on my 72 are there supposed to be some sort of a spacer on the front of the headlight assembly brackets that mounts between the bracket and the front nose bar? The AIM doesn't show them but on my car there are some sort of square metal spacers. If they are supposed to be there where can you get new ones? I can't find them at Ecklers, Zip, or Paragon. Someone enlighten me please! No smarta$$ cracks DB, i know you are thinking of one already!

Thanks,

Sully

 

By 'spacers', do you mean shims? How thick are the ones you have?
Regards,
Alan

 

The short answer is no, there aren't suppose to be spacer blocks. (unless your supports have been changed)

The headlight support was changed over the years. Your 72 should be the same as my 70. What is repro'd to work on our years is to fit a later design change, which has a somewhat shortened front mount to bumper reinforcement. Our years has a longer piece in front and in order to use the repro'd piece on our cars, they come with the spacer blocks to make up the difference.

Don't know where you can get only the spacers, but it is just a simple block

BTW I have seem GM pieces with our correct part number that came with the blocks. So unless you find used pieces your stuck using the spacer pieces.

 

What kind of problem are you having that leads you to think its missing shims?

 

Hi Sully
I have a set of NOS ones in the bag and the bolts and the GM instructions. 25.00 and shipping. If that is too much then I have 2 out of the package no bolts. One hole for some reason is drilled out bigger than the other stock one. Other wise still good spacers. 12.00 and shipping.
Thanks, Grant

 

These spacers, just square chunks of metal, were not on the original. They were supplied with some later GM replacement headlight supports that were fits all. They bring the front of the HL bucket up enough to adjust the light position.

 

I wrecked my 72 coupe last Sept when I hydroplaned and went front first into a parked car. Fortunately there was no frame damage. I did however have to put a new front clip onto the car and replace both headlight assemblies. The replacement headlight assemblies are from a 71 and are original. The spacers were present on my car before my accident and you can see that there was some front end body work done before. I'm guessing someone crashed in the front end once before. The car is now in perfect shape and almost ready to paint. I am just trying to finish the headlight assembly mounting and fitment along with prefitting the front grillwork before the paint goes on. When the assembly is mounted in place it sits low in the headlamp hole...the old set had the spacers so I just figured it was a part supposed to be there. Along the lines of different designs for the brackets... 69-74 are supposed to be the exact same and 75 -up are supposed to be the same. The replacement ones I have that came from a 71 are original and they look just like any other ones I have seen for the 69-74 models. I agree that the 75 and up ones are really different in their bracket design. I'm gonna try mounting them without the spacers and see if I can adjust them to fit evenly and flush. If not I will get the spacers from one of you that offered. Thank you.

Sully

 

I'll still go on record that neither your car or the 71 originally came with spacers. Although the part number might be the same as the non spacer pieces, the piece with the spacer became the SERVICE REPLACEMENT piece for all.

I would guess that the spacer pieces,(used without spacers), were for 73-74 with the rubber bumper and different nose support. At that point ,I doubt GM would continue to make the non spacer piece as the service replacement ,when with a spacer, the newer design would fit 68-72.

 

Dennis,

i would not be surprised at all... I'm sure with the molded front nose change in 73 there had to be some changes in the nose and header bar but if that is the case... when you order say a complete headlamp assembly from someone like ecklers or Zip why would they not supply you with the spacers... I don't see them anywhere in their catalog.


Still confused... and frustrated...

Sully

 

The venders don't know everything. Thats what GM made as a replacement, so thats sometimes what venders go by. I had a heck of a time replacing the header bar on my 70.(the piece the other end that HL reinforcement attaches to.) All the venders swore they has NOS, but was still wrong for my 70. They are also service replacements.


check this out. (scroll down to part #6258534)The plactic bag has the spacers.Notice the year fit 68-74. Thats what everyone sells (who even has them!) I remember I has a old GM piece in the box. It had the plastic bag with the spacers in it, as well as directions to install on 68-72. I don't think they were ever available seperately.
http://www.bairs.com/page348.asp

 

When you bought over the counter parts from GM the later ones came with the spacers. Today the suppliers probably dont know that they are needed. Just put some shims or spacers in there and go on.

 

Sully, if your lights are too far down in the hole wont the spacers bring it further down in?

Did you adjust the 1/2" socket adjusting screw to bring them up? If the screw isnt bottomed out I'd try tightening it down which in turn will bring the lights up.

Jim

 

Revisiting an old thread of mine b/c I am still in need of these spacers... I know they weren't originally there from the factory but I need them now. Any one have any of these laying around collecting dust?

thanks ,


Sully

 

no luck???

 

those spacers started coming with the headlight supports in the early 70s. you can easily make them. they were about 1 inch square,about half inch thick with a hole in it for the front support bolt.

 

They are just square blocks with a hole in them. Old style square nut would work just fine. They are not original anyway so why not use body or alignment shims?

 

Sully did you read these posts ?

 

Roger,

Sure did see them and Grant's spacers, new and used, are sold and he is going to look for more that he may have stashed away. I have also messed with the alignment screws and the one dealing with up and down movement is bottomed out. A spacer must be used.

thanks,

Sully

 

My 72 came with them also.