Can anyone tell me how the replacement headlight adjustment nuts work in the stock headlamp buckets on a 1949 Chevrolet truck? They are not like the original and I cannot figure out how they go. I've attached a photo of the replacement screws and nuts.
Darrell, I see it, and I've done it but have no picture to show exactly how it goes....just from doesn't the plastic pieces have a grove in them......so they can run up onto the screw and the metal cover that goes behind the headlight fits into the slot on the plastic piece. Then, when aiming the headlights the bulb is aimed as you screw one side in or out. (the metal piece behind the light bulb is attached to a spring and the spring attached to the headlight bucket.
......well, at least I tried. Some one that has recently done this will chime in. Many bolters have to take the ladies out on Friday or over the weekend, so that we an Bolt all the other days. Be patient. Help will arrive.
Darrell, I see it, and I've done it but have no picture to show exactly how it goes....just from doesn't the plastic pieces have a grove in them......so they can run up onto the screw and the metal cover that goes behind the headlight fits into the slot on the plastic piece. Then, when aiming the headlights the bulb is aimed as you screw one side in or out. (the metal piece behind the light bulb is attached to a spring and the spring attached to the headlight bucket.
......well, at least I tried. Some one that has recently done this will chime in. Many bolters have to take the ladies out on Friday or over the weekend, so that we an Bolt all the other days. Be patient. Help will arrive.
Thanks. There's no groove in the plastic pieces. My original pieces that are bad go behind the metal slot in the headlight bucket and have little dog ears that fold down over the metal slot holding it in place. There is nothing that I can see that allows the plastic pieces to be attached to the metal slots in the headlight bucket.
Here's' a pic of the headlight adjuster screw installed. It just fits in the slot in the bracket and is held there by the headlight bulb holder (for lack of a better term). With the bulb holder out of the bucket, unscrew the plastic bit to the end of the screw and slip it into the bracket, holding the screw head toward the center of the bucket, then straighten the screw up and install the bulb holder.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Here's' a pic of the headlight adjuster screw installed. It just fits in the slot in the bracket and is held there by the headlight bulb holder (for lack of a better term). With the bulb holder out of the bucket, unscrew the plastic bit to the end of the screw and slip it into the bracket, holding the screw head toward the center of the bucket, then straighten the screw up and install the bulb holder.
Thanks Kevin. Mine doesn't look like that at all. I'll get a pic and post it this afternoon when I get home from work.
Here are the photos from my headlamp bucket. You can see that the screw has a different type nut. It is a metal nut with a flange that goes behind the tab and dog ears that turn down over the front of the tab, locking the screw in place. The problem with mine is that the dog ears are worn out and will not hold the screw in place. I have attached two photos of the two screws and nuts that still work ok. The other two photos are of the flange the nut and screw ride on. I don't see any way possible that the nuts available in the parts magazine would work.
Interesting. Looks like the headlight buckets and adjusters might have changed between 1949 and 1951, although Jim Carter lists the adjusters as being for 41-57. Maybe the thing to do is change to the later headlight buckets unless you can find the proper adjusters. [on edit] Chevy's of the 40's has a different style adjuster that you may be able to make work. It looks like it completely replaces the bracket in the bucket. It appears that LMC also has the same style adjuster, but listed for 57-58 trucks.
Last edited by klhansen; 03/12/201811:18 PM.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
So, given the fact that the headlight buckets I have are not suitable for the adjusting nuts sold in the catalogs and I have no idea where I would get adjusting nuts for the buckets I have, I'm assuming my best option is to buy a different headlight bucket. It looks as though all of the parts books don't sell the bucket alone. It looks like you have to buy the complete headlight assembly to get the bucket. Anyone know where I can purchase just the bucket itself? Or does anyone possibly know what these headlight buckets I have go to so I could get adjusting nuts for the ones I have? I would really prefer to keep the buckets I have and find adjusting screws that work with them because I have already run new wires with rubber grommets and I don't know if the new grommets would come out without tearing up.
Have you investigated the adjusters that Chevy's of the 40's and LMC have? I think those could be used if you drill out the rivets on your buckets and bolt them in. The picture from Chevy's of the 40's includes the hardware for mounting them in the bucket replacing the existing bracket. Probably cheaper than buying complete replacement buckets. Chevy's of the 40's Item # 924561B 40-58 at $4.79 per set.
Last edited by klhansen; 03/14/201812:13 AM.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
