68-72 Headlight surround vs bumper bracket
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
68-72 Headlight surround vs bumper bracket
So I re-installed my front bumper and got the alignment pretty decent and the gap as consistent as possible along the front (roughly 1/4")
I cleaned up my headlights and re-installed them, and got the gaps as decent as possible on those (front/back, left/right and the height at the closed position)
When I put the headlight surround on and went to lower it, it just barely misses the corner of the upper bumper bracket that holds the top of the bumperette. Maybe 1/32 of an inch. Both sides are about the same.
Before I start moving everything around, can someone have a look at theirs and see how close the corner of the surround is to the bracket on the way up?
Thanks
Mooser
I cleaned up my headlights and re-installed them, and got the gaps as decent as possible on those (front/back, left/right and the height at the closed position)
When I put the headlight surround on and went to lower it, it just barely misses the corner of the upper bumper bracket that holds the top of the bumperette. Maybe 1/32 of an inch. Both sides are about the same.
Before I start moving everything around, can someone have a look at theirs and see how close the corner of the surround is to the bracket on the way up?
Thanks
Mooser
1969/1971/2021 Coupes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,212
Likes: 80
From: Port Huron MI
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Going out to the garage to look at any close tolerances/clearances. May be clearer to post a picture of the exact area. Not exactly sure where you are talking about. I'll update this post after looking.
Terry
Mooser
I have the same minimal clearance so there's nothing to worry about with yours.
Terry
Mooser
I have the same minimal clearance so there's nothing to worry about with yours.
Last edited by HOOAH; May 12, 2013 at 01:03 PM. Reason: added picture
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Yup, that's the spot. Never noticed before.
I still don't like how close it is. Car is still up on stands so the front may move slightly when it comes down. I think the corner of that bracket might get some clearance added (subtracted) now while I can still get at it.
Mine is a repro or ??? bumper (doesn't have the extra part of that bracket that hangs down and attaches to the grill) so I thought it might be wrong, forget that it was on the car before
The other thing I noticed is that the surround is sitting ahead a little back in the corner but I don't think the forward screws let it go back any. I'll have to check the gap in the up position.
Thanks Terry, another place to look out for
Mooser
I still don't like how close it is. Car is still up on stands so the front may move slightly when it comes down. I think the corner of that bracket might get some clearance added (subtracted) now while I can still get at it.
Mine is a repro or ??? bumper (doesn't have the extra part of that bracket that hangs down and attaches to the grill) so I thought it might be wrong, forget that it was on the car before
The other thing I noticed is that the surround is sitting ahead a little back in the corner but I don't think the forward screws let it go back any. I'll have to check the gap in the up position.
Thanks Terry, another place to look out for
Mooser
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,267
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Mooser,
The clearance on my 71 is about 1/4" on the right side and 5/16"to 3/8" on the left side.
The clearance seems to be dependent on how centered the bumper is, and exactly how that bumperette bracket was welded to the bumper.
So I'd think they would vary from car to car.
If the headlight door is tight in it's bushings I'd think minimal clearance would be o.k..
The question from your first post about the curved slot..... I don't see any movement of the actuator clevis in that slot as I cycle the door. So I'm wondering why too. I never thought of it before. They must have had something in mind since they made that nice nylon bushing to fit the slot. But??
Regards,
Alan
The clearance on my 71 is about 1/4" on the right side and 5/16"to 3/8" on the left side.
The clearance seems to be dependent on how centered the bumper is, and exactly how that bumperette bracket was welded to the bumper.
So I'd think they would vary from car to car.
If the headlight door is tight in it's bushings I'd think minimal clearance would be o.k..
The question from your first post about the curved slot..... I don't see any movement of the actuator clevis in that slot as I cycle the door. So I'm wondering why too. I never thought of it before. They must have had something in mind since they made that nice nylon bushing to fit the slot. But??
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
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From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Thanks Alan
The tight spot on mine (like Hooha) seems to be the corner of the surround to the bend on that bracket.
I just re-centered my bumper and now it's actually touching on the drivers side and slightly less than 1/16 on the drivers side.
The surround has a nice even line along the front where it mounts to the lid so it's sitting straight, not any real adjustment there anyway.
I could space the bumper out but I don't like that answer. I think I'm going to knock that corner down on the bracket and try for 1/8 clearance.
Guess the bumper had a bigger gap last year.
Mooser
The tight spot on mine (like Hooha) seems to be the corner of the surround to the bend on that bracket.
I just re-centered my bumper and now it's actually touching on the drivers side and slightly less than 1/16 on the drivers side.
The surround has a nice even line along the front where it mounts to the lid so it's sitting straight, not any real adjustment there anyway.
I could space the bumper out but I don't like that answer. I think I'm going to knock that corner down on the bracket and try for 1/8 clearance.
Guess the bumper had a bigger gap last year.
Mooser
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,267
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Mooser,
It looks like I have about 1'8" to 3/16" clearance at the corner of the bumperette bracket.
I think Terry's looks a bit closer because the door is pivoted further.
I think 'close' is o.k..
Regards,
Alan
It looks like I have about 1'8" to 3/16" clearance at the corner of the bumperette bracket.
I think Terry's looks a bit closer because the door is pivoted further.
I think 'close' is o.k..
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Thanks again Terry and Alan
I've got about 1/4" gap along the front edge of the body to bumper. It flares out as it goes around the corners but there's nothing I can do about that. Am I running the bumper too close to the body at the front?
Mooser
I've got about 1/4" gap along the front edge of the body to bumper. It flares out as it goes around the corners but there's nothing I can do about that. Am I running the bumper too close to the body at the front?
Mooser
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,267
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Mooser,
Too Close? I don't know.
The AIM (UPC11 Sheet A2) lists no dimension for the gap at the center and .48"-.52" for the gab after the bumper wraps around the corner.
So ?
Regards,
Alan
Too Close? I don't know.
The AIM (UPC11 Sheet A2) lists no dimension for the gap at the center and .48"-.52" for the gab after the bumper wraps around the corner.
So ?
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; May 12, 2013 at 06:48 PM.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
By the looks of it, I've got the front quite a bit closer than that all along and more "sprung" out near the corners than yours.
The outside corners are at around 1/2".
Around 1/4+ along the front.
And 5/16(P) - 1/4(D) in the center. (pass side slightly more of a gap than the drivers but I haven't played with the drivers side corner brace yet.
If I push the center out I get slightly closer at the outside corners.
It stays the same at the front corners (where the corner bolt is) and them gaps as it moves along towards the center.
I'd have to shim the corner bolts out to get an even gap along the front again.
For now I've left well enough alone and smoothed the corner of the brackets slightly to achieve about an 1/8 gap.
Once I've got the other side I'll touch up the bare area to protect it and forget it ever happened.
Ignorance was bliss, but now everything is nice and shiny, (well actually it's kind of dusty and has smudges of anti seize and white grease on it)
The outside corners are at around 1/2".
Around 1/4+ along the front.
And 5/16(P) - 1/4(D) in the center. (pass side slightly more of a gap than the drivers but I haven't played with the drivers side corner brace yet.
If I push the center out I get slightly closer at the outside corners.
It stays the same at the front corners (where the corner bolt is) and them gaps as it moves along towards the center.
I'd have to shim the corner bolts out to get an even gap along the front again.
For now I've left well enough alone and smoothed the corner of the brackets slightly to achieve about an 1/8 gap.
Once I've got the other side I'll touch up the bare area to protect it and forget it ever happened.
Ignorance was bliss, but now everything is nice and shiny, (well actually it's kind of dusty and has smudges of anti seize and white grease on it)