HERE's a picture of the bucket assembly from Jim Carter. They're pretty simple. The spring is attached by a rivet to the rear bucket part and hooks on the bulb holder. The two adjuster screws slip into slots on the bulb holder. One of the adjusters is at the top and the other on either the left or right (that picture may not be oriented how it goes in the truck) with the spring opposing the two adjuster screws. I have a spare bucket in my pile of parts I could dig out if you can't figure it out.
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.
Thanks, yeah I have seen pictures of the assembled bucket but never found one with how it assembles, they came with the truck but were original and they didn’t have the springs nor a riveted area in the bucket, so its making me scratch my head as to how to reassemble them thanks for the feedback maybe someone else can chime in
dogdaddy - A little searching through older posts came across this similar topic thread. Of special note and perhaps help in answering your question, fellow Bolter Denny Graham replied in that thread and provided a set of pictures documenting his restoration of a 1950 Chevy truck headlight.
If you scroll through his pictures you will come across a couple of excellent pictures (copies of those added below) showing the bucket retention spring mounted to the base pin. If your pins are missing from your headlight bucket bases, it may be easier to replace the base piece than to try and fabricate the necessary spring mounting pin.
Hope this helps you out.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
The hook on the spring points toward the center of the bucket. The bulb holder just hooks on to that spring, then the adjuster screws are fitted into the slots. I may get a chance to look at my parts stuff and see what I can share with you tomorrow, although they may be buried somewhat deep in the pile of stuff.
In the meantime, maybe this photo will help you. I added a red arrow pointing to the hole where the spring hooks and yellow arrows pointing at the slots for the adjuster screws. I know that my spare headlight bucket has the spring in place, so if I dig it out I can snap some closeup photos for you of the spring mounting.
Last edited by klhansen; 12/10/20247:20 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.
Thanks it’s starting to be a little more clearer now! Thanks for the info and I appreciate you. If you get a chance to take a picture of it installed that would be great! I am sure I am not the only one that has come across this issue 😂
UPDATE!! Thanks klhansen for the pictures and compass direction to go in. I found the rivets that were holding the old springs in for the buckets. Center punched them and drilled them out. Got the springs ordered and in. Used #8 bolts and nuts to lock them down in case I ever “need” to take it apart again 😂. I took some picture attached here for if anyone asks again. 👍 Oh and one note, I couldn’t attach to the bucket in the original hole so I just drilled a small hole on the outer lip to accommodate attaching the springs. Hope this helps someone in the future. You guys have always been a big help to me.
