Hello
I am rebuilding my headlight buckets on my Corvette..I have taken them apart to find the pivot shafts (both sides) have been welded to the buckets... Why? I wish I knew..

Well the shafts are worn (badly) and need to be replaced..I will grind the welds off..clean them up..Here is my question..


1) how do the pivot shafts go into the bucket? Inside or outside?

2) how are they attached? mounted? I dont see any holes for screws? I see one big hole (besides the shaft hole)on the side of the bucket housing..I dont see any other holes..

Im lil confused..First time taking apart headlight buckets in a Sting Ray..

I want to fix them the "right" way any suggestions greatly appreciated..
Any pictures or information on rebuilding greatly appreciated..

Thanks

 

On my '64 the pivot shafts only mount one way, the outboard shafts mount from the inside out, and attach by four screws each. The inboard shafts mount from the outside in with four screws. I should have said I'm not sure it is the same on '63 buckets.

 

Hello

there are no screw holes for mounting inside of the bucket

 

I just went through this process. You need to look at the AIM. It shows every detail of the headlight assembly. If you don't have a manual go to volvette.com and look at the left side of the home page and click on Technical Diagrams. They have a diagram of the complete headlight assembly. Hope this helps.

 

Hi

I do have and AIM manual at home...Im just confused as why my buckets dont have holes to secure pivot shaft..Anyone else had this problem?
This is a special 1963 Corvette problem?

Thanks

 

The inboard pivot ***'y is attached by small phillips-head machine screws. Female threads are in the bucket assembly, so the screw heads would be facing & flush with the four countersunk holes in the pivot. Thus, it is installed on the "outside" of the bucket.

The outboard pivot is different -- here, the female holes are in the pivot ***'y & the screw heads would be facing flush with the countersunk holes in the headlight bucket. This pivot ***'y gets installed from the "inside" of of the bucket.

This is shown in the isometric drawings in you AIM, but you have to study them awhile since they are kind of busy. You can kind of see the hole locations in the photo below on the two pivot pieces.

Not sure how one "welds" pot-metal ... perhaps you could post a picture of what you have.

 

Does you 1963 have original fiberglass buckets? oWEN

 

The pivot shafts are supposed to be welded to the steel frame that's inside the fiberglas bucket (assuming you have 'glas buckets)
Bob L.

 

63s are welded to the end plate. If your shafts are that far gone you'll have to look for new plates or talk to someone who can weld the old ones up and then lathe them back down to spec.

I don't know if the newer ones could be cut and then welded onto the end plates. Might be worth looking at.

 

I think I might try to fix rough spots with jb weld..Sand smooth

 

Now you're talkin. I am guessin you have the fiberglass buckets like I do. The pivot shafts are welded on. I'd sure try the JB weld fix before I would attempt to replace the end pieces and new shafts.