. It is kinda a b*tch to change the bulbs but well worth it for the look I would post a pic but I am not at home. I will try to remember when I get there later today so you can see.
There are no dumb questions, except the ones you don't ask! Like everyone is saying, you really have to mount your headlight buckets from behind (from inside the fender). A removable trim ring will allow you to adjust the aim with the light in the car, but won't give you enough room to change the bulb when it burns out. Jacking up your car, pulling the front wheel, and climbing under the fender with a screwdriver to replace your bulbs every few years is the small price you pay to look cool every day. (By the way, be smart and get new, good-quality bulbs before you mount them the first time!) Good luck!
Don't forget getting the dirt in your hair and eyes and down your neck. There have been a number of magazine articles written on it. As the others said, you have to take the bucket out and put it in from the back. that involves taking the clips that the screws screw into off and reversing them and then grinding the lip off the bucket so it fits up flush to the back side. It's usually a real pain to get that first screw back in too.
Yup, from the backside. With those Merc rings like he has in that '52, I believe there is enough room to replce the headlight from the front with the trim ring out. Otherwise, how would you ever replace it, except to mount it from behind?
I don't know - I have the same rings in my '53 Chevy and I don't think I'd be able to get the headlights out through the front without destroying the headlight retainer ring. Maybe I'm wrong, though. Anyone know for sure? I'm going to do the same rings on another Chevy in the future, and If I can go through the front that would be sweet.
I used the kit from Hagens, not bad and looks good to boot, the trim ring is a bitch to put in and take out! so some tutch up paint is involved...Roach.
I've never been able to get one out the front on the 48. They have to come out the back. I'm not saying that it is impossible to get them out the front but as Atomickustom said you would probably destroy the retaining ring.
I have done it by making up tabs with#8 machine bolts welded to them run one nut down, set the bucket and lock it in with a second nut.If needed you can adjust the light with the first nut
Ugh, just because they were free doesn't make them right. Thats like someone walking down the street and saying, "Hey, here's this baseball bat, why don't you smash up your car, it won't cost you anything."
I'm not argueing, but how do owner's of 54 Mercs change the headlight? Maybe its just the difference from the factory stuff to aftermarket? Wait didn't the entire ring unbolt from the fender on a Merc?
I know its not traditional, but why not mount it from the back, but use the conversion bulbs, a housing that takes a newer bulb (9003\9004? maybe I dont remember which for sure). then all you would have to do is reach in, unclip the wire, turn the bulb and pull it out, seems like it would take alot of the hassle out of it, even though it is usually years between changes.
Mount them from the back and put in a good halogen bulb and it will last a long time. On the original Merc's they unbolted from the fender so it wasn't an issue. I don't know how many headlights you expect to go through, but if you are changing them that often you must have a wiring issue causing them to blow. It takes all of 5 minutes to change it out from the back anyway....it's not rocket science.
All you got to do is trim the lip off the bucket that will allow the bucket to sit flush inside the wheel well, flip the three retaining clips around screw the headlamp assembly in from the backside and position the headlamp ring on the fender and start spot welding "carefully!!" a little at a time switching from side to side to allow it to cool, throw som filler or lead!!! Block it and your done besides paint!!! There is a tech article on here for 52-54 ford-merc headlight frenching!!
here's a video to show how to french them with the "out from the rear" style bulb http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeYVuCfjMYE
There is no problem taking the bulbs out from the front with the ford or mercury rims. I have used them on 3 different cars so far. I make my own clips to hold the stainless trim so they snap in place and i can just pull them off to change bulbs or adjust them.
I've taken t3 that were burnt out to my local glass guy and had him cut out the rear element and then epoxy 9004 sockets into them. looks of a t3 yet easy to replace and brighter to boot!
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