Headlight Retaining Ring Screw C2/64

[Larry M.]

I've been thru the archives and the only reference I see is that the screw which holds the stainless ring (and thus the headlight) to the headlight "dog" dish is a pointed (probably fine thread) tapping round head philips head. I'm wondering if this is not for late 60's early 70's. My C2 has a slotted pan head, 3 per bulb, fine thread with flat tip and non threaded smaller diameter lead in or starter section. Pictures in some of the threads I reviewed and some vendor repro parts are the same as my car.

Does anyone know for sure?

One guy said he bought the pointed phillips repro from a pontiac catalog and they were right but I'm thinking he had a C3

[Joe L.]

Re: Headlight Retaining Ring Screw C2/64

I've been thru the archives and the only reference I see is that the screw which holds the stainless ring (and thus the headlight) to the headlight "dog" dish is a pointed (probably fine thread) tapping round head philips head. I'm wondering if this is not for late 60's early 70's. My C2 has a slotted pan head, 3 per bulb, fine thread with flat tip and non threaded smaller diameter lead in or starter section. Pictures in some of the threads I reviewed and some vendor repro parts are the same as my car.

Does anyone know for sure?

One guy said he bought the pointed phillips repro from a pontiac catalog and they were right but I'm thinking he had a C3

Larry------


My recollection is that the screws you describe are the headlamp adjusting screws, not the screws which retain the stainless steel ring to the "bucket".

[Harry S.]

Re: Headlight Retaining Ring Screw C2/64

I've been thru the archives and the only reference I see is that the screw which holds the stainless ring (and thus the headlight) to the headlight "dog" dish is a pointed (probably fine thread) tapping round head philips head. I'm wondering if this is not for late 60's early 70's. My C2 has a slotted pan head, 3 per bulb, fine thread with flat tip and non threaded smaller diameter lead in or starter section. Pictures in some of the threads I reviewed and some vendor repro parts are the same as my car.

Does anyone know for sure?

One guy said he bought the pointed phillips repro from a pontiac catalog and they were right but I'm thinking he had a C3

Only two screws attach the stainless. I just changed bulbs on my 63.

[Larry M.]

Re: Headlight Retaining Ring Screw C2/64

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and my words evidently did not convey my question. So look at the four pics.
Pic 1. The tab on the stainless ring next to the spring has no screw but my 64 car does. The spring essentially negates the need for a screw but I have one nevertheless. Harry's 63 is likely like this..
Pic 2. Clearly shows the pan head screws just like the ones I have on my car. The left light in the picture appears to have a screw in all three tabs. The right light is missing the screw next to the spring but probably has two (although you can't see one of them). The phillips adjusting screws also show buy I'm not asking about them.
Pic 3. This the ring retaining screw which some are saying is correct but I'm asking if they are right.
Pic 4. This is item 443016 at Corvette Central for 56-82 cars. It is a reasonable repro of what I have but is only eight implying two per bulb. Long Island Corvette item 04-21H for 63-67 cars(that's all they do) looks the same but is twelve implying three per bulb

Pics 1&2 were copied off this forum and originally posted by Alan Drake. His pics and my car have slotted pan head similar to Pic 4.

So, were pic 3 and pic 4 screws used on a whatever was available basis for C1/C2/C3 or was there a model year break?

[Larry M.]

Re: Headlight Retaining Ring Screw C2/64

Just a little more information.

First Pic - Stephen Lavigne, NCRS# <8000, once posted this pic, yet a third variation and said it was the correct screw used widely accross GM products

Second Pic - Alan Struck, NCRS# <16000, once posted this pic of a C3/71. This shows the screw from the 3rd pic above installed just below the adjusting screw. Also note in the background that this car has a screw in the tab next to the spring.

Since you can't see these once the bezel is installed you might wonder why I care. There are lots of posts about the bezel screw since the judges can see them easily. But this is a hobby and I'm probably the most critical (although selective) judge. This hobby has gone on long enough that repro parts from years ago look vintage and are in the mill being resold as original, and I'm not just talking about ebay. So when I see a stated "fact" which varies from my car I try to understand the difference. And who knows, when all the old experts die off this may be the only way the young guys will know.