C1 Headlight Bucket Correct Grommet size?

[Bill B.]

1958-62 headlight bucket question: I have two headlight buckets that look original that were removed from a 1961 Corvette. One side has a large hole for the wiring grommet and the other side has a smaller hole. Are these correct did they use different sized grommets? Is this evident throughout 58-62?
Bill

[Mike E.]

Re: C1 Headlight Bucket Correct Grommet size?

One is from passenger car, one is from Corvette. Many passenger cars in the GM line used similar/identical headlight buckets in that era. Large hole is passenger car--Corvette grommet is too small.

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 Headlight Bucket Correct Grommet size?

Yes..........the instructions that came with the replacement buckets wanted you to cut & splice your old harness in so you wouldn't have to worry about the grommet size. I think the buckets also fit some Cadillac, Buick, & Pontiac passenger cars of the time. Corvette also required part#5949549 lug kit for attaching the bezels.

Rich

[Bill B.]

Re: C1 Headlight Bucket Correct Grommet size?

OK, I appreciate it. Bill

[Jim H.]

Re: C1 Headlight Bucket Correct Grommet size?

I purchased one headlight bucket from corvette central. The original grommet was really loose in the hole. I had to fix it by adding a small amount of epoxy to hold it inplace. Not sure why the part was manufactured with an incorrect dimension.

[Bill B.]

Re: C1 Headlight Bucket Correct Grommet size?

Jim - I was told that the larger hole for the grommet meant that it came from a full size car or truck, but not a Corvette. With your response brings other questions. I always thought that Corvette Central was 99% correct and synonymous with our NCRS goals, as a last resort - (reproduction in direct reference to the original parts).

Please give me your inputs.

Bill

[Roger W.]

Re: C1 Headlight Bucket Correct Grommet size?

1958-62 headlight bucket question: I have two headlight buckets that look original that were removed from a 1961 Corvette. One side has a large hole for the wiring grommet and the other side has a smaller hole. Are these correct did they use different sized grommets? Is this evident throughout 58-62?
Bill

I strongly suspected that my headlight buckets on my 59 were from a passenger car. One of the mounting holes had a brass terminal with a wire attached. I knew that could not be for a Vette. I removed the brass terminals and also replaced the adjusters and springs. Of course the hole for the new wire harness gromet was too big.

[Bill B.]

Re: C1 Headlight Bucket Correct Grommet size?

I strongly suspected that my headlight buckets on my 59 were from a passenger car. One of the mounting holes had a brass terminal with a wire attached. I knew that could not be for a Vette. I removed the brass terminals and also replaced the adjusters and springs. Of course the hole for the new wire harness gromet was too big.

Roger - Were you able to RTV the original grommet into place without telling the difference between the two, or did you need to replace bucket with the smaller hole?

[Roger W.]

Re: C1 Headlight Bucket Correct Grommet size?

I used 3M black weatherstrip cement on the inside of the gromet to glue it to the bucket. My Harneses with gromets came from CC. The gromets hava a large surface on the inside of the bucket. Plenty of area to glue. Unless you really look closely, the larger hole is not noticeable. My original gromets did not have this large area inside of the bucket.

[Jim H.]

Re: C1 Headlight Bucket Correct Grommet size?

ditto, worked for me.

[Bill B.]

Re: C1 Headlight Bucket Correct Grommet size?

Thanks guys, I appreciate your feedback.

Bill