1963 Headlight Bucket Early Design Fit

[Frederick H.]

Does anyone have photos of the ends of the early design headlight buckets? I think the early design had a seam filler for the gaps but one of the buckets has had previous repair and I need a correct example to compare it to. I bought the early design bezels separately, so they will need some tweaking to fit properly. I cannot find the gap measurements in the judging manual or AIM for the fit between the bezels and the buckets, so if anyone has those or can tell me where to find, it would be greatly appreciated.

I have attached a photo of each end of the bucket.

Thanks in Advance,

Fred

[Douglas C.]

Re: 1963 Headlight Bucket Early Design Fit

Fred,

Don't know if this is of much help, but here's an early '63 bucket (end view) that I purchased in the late 80's - so it hadn't been re-worked or taken apart.

The filler area looks very similar to yours - and note that the filler seems to only extend into what might be the visible portion of the bucket end when the bucket is in the open position.

The seam filler also helps fill the gap you'll have between the bucket and the early bezel, though even with the filler, you may still have a small visible gap.

Getting everything to fit right in the headlight opening is no small feat.

--Doug, Member 13644

[Peter H.]

Re: 1963 Headlight Bucket Early Design Fit

DOUG...On another note are your headlight pods held in with four shallow head 1/4 inch hex head bolts ? mine were a bear to remove...Peter...

[Frederick H.]

Re: 1963 Headlight Bucket Early Design Fit

Great photo - thanks for sharing. My "NCRS" guy at the shop where my mechanical work will be done added the clips but for some reason, did some grinding to even things up and now my paint and body guy is having to re-work. I will forward the photo to him.
Thanks,

Fred #6873

[Richard G.]

Re: 1963 Headlight Bucket Early Design Fit

Here is the condition I found one of my headlights. Early 63 that had the late style clips added on. I was able to carefully grind off the weld and use them on my early car.


Also shows the hard to find bolt that retains the 1963 pod to the bucket. Don't loose the plastic plugs. They are clear or yellow in 63 and black in later years. To my knowledge only the black ones are reproduced. The reproduction black headed screws, that retain the front bezel, were too short, just barely catching the tab. A disaster waiting to happen. I ended up finding a better (longer) black screw at the local Ace Hardware.

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Headlight Bucket Early Design Fit

You can also add red to the color....

[Edward J.]

Re: 1963 Headlight Bucket Early Design Fit

Talking about the early screws , Mine were chrome although the JM calls for black screws I really believe that they used chrome for the early car and black for later cars. this is just a guess but I have had some members here talk about these screws. The later cars the screws were short and the top two screws were very long and were not threaded the full length.