Looking for someone that has used a good headlight frenching kit lately. I just read some older posts on the Hagen Kit and their were lots of negatives. Has anybody used the kit offered by AUTOLOC ? Any other kits out there that have been good? Also, looking for a custom outside door handles to replace the stock handles on the 51. Does anybody have experience with an aftermarket custom recessed lift type or push botton style??? Thanks Steve
*Night Prowlers* sells the headlight frenching rings that work very well on a Fiddy One.......I used them.....they are '53 Merc headlight rings......... As far as the push ****on door openers, did you search the cl***ifieds? One of our members is selling a great repop of the old Lincoln push ****ons....... here's what you would have found: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=546654&highlight=lincoln+push+****ons Go get 'em...... CB
I used Butches steel rings on my 50. http://www.butchscoolstuff.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=44 Pretty easy I did have to trim them and make pieces to make them line up and not have a dip down on them. I did them in a day including the filler. I'll post pictures if you want.
Do it the old fashioned way - before frenching kits ! 52-53 Ford or Merc rims welded on - reproductions are available several places, including Night Prowlers. Mount bucket on rear face of fender instead of front, and weld in place. Fits a shoebox fairly well - will need a small patch on the top, if i remember correctly. Here are some pictures of my shoebox showing what it looks like.
If you are going to french the lights use original 52/53 Ford or Merc rings or use the ones from Butches or Nightprowlers. Those Hagen things are uglier than home made muckie and destroy the looks of any vehicle they are stuck on. The Autoloc ones are Hagens or closely resemble them. Look closely at the photos that fms427 posted of his ragtop and click on it and blow it up. Those rings look right and proper on the car and you can see the whole headlight rather than seeing it half hidden behind the ring like you see on the cars with Hagen kits where the ring covers a third of the headlight surface. And yes my truck has 53 Merc rings used to french the lights on it in my avatar.
KOOL Rides has a Custom Beams frenching kit; info at www.koolrides.com or call 620-441-3783 for complete description.
When I did my 50 Ford I used the stock rings and just flipped the stock clips so the bezel is installed from the fender. I to thought of a frenching kit but after much thought the stock rings look the best IMHO Brent
The Jalopy Journal
