Aiming Headlights for a 68
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 13
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Aiming Headlights for a 68
We need to adjust the headlights for her '68. Does anyone know how to go about this? I know how to adjust the lamp, but what I am looking for is how to make it correct so we can see and not blind the oncoming traffic. Is there cetian measurments to take while they shine on a wall or on the ground?
Thanx for any info!
Go Dale!
Thanx for any info!
Go Dale!
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 397
Likes: 1
From: CORTLANDT MANOR NY
The only method I know of is trial and error. There are machines that can be used to set the alignment but I doubt you would have one in your garage.
I aim it at my garage doors and then adjust for what I feel it needs. Higher or lower right and left using the adjusting screws that are on the headlamp assembly on my 70 Cpe.
I aim it at my garage doors and then adjust for what I feel it needs. Higher or lower right and left using the adjusting screws that are on the headlamp assembly on my 70 Cpe.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 7
From: Ontario
I forget which forum member gave me the attached. Works great...very happy with the results. I did not follow exactly, I used a laser level from the center of the headlamps to position line 2.
1. Place vehicle on level floor with headlamps 25 feet from screen or light colored wall. Fuel tank should be half full and no passengers in the car. Clean the headlights and check for proper tire inflation. Make sure the car is square to the screen. If you are in doubt use the "3,4,5" method to extend a chalk line to square up the car.
2. Grid construction: I used black duct tape on my garage door, peeled it off the roll in 1/4" strips. I would suggest drawing this on a piece of paper as you go along through these instructions.
Make a horizontal line the same height from the ground as the center of the headlights. Make the line long enough to be slightly wider then the car. We will call this line #2. (I used a laser level)
Make a vertical line to represent the exact center of the car, extend the tape just a couple inches above and below line 2. We will call this line #4. (this is just a measuring point, not used for aiming)
Make 2 vertical lines same as line 4, but centered on each OUTER headlight. Extend these lines a foot or so above and below line 2. Measure from the center of the hood to center of the light to get this dimension. We will call the left line #3, and the right line #5.
3. With only low beams on, adjust the aiming screws to place the high intensity zone of the headlight beam just touching the bottom of line 2 and just touching the right sides of lines 3 and 5.
4. Cover the low beams and activate the high beams. Adjust the high intensity zone of the headlight beam to center of the intersection of line 2 and lines 3 and 5. In other words, the brightest part of the beam should aim directly at the cross made on the grid on both sides.
The headlight aiming procedure should be done only after the headlight housings are aligned. I'm afraid you will need pictures for that part for sure. Good luck, I hope this helped. I am very satisfied with the performance of my headlights after following this procedure.
1. Place vehicle on level floor with headlamps 25 feet from screen or light colored wall. Fuel tank should be half full and no passengers in the car. Clean the headlights and check for proper tire inflation. Make sure the car is square to the screen. If you are in doubt use the "3,4,5" method to extend a chalk line to square up the car.
2. Grid construction: I used black duct tape on my garage door, peeled it off the roll in 1/4" strips. I would suggest drawing this on a piece of paper as you go along through these instructions.
Make a horizontal line the same height from the ground as the center of the headlights. Make the line long enough to be slightly wider then the car. We will call this line #2. (I used a laser level)
Make a vertical line to represent the exact center of the car, extend the tape just a couple inches above and below line 2. We will call this line #4. (this is just a measuring point, not used for aiming)
Make 2 vertical lines same as line 4, but centered on each OUTER headlight. Extend these lines a foot or so above and below line 2. Measure from the center of the hood to center of the light to get this dimension. We will call the left line #3, and the right line #5.
3. With only low beams on, adjust the aiming screws to place the high intensity zone of the headlight beam just touching the bottom of line 2 and just touching the right sides of lines 3 and 5.
4. Cover the low beams and activate the high beams. Adjust the high intensity zone of the headlight beam to center of the intersection of line 2 and lines 3 and 5. In other words, the brightest part of the beam should aim directly at the cross made on the grid on both sides.
The headlight aiming procedure should be done only after the headlight housings are aligned. I'm afraid you will need pictures for that part for sure. Good luck, I hope this helped. I am very satisfied with the performance of my headlights after following this procedure.
