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[C2] Istalling headlight support rod

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Old Jul 27, 2016 | 04:57 PM
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Default Istalling headlight support rod

On my 64 coupe the headlight support rods are missing.So I purchased new ones and I am not absolutely sure which side of the headlamp mounting bracket the rod attaches to.The right side or left side of the headlamp mounting bracket.Picture #1 shows bracket only,#2 shows rod on left side and #3 shows rod on the right side.Any help would be appreciated and thanks in advance.Alan
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Old Jul 27, 2016 | 05:04 PM
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Picture #2 is correct, bolt head should come from the bucket side.
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Old Jul 27, 2016 | 06:44 PM
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Originally Posted by jrm5657
Picture #2 is correct, bolt head should come from the bucket side.


DUB
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Old Jul 28, 2016 | 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by jrm5657
Picture #2 is correct, bolt head should come from the bucket side.
Thanks for the quick reply and thank you again.
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Old Jul 29, 2016 | 12:06 PM
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Well, at least you can get yours to line up.....someone screwed up at some point on my car, and the rods are too long....no way I can even get em in there.
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Old Jul 29, 2016 | 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by DucatiDon
Well, at least you can get yours to line up.....someone screwed up at some point on my car, and the rods are too long....no way I can even get em in there.
You running a big block radiator support by any chance? Rods are different lenghts for BB v SB. BB are shorter.
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Old Jul 29, 2016 | 01:11 PM
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I doubt that's the case...... nevermind. definitely a sb core support.

Last edited by DucatiDon; Jul 29, 2016 at 01:16 PM.
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Old Sep 17, 2016 | 11:23 AM
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I thought I'd reply to this thread rather than start a new one so that the info is in one place.

Can someone tell me the size of the bolt that is used to attach the headlight support rod to the headlight bucket (including threads per inch and length)? My '67 AIM shows a part number of 180066. When I Google that, I find lots of vendors selling the bolts, but nowhere do I see the bold size. I need the size so that I can root through my box of parts that came with my car to see if I already have what I need.

The support rods on my '67 are attached at the bottom at the radiator support but not at the top to the headlight buckets. They were not attached when I bought the car in April and likely never attached after the PO put the body back on the frame a couple of years ago. I'm hoping that there isn't a reason why they rods are not attached and that a fitment issue doesn't come to light when I go to attach them.

Thanks,
Rick
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Old Sep 17, 2016 | 11:34 AM
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Originally Posted by AkrHack
I thought I'd reply to this thread rather than start a new one so that the info is in one place.

Can someone tell me the size of the bolt that is used to attach the headlight support rod to the headlight bucket (including threads per inch and length)? My '67 AIM shows a part number of 180066. When I Google that, I find lots of vendors selling the bolts, but nowhere do I see the bold size. I need the size so that I can root through my box of parts that came with my car to see if I already have what I need.

The support rods on my '67 are attached at the bottom at the radiator support but not at the top to the headlight buckets. They were not attached when I bought the car in April and likely never attached after the PO put the body back on the frame a couple of years ago. I'm hoping that there isn't a reason why they rods are not attached and that a fitment issue doesn't come to light when I go to attach them.

Thanks,
Rick
Just take out that bolt and use/measure it...its the same as top bolt/hole...
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Old Sep 17, 2016 | 12:59 PM
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Originally Posted by 66jack
Just take out that bolt and use/measure it...its the same as top bolt/hole...
Good thought, but the AIM shows that the bottom support rod bolt is a different part#. Therefore it won't be the same. After looking at the AIM again, I see that the part# for the top support rod bolt is 122007. The bottom bolt that attaches the rod to the radiator support is 180086.

Last edited by AkrHack; Sep 17, 2016 at 01:08 PM.
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Old Sep 17, 2016 | 01:04 PM
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Originally Posted by AkrHack
Good thought, but the AIM shows that the bottom support rod bolt is a different part#. Therefore it won't be the same.
Different length?...diameter same...
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Old Sep 17, 2016 | 01:15 PM
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Originally Posted by 66jack
Different length?...diameter same...
Could be. I won't be able to get to that one easily though when the time came to reinstall the bottom bolt. I'd guess that the grill has to come out to get access so I can reattach the bottom rod to the radiator support. It looks like the bumper supports need to come off to get the grill out. If I have to do that I will, but this job sure would be easier if I didn't have to.
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Old Sep 17, 2016 | 01:16 PM
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remove a rod and check the size up top.
I think it is 1/4-20 about 1/2" long.
bottom is 5/16-20 about 1 3/4" long I believe.
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Old Sep 17, 2016 | 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by AkrHack
Could be. I won't be able to get to that one easily though when the time came to reinstall the bottom bolt. I'd guess that the grill has to come out to get access so I can reattach the bottom rod to the radiator support. It looks like the bumper supports need to come off to get the grill out. If I have to do that I will, but this job sure would be easier if I didn't have to.
You should be able to remove the bolts/screws on the grille and move it to gain access to the bolt...worth a try...better than removing bumpers/supports...
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Old Sep 17, 2016 | 01:35 PM
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Thanks 66jack and 65hihp. Your answers should suffice to get me going. Hopefully the holes in the rods will line up with the holes in the headlight buckets and I'll be able to install the missing bolts without having to take the grill out or opening some other can of worms.
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Old Sep 17, 2016 | 01:52 PM
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I don't have a midyear handy here at the house, but I believe the top bolts are 5/16-18 and probably a half inch long, probably the shortest ones you can get at hardware store.

These rods are very problematic to install, particularly if the front end has had repair work done before. The core support, headlight support rods, and the core support shims to the frame all have to work together or you end up with a big mess and potentially lots of stress on the body. If they happen to line up and the bolts go in easy, you are lucky. Otherwise, you will want to loosen up the core support bolts connecting to the inner fenders and the front frame horns and try to get everything to line up correctly, then tighten everything back up.
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Old Sep 17, 2016 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by jrm5657

These rods are very problematic to install, particularly if the front end has had repair work done before. The core support, headlight support rods, and the core support shims to the frame all have to work together or you end up with a big mess and potentially lots of stress on the body. If they happen to line up and the bolts go in easy, you are lucky. Otherwise, you will want to loosen up the core support bolts connecting to the inner fenders and the front frame horns and try to get everything to line up correctly, then tighten everything back up.
I am hoping this isn't why the rods are not presently connected. The PO had the body off the frame and it is possible that it isnt shimmed properly. How much of a problem is it to leave the rods disconnected and drive the car this way?
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Old Sep 17, 2016 | 03:35 PM
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what I have seen if the rods do not fit is they get bent until they do fit.
You should be able to lay the rod ends right at the top holes and eyeball/guage if they line up or not.
The top bolts are such a pain to install that they may have been left out for that reason.
As I recall you must roll the headlights up, and remove the bulb surround covers to get some room to install the small hex head bolts into the top of the rods.
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Old Sep 17, 2016 | 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by AkrHack
I am hoping this isn't why the rods are not presently connected. The PO had the body off the frame and it is possible that it isnt shimmed properly. How much of a problem is it to leave the rods disconnected and drive the car this way?
That is why the body should be sitting on the frame, and the core support installed and these rods installed when doing front end glass work and fitting the hood and headlight buckets. Too many people don't do that, then they wonder why these rods don't want to fit correctly. As others have posted, these rods often get bent or welded to make them fit. They really, really need to be installed, otherwise your headlight support bar is just hanging out there bouncing around.
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