C2 headlight doors

[67HEAVEN]

How long since you've completely removed and reinstalled the headlight motors, buckets and all associated hardware on a C2 Corvette?

Lots of fun, no?

Mine are mounted again, and they sure look good where they belong. New buckets, and all new hardware inside and out. Man!!!

The fit isn't perfect (after the very extensive fender modifications we made), but it's certainly within the acceptablility range at 180mph.

My body man may have a slightly better touch at adjusting these than me. We'll see....but they look good.

Did I mention there are a lot of pieces? :gap

 

[WayneC]

Never done it, and I'm not looking forward to attempting it. From what I've heard, it's a bear! Congrats.

 

[Dave65]

Been there, done that (I installed the buckets and the motors, the wife installed the hardware and lamps).

Dave

 

[67HEAVEN]

Dave,

I've always admired the work you did on that car. Nice.

 

[Dave65]

Dave,

I've always admired the work you did on that car. Nice.

Thank you. That is very nice of you to say. I feel the same way about your work on the BIG RED ONE.

I think it is cool the wife is working on the vette. She has actually told me to replace parts I would have kept - said they looked like crap.

Dave

 

[IH2LOSE]

I have spent hours adjusting mine and I just dont think I can ever get mine perfect.When my car was repainted they repaired some cracks in the corners and after they fifnished the glass work he cleaned up the edge and took too much off.


I would rate headlight bucket removal and adjustment right up there with brake bleeding in my top 10 thing I dont want to do again

 

[67HEAVEN]

I have spent hours adjusting mine and I just dont think I can ever get mine perfect.

Last night, I though I'd adjust the to-the-shaft angle of my pass-side motor a bit. Damn perfectionism -- I twisted off the small bolt that holds the top of the support bar between the motor housing and the upper surround between the headlight openings. Weakened bolt (they are very thin to begin with).

Since it's broken off in a spot-welded nut inside the fiberglass, I'll have to drill and tap -- up inside the area above where the headlight motors are. Fortunately, I haven't installed the grill or rad yet, but this should guarantee a muscle cramp or two.

It's always something.

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

How long since you've completely removed and reinstalled the headlight motors, buckets and all associated hardware on a C2 Corvette?

Lots of fun, no?

Mine are mounted again, and they sure look good where they belong. New buckets, and all new hardware inside and out. Man!!!

The fit isn't perfect (after the very extensive fender modifications we made), but it's certainly within the acceptablility range at 180mph.

My body man may have a slightly better touch at adjusting these than me. We'll see....but they look good.

Did I mention there are a lot of pieces? :gap

I have watched this done many a time at my friends Restoration Shop. I don't look forward to doing this job. As of now I have a lazzy passenger side bucket.

When I hit the switch the driver side will come up fast while the passenger side stays down..and then I shut the driver side again to make the wink. The chickies get a kick out of that.

I might just leave it that way......I might get lucky. Sometimes if I give the passenger side front bumper a "Fonz" (Happy Days) the bucket will come back to life for a month or two.

 

[1KULC7]

Just finished mine too...but....

On the 63 they are FIBERGLASS....you need the patience of a saint to refit these bad boys....eveything has to line up perfect. Again all new harware etc. Finally done, but it took hours, now I go to take them off again to paint the car...but worse if over, finished the fitting...

 

[67HEAVEN]

I meant to post this view of the hidden headlights a while back, but here it is now.

 

[Milehigh66]

I sure could have used this picture about 10 days ago 67heaven, oh well, I printed it for my file. It took about an hour a headlight to get just the buckets back in for me, and probably another hour just to put in the motors. Not an easy job at all.
Looks good and a great detailed picture.

Kurt

 

[BarryK]

I meant to post this view of the hidden headlights a while back, but here it is now.

Better you than me Heaven! I wouldn't even know where to begin on a job like that
LOL

 

[hatdragracer]

Detailed instructions for removal/replacement?

Both the motors on my 64 are now non-functional. I purchased a rebuild for both, but have not yet removed. My Chevrolet service manual shows little detail, but I could really use some expert advice on how to go about removing the motors at least, but preferable the whole door.

Any links, ideas, comments greatly appreciated.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Both the motors on my 64 are now non-functional. I purchased a rebuild for both, but have not yet removed. My Chevrolet service manual shows little detail, but I could really use some expert advice on how to go about removing the motors at least, but preferable the whole door.

Any links, ideas, comments greatly appreciated.

One small bolt, one clip, and the wiring harness connector per side and the motors are out.

The bolt attaches the black grounding wire and the support bracket (red in my photo) to the motor housing.

The clip is located on a positioning shaft very near the limit switch (near where the two blue plugs attach). It is visible on the passenger side motor in my photo.

The connector (yellow and green wires; black connector) plugs into the end of the motor housing.

Remove these items and simply slide the motor off the shaft towards the centre of the car.

 

[Ron Miller]

Both the motors on my 64 are now non-functional. I purchased a rebuild for both, but have not yet removed. My Chevrolet service manual shows little detail, but I could really use some expert advice on how to go about removing the motors at least, but preferable the whole door.

Any links, ideas, comments greatly appreciated.

The motor is the easy part, both removal & replacement. The door is much harder, especially replacement & realignment. Unless you have a real need, I'd leave the doors in place. To remove, they have 3 bolts on each end, to the best of my recollection, accessible from inside the headlight bucket once the motors are removed, through a hole on each end of the bucket. The hole should have a plastic or rubber plug in it which is easily removed to reach the bolts. But, as I said, once removed, replacement & realignment can be tricky.

 

[67HEAVEN]

To remove the doors (and as Ron says, I wouldn't unless you have to), you must remove the headlight bezels and the headlights to get a socket through the two holes (remove black plugs) in each bucket. You'll have to manually spin the doors around to be able to reach each of the three holes per side (6 per bucket; 12 in all).

You'll also have to unplug the wiring harnesses at the outer ends where they travel into the buckets.

This stuff is fun. I know because I've had the entire thing apart (including motors) and found that there are way over 100 pieces. :crazy

See Chapter 28.

 

[Chainshot]

I'm looking at a 67 that has a replacement f/e and fixed headlights - not glassed in - but never had buckets installed.

What is a ballpark price for all the hardware ? Buckets, motors, brackets, etc...Are the parts easy to get ? Any idea what a bodyshop may charge to put them in ?

Thanks

 

[67HEAVEN]

Without digging out all my receipts and adding them up, I'll bet the parts alone add up to $2,000 plus. Bodywork and repaint are extra.

You should have a peek under there to check that the four major pivot mounting brackets are in the front end, otherwise you'll have to buy and mount these as well.

Sounds very expensive to me.

 

[Ron Miller]

Without digging out all my receipts and adding them up, I'll bet the parts alone add up to $2,000 plus. Bodywork and repaint are extra.

You should have a peek under there to check that the four major pivot mounting brackets are in the front end, otherwise you'll have to buy and mount these as well.

Sounds very expensive to me.

Ditto

 

[hatdragracer]

67heaven


Thanks for the advice, I feel stupid now that I saw how easy it was. Good advice as well for leaving the doors themselves in. They both move very smoothly, and it was neat that this was the first time I got to see my Vette with the headlights up.

One more question, my position switch on the drivers side has 2 terminals (one on each end) the passenger side switch has only 1 terminal. The passenger side switch trips the "lights" warning on the dash as does the driver side. The reason I am worried is the harness has an extra lead hanging down that appears should be going to another terminal on the passenger side switch. Is this common? Should I just tape up the extra terminals?