hey guys, workin on the 53 customline and i poped the headlight rings/hoods whatever you want to call them on the car and they seem way loose. the clip at the bottom and top are fine and the set screw is in at the bottom but it still seems loose enough that it possible is supposed to have a gasket of some sort between the fender and the ring/hood? if not how do i get them tight? if so any ideas what to use on a budget for a gasket? im super clsoe to firing that flatheadup and taking it for a spin around the blocka nd i dont want to have the bezels pop off and run over themor something ****ty like that. thanx guys tim
NO gasket for the ring. It should tighten up when you tighten up the screw at the bottom. QUOTE=Tim]hey guys, workin on the 53 customline and i poped the headlight rings/hoods whatever you want to call them on the car and they seem way loose. the clip at the bottom and top are fine and the set screw is in at the bottom but it still seems loose enough that it possible is supposed to have a gasket of some sort between the fender and the ring/hood? if not how do i get them tight? if so any ideas what to use on a budget for a gasket? im super clsoe to firing that flatheadup and taking it for a spin around the blocka nd i dont want to have the bezels pop off and run over themor something ****ty like that. thanx guys tim[/QUOTE]
"NO gasket for the ring. It should tighten up when you tighten up the screw at the bottom." hmmm, intresting. the drivers side is still lose after putting the screw in but ill have to see if i can get it any tighter. and looks like the tab onthe inside that that screw goes into on the p***enger side is gone/busted off so ill have to figure something out there. thanx tim
Mine fit without a gasket. If I recall correctly they went from cast to stamped (or vice versa) in those years.
The TBird suppliers have a lower retainer clips (looks like a tab). They may be the same as 52/54 Ford. Unfortunately the one I use doesn't have on online picture. if you have a friend with a 55/57 Bird, he may have a catalogue which shows it.
thanx thats a good idea, i apreciate the lead. and ron....how do you get the lights out then? just put all the hardware in backwards from the inside? thanxtim
Tim You can put the light ***y in from the back side, then glue the trim in with ureathane or something. Or you put the light ***y ifrom the back, make some little tabs, weld inside the ring, drill a couple holes in the trim ring, and hold it in with a couple screws. That is the way I did mine now I can r&r and adjust the light from the front. If you want I can pop my ring off and snap a couple pix to show you what I mean. BTW I ask the guy about that New Yorker bar and he said she will not sell parts have to take the whole car. I need to get out there anyway they said she had a 55 Desoto with the grill in it also. Ron
I frenched the headlights(and tail lights) on my '53 Customline using the existing rings (they were stamped steel luckily). RON is right you have access to the light ***emblies through the backside of the fenders, if memory serves... wait, what was I talking about?
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