C3 Headlight Bucket Adjustment.

[Joseph S.]

Need some input from some C3 guys on an issue I am having aligning my headlight buckets on a '71 car.

The original headlight buckets had wallowed out headlight bezel screw holes. Thus I replaced the bezel and headlight covers when I had the car refinished. (clean looking used parts)
My first mistake was we did not test fit the covers before refinishing. Now, when assembling the car I have had to extend the adjustment holes to get proper alignment.
However, the while the left headlight bucket gaps align well it would seem the cover may be warped. The top (hinged portion) of the cover aligns properly with the body, but the front portion of the cover is low on the left front and high on the right front corner. You can see the pictures but the extent (1/4-3/8") of the issue is not really evident.

It would seem the headlight cover is twisted and either may have to be shimmed or twisted. I little concerted trying the bend the headlight cover since it looks like pop metal. Anyone run into an issue similar to this? Any suggestions?
Joe

[James G.]

iirc the tweaking adjustment is noted in the assembly manual.

I have used an adjustable wrench - parallel jaws - to slightly - maybe an 1/8" - tweak corners - prior to painting them. I would be weary of cracking paint after painting, however when it is soft is the easiest time to do it..

I guess you could run some tape down the jaws a couple of layers and try some tweaking. - you may have to tweak one corner down and the other up to kind of split the difference.

[Pat M.]

Hi Joe - despite repeatedly tweaking the headlight bezels on my 1970 Duntov car they are not perfectly level, and the gaps are not even.

They work fine, and I just decided to live with it. Don't know if this typical/normal. Good luck.