headlight support rods
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,536
Likes: 138
headlight support rods
Does anyone know of an easy way to connect these rods. I have them loose on the headlights,but I'm off about 3/8 of an inch on the radiator support. It's a 63 I'm working on.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 1,283
From: Horsham Pa
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
How long have they been off? If they have been off for a month or 2 it sagged and will need help to bolt them back on. I know how to do it safely with a floor jack and a pc of wood but if you never did it try opening the hood and with 2 hands lift the headlight cross member and have someone put the bolts in. Run the bolts into the support rod NOTE! before you start make sure the bolts go in by hand.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,536
Likes: 138
How long have they been off? If they have been off for a month or 2 it sagged and will need help to bolt them back on. I know how to do it safely with a floor jack and a pc of wood but if you never did it try opening the hood and with 2 hands lift the headlight cross member and have someone put the bolts in. Run the bolts into the support rod NOTE! before you start make sure the bolts go in by hand.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 447
From: NJ Hockey beer league
Loosen the front mount and put a jack under with a block of wood, raise slightly and my guess is the holes will line up. The nose probably sagged because the supports were off. It will correct itself once bolted back in place. 
Pilot Dan
Pilot Dan
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,536
Likes: 138
Which front mount,back by the firewall???
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
NO.
I would advise you in getting the front headlight areas HEATED up. I know it seems like it would not help...but it does versus COLD fiberglass. Getting the fiberglass warm/hot will help you. A infra-red heat lamp is what I use.
For me...I use a 2X4 that is covered in a padding VERY WELL. I use my floor jack and have another wood fixture that goes on the saddle of my floor jack that hold it in place well....then I jack up...placing the 2X4 that has been cut to fit in between the headlight doors and catch the strong area on the front nose and SLOWLY raise it. Which is why I heat the panel well. Give the panel time to "move"...and then lightly raise it some more making sure it is still warmed up.
Now...depending on the degree of "sag"..I will often times change my position of my floor jack to near the headlight opening so I can slowly raise one side at a time. Like I wrote...it ALL DEPENDS on how much I have to raise it.
I have had front noses that have sagged a lot...and I mean a lot...and got these rods in place without cracking anything...so hearing that it can not be done is a bunch of "horse feathers".
Just take your time and do not be in a hurry...like I wrote..depending on how much sag you have. A photo of your issue would help.
DUB
I would advise you in getting the front headlight areas HEATED up. I know it seems like it would not help...but it does versus COLD fiberglass. Getting the fiberglass warm/hot will help you. A infra-red heat lamp is what I use.
For me...I use a 2X4 that is covered in a padding VERY WELL. I use my floor jack and have another wood fixture that goes on the saddle of my floor jack that hold it in place well....then I jack up...placing the 2X4 that has been cut to fit in between the headlight doors and catch the strong area on the front nose and SLOWLY raise it. Which is why I heat the panel well. Give the panel time to "move"...and then lightly raise it some more making sure it is still warmed up.
Now...depending on the degree of "sag"..I will often times change my position of my floor jack to near the headlight opening so I can slowly raise one side at a time. Like I wrote...it ALL DEPENDS on how much I have to raise it.
I have had front noses that have sagged a lot...and I mean a lot...and got these rods in place without cracking anything...so hearing that it can not be done is a bunch of "horse feathers".
Just take your time and do not be in a hurry...like I wrote..depending on how much sag you have. A photo of your issue would help.
DUB
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 68
From: Towanda KS
You may have them in, but you may also have induced undue stress in the fiberglass. You will know instantly when you install the headlight buckets. When you sight down the body line from the outboard fender to the center, you want it to be straight. If it goes up and then back down the you need to make some adjustments.
Do this by loosing the bolts that hold the little L brackets at the botton of the support rods on the front valence and also the bolts to the radiator support (accessible in the front wheelwell). Then push the bottom of the radiator support toward the rear of the car and then tighten the bolts back up.
You can gain up to 3/16" this way to allow for the support rod fitment.
tc
Do this by loosing the bolts that hold the little L brackets at the botton of the support rods on the front valence and also the bolts to the radiator support (accessible in the front wheelwell). Then push the bottom of the radiator support toward the rear of the car and then tighten the bolts back up.
You can gain up to 3/16" this way to allow for the support rod fitment.
tc
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But I HATE being one of "those people" who do not read the post and see where it has gone from the initial question....and comment on something that has already been stated.
I am sure it may help someone in the future...THANKS for "looking at it" in a different light.
DUB