MY headlight assembly is shot

[tscott9330]

alright my head light assembly is totaly screwed. The mounts that hold the headlights in place are totaly rusted away, there isn't anything to weld new metal to or anyhting.

If you take your fist and give the front clip a good thump rust goes a flyin'. so what should I do? the headlight frames alone cost a ton, almost 400 each and the I still have the problem with the strip of metal that runs under the nose of the car.

If i buy a whole new front end from ecklers or someone like that, will they come with the hard ware to mount headlights too?

am I screwed?

Tom

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

Well there is the though of buying a good use nose and installing that. There is a complete 77 nose on Ebay for $500. If it is close to enough to you that may be an option.

The other, if you don't mind non-stock, is change to the Mozda style headlights, but it sound like you may need to replace more than just the headlights. A GOOD, let me say again, GOOD used nose may be the most cost effective way to go.

Gary

 

[69MyWay]

Tom,

It can't be as bad as you imagine.

The only steel in the nose is the V upper support bar between the headlights and hood, and the front metal strip between the headlights and nose.

These can be replaced! You are not screwed (unless you can't do this yourself...then you are paying a mint for a shop to do it.

Order the new metal V support. Remove your headlights, grilles, etc. Go under and take a chisel, and hammer/chisel the old bar off. Grind and clean the mating surface. Test fit, then use bonding adhesive and glue the replacement support in place. Mount your headlights, etc. back in....and you are good to go.

If you come up my way this weekend, I will show you the back side of the 71 front clip. It will help you understand what you are looking at. Heck, you can help me finishing putting the 71 together if you like!

 

[bossvette]

mine were shot and I replaced them with 96 chevy truck lites at roughly $300 for everything took about three days
pictures

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?selected=367303

an added benifit is the car went on a diet and lost some weight

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

Bossvette

Very nice headlights. How did you attach the lens covers?

Gary

 

[tscott9330]

Wow thanks for the invite 69, I wish I could get up your way this weekend but i gotta work. but you are right, the more i look at it the more ways I see to fix it. thanks for the help and I'll take a rain check on that visit

Tom

 

[bossvette]

Copdogcorvettes
thanks, if you look at the third picture in the third row you will see tabs bent it the "trays" I used stainless sheetmetal screws.
I made a new header bar out of aluminum 1/4x4 stock and used the headlights from a 96 GM pickup. I took the headlight assembly off the mounting fixture(the adjusters are in it) and mounted it to the aluminum headerbar. the "trays" mount to the metal bumper bracket in the front with the long bracket and are supported in the rear by the "Z" bracket which are made from 1/8x1 aluminum.

 

[tscott9330]

69myway,

is the nose support propper name the V support or is it called somethign else? I searched for it on ecklers and no luck. I'll keep looking, man I wish I had my assembly manual with me

Tom

 

[bossvette]

Tom
Ecklers header bar support Part# 26210

http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf_id=26210&dept_id=1458&mscssid=3NHRF0CSEBNQ8PMMCKJ5UQ85RPM7EL0D

you will need header bar support brackets from Volenteer Vette products

3103 East Gov. John Sevier Hwy
Knoxville, TN 37914
Phone 865-521-9100 • FAX 865-522-0080

http://www.volvette.com/Merchant2/m...ore_Code=VVP&Product_Code=HE79&Category_Code=

http://www.volvette.com/Merchant2/m...ore_Code=VVP&Product_Code=HE80&Category_Code=

 

[Robin7TFour]

gary, i made my own covers also. i used 1/8 thick aluminum. they were 1 inch wide and 3 inches long. i bonded mine to the underside of the headlight opening. then match-drilled the lexan cover. after that i tapped the tabs for a #8-32 button head screw.


enjoy the ride

robin

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

Robin,
Thanks, I've been thinking of putting a set of covers on mine. I looked into buying a set, but everywhere I looked I thought it was just to much money for what you were getting. When I saw your I started thinking, I could do that. So, I've learned that if someone else has done it; ask them before starting. It can save a lot of work and loss of hair from the hand fulls that get pulled out when things don't work.
I have also been looking at changing to the small round Euro, Rice burner, style lights. Then molding them in; but for now I think I'll just work on the covers. I'm wanting to get back to driving, not working on the vette.
Thanks again for the information. I'll start looking at how to make up the mounting brackets.

Gary

 

[clar2001]

I bought mine from riks $150 that was with $200 off for my stock light asb....

 

[bossvette]

Robin
Have you tried shaded covers? I tried a light smoke and could not see to drive at night, I also thought of bonding tabs to the underside of the body. Are your covers flat ? I thought of putting a piece of lexan on the original cover in the oven to get the contour, but am not real concerned about it at this time.
one other thing I am considering is to make a mold of the origional covers and make fiberglass covers mounted to a mechinism to drop them down when the lights are on thus retaining the "stock look" I have not figgured it out yet but am thinking on it. I was considering a single large rect headlight at one time also, where there is a will there is a way.

Gary your Vette looks sharp