Headlight Door "Up" Adjustment - 1981 Corvette

[Jon S]

I understand there are three adjustments for the headlight door:

The doors have (3) adjustments

1. Stroke..This is the threaded rod exiting the air motor to the pivot pin (this is NOT used as a limit position) When this is set proporly the head light door will move more up (more than you need) and down further (than you need)

2. Upper limit... This is a bracket located on each headlight door (*looks like a hockey stick with a hex bolt threaded into the end (oposite the door) and the fender side of each bucket. The hex bolt comes in contact with the body when its in the upper position. This is what you adjust to get your door to stop at the position that your bezel is flush to the body. This is a hard bolt to get your wrench on but be patant and you will succeed. ( you might have to lower the door manually and adjust and open up door to check adjustment.

3. Lower Limit....This is a hex head stud (I think 5/16" dia) that is sticking down at the pivot point of the knockle that pushes the door up and pulls down. once you have the up set you can set this when the door is all the way down. Keep adjusting until the door is mostly flush with body.

Does anyone have a picture of 2. - Upper limit adjustment bolt? I have removed the housing cover and stared for over 1/2 hour but could not find the bolt in question for the "up limit" adjustment. My right light cover goes up a spec too high and I would like to adjust it. The down adjustment is perfect and that large adjustment bolt is easy to locate.

 

[Peer81]

Get under the car, under the headlight. Try to move the headlight up by hand and you'll see the bolt in question right on the moving part. When you're under it you'll have it in 5 minute, I think when you're in front there is no way to see it

Greetings Peter

 

[Jon S]

Get under the car, under the headlight. Try to move the headlight up by hand and you'll see the bolt in question right on the moving part. When you're under it you'll have it in 5 minute, I think when you're in front there is no way to see it

Greetings Peter

Thanks Peter! Next dry day I will take a look from under the car.

 

[6880 Mike]

The 81 AIM shows a different stop. Call Out #5.

Older cars have a L shaped bracket.

 

[Jon S]

Get under the car, under the headlight. Try to move the headlight up by hand and you'll see the bolt in question right on the moving part. When you're under it you'll have it in 5 minute, I think when you're in front there is no way to see it

Greetings Peter

Peter -

Well, I spent yet another hour under the car and the only "bolt" I found was the one large one in the center of the assembly that adjusts the "DOWN' position of the cover. I did see two bolts that held the spring assemblies and they are in slots indicating up/down movement/adjustment, but I didn't want to mess with them as the springs have tons of tension up or down. I moved the headlight assembly up and down several times, but did not find the bolt in question. Could you be more specific or attach a picture?

Mike -

Could you attach a larger copy of the 81AIM or just the portion that pertains to the 1981 cover "UP" adjustment?

Thanks guys, in advance.

Jon

 

[Peer81]

As I see it I was wrong (sorry for that!) and Mike is right! You can look for the height stop on the outside of the headlight assembly it is a plastic bracket that sticks under the body. Altho I didn't have to us it the assembly shows it there fot that purpose.
Or else what you could do it adjust the rod end (turn it in I think) and after that reset the lower stop bolt (that you found in the first place and I thought was the upper stop..)

As I see it following this picture:

The lower stop is controlled by the bolt when part R is in a 90 degrees backward position.
The upper stop isn't there, part R just stops (fixed in place) when it contacts the metal from part J.

Greetings Peter

 

[Peer81]

Did you find it?
Today I found it when I wanted to remove the headlight bezel. On the outside side is a metal L shaped bracket like Mike has highlighted. You can adjust it by loosing the two bolts and you can turn it up or down. Good luck!

Greetings Peter

 

[Jon S]

Did you find it?
Today I found it when I wanted to remove the headlight bezel. On the outside side is a metal L shaped bracket like Mike has highlighted. You can adjust it by loosing the two bolts and you can turn it up or down. Good luck!

Greetings Peter

A picture would be a great help as I could not find that adjustment piece. Since they are flush closed, I had given up.

Jon

 

[Peer81]

This is it in yellow:

It on the outside of the two headlight assemblies. When you remove the shroud around the headlights you should be able to see it and acces it (i think 9/16 wrench).

You can see it in this picture, its in the same place but "bend" more to the back, as it goes open it stops when thoughing the headlight assembly surrounding.

Greetings Peter

 

[Peer81]

I've taken two pictures to give a little help.

First if the elbow metal piece is toughing the metal piece behind it (with the lower adjusting bolt in it) then there is no way to get it even higher (or cutting the elbow piece). In the picture you see the elbow piece not toughting the metal piece. The elbow looks a little different in shape but does the same thing.

If there aren't toughing each other then you can adjust the metal bracket.

Greetings Peter

 

[TWINRAY]

I know this is an old post but FWIW, the repro assembly that I have recently purchased is different from the oem. In Peter's last photo, the "hockey puck" bracket has the 2 bolt holes with elongated slots. The repro's do not have that adjustment range. In additon, at the other end of the bracket there is no upper stop adjustment - no hole with the screw stud and nut to limit the stop. To get my lower edge of the bezel even with the surround when the lights are up, I had to shim the space between the 2 legs of the new surround and the header bar.

 

[Jon S]

Still no resolution

My covers close flush but when open, the Right side is about 1/4' too high . .. the Left side bottom is flush with the cutout surround. The Shop Manual discusses a rubber covered nut with a lock nut for adjusting the open height, but it is nowhere to be found. Adjuting the 2 bolts on the l shaped piece provided no help. Sill stumped on the 1981.

Jon

 

[Peer81]

Our vettes don't have the rubber head bolt only the older 3's have them. But you can stil make it yourself.

Greetings Peter

 

[Jon S]

Our vettes don't have the rubber head bolt only the older 3's have them. But you can stil make it yourself.

Greetings Peter

Peter -

I know our Vettes don't have the rubber head bolt referenced in the 1981 Shop Manual, but there has to be something besides the outside L shaped piece with 2 bolts and slots to limit the "UP" movement. This car is all original and there has to be something similar to the bolt adustment for the DOWN height for the UP height. The L shaped piece has lots of room for adjustment, but it does not change the UP height for me. I really don't want to make a part for it that does not belong there.

Jon

 

[Peer81]

I think that if there should be a second "up stop" somewhere there isn't any need for the elongated holes in the "to the outside" L shape piece. I took mine apart several times as I changed to HID but didn't find anything. But if you find something please let us know

Greetings Peter