Did the 1968 Corvette have a smaller headlamp door than the 69-82 Corvettes?
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Re: 68 Headlamp door size
Andrew-----
Yes, although later 1968's may have changed to the 69+ doors. The WIDTH (side-to-side) of the doors was the same as later. However, the LENGTH (front-to-rear) of the doors was somewhat less (about 3/4", as I recall).In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: 68 Headlamp door size
I spent some time looking into this issue many years ago, and have forgotten most of what I think I figured out, but here it is (from my feable memory)
Early 1968 headlight doors had bigger headlight doors, and correspondingly bigger headlight door openings. That meant that the area of fiberglass in front of the door openings to the front edge of the car was smaller. This was prone to cracking in the front headlight door opening areas.
Later 1968 headling doors had smaller (or what we now think of as normal size) headlight door openings. The area of fiberglass in front of the door opening was increased, which decreased the front to back size of the headlight door itself.
If you have an early 1968, and need a front clip, good luck!
P.S. I have heard a rumor that there were actually three different size headlight doors in 1968, but have never been able to confirm that rumor. Anybody know for sure?Comment
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Re: 68 Headlamp door size
Thanks for the information, The 68 car in question has had a front end repair at some point. It has one small (looks Original from the paint and date codes) headlamp and one larger replacement headlamp. The headlamp door openings are large due to the repair, so the smaller original headlamp dose not fit to well. The car is being prepared to paint, so the easiest way solve the problem is to replace the smaller original lamp with a replacement larger headlamp.
AndrewComment
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Re: 68 Headlamp door size
Don't know for sure, but you may be able to get away with just replacing the headlight door, and not the whole headlight assembly.Comment
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Re: 68 Headlamp door size
Andrew,
There were a couple of different sized headlight doors in 68. Now, I am not sure if that was intentional or not. I have collected many and the variation in sizes where sometimes slight. There may have been some variation in the casting molds. I also know for certain that they were trying to improve the strength of the door because the original doors were weak and liked to break. I have collected several 68 doors and noted the changes. The three main areas were the front lip of the door (liked to get bent) and the area where the pivot bolt attached (like to break off) and lastly the headlight adjusting post (all 68's and possibly early 69 were rounded. They liked to poke holes in the back of he headlight capsule). That headlight adjuster post is a feature that is unique to 68 only and no later C3. During production they beafed up some of those areas by changing the castings/molds.
For the most part, you can not look at any casting date on the door. I have looked at a number of doors from 68 and 69 and later and they all seemed to have the 68 cast into it somewhere on the face near the headlight adjusters.
Supposedly, early 68's had smaller headlight openings. I have not seen a car like this but I know people that have them. How many were produced? I don't know. Personally, I think there were few 68's produced with the hood surround that had the smaller headlight openings.
Now, I am not certain but It is very likely that cars were produced that had the larger headlight door openings and had the smaller doors. The differences were not that great and most people may have not even noticed the larger gap between the headlight door opening and the headlight doors.
You can retro fit a 69 and later door in your car. If it does not fit the opening, you will have to cut it down. Take some masking tape and run it about an 1/8 inch back along the edges of the larger door. Take a high speed disk grinder and have at it. You may want to double check that 1/8 inch measurement though
If you send me pictures of your headlight doors showing the headlight adjusters, I can tell you if they are original 68 or not.
If you pull your headlight housings and bezels and want to get rid of them, let me know. I would be interested in them.
Email me at tfringo@aol.com . I would really like to see some pictures of your doors. I can send you some pictures also of doors I have collected. You may also need to collect different headlight bezels but that is another story.
TerryComment
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Re: 68 Headlamp door size
Terry,
Do you have any idea when the 68 doors changed to the larger size? My 68 has had a front end repair, and I think the doors and assemblies were replaced with 69 doors. I know the adjusters look like 69s. (they are sharp edges instead of the rounded edges.
Thanks,
SteveComment
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Re: 68 Headlamp door size
Steve,
My car is a mid-May build date and it has the larger doors and openings and it has the rounded headlight adjuster posts. I have not researched it much more than that. I learned about the variations in the process of trying to replace one of my doors that was not original. When was your car built?? Are you certain the front clip was replaced??
It is possible that only your headligt doors were replaced. The 68 doors broke so easily that it would not surprise me if they got replaced. Example: It was possible for the pivot bolt mount to get torn off if the door tried to open and it snagged on the headlight shield. I speculate that is why they went to a stronger door and changed the shape of the headlight shield (my humble opinion though). TerryComment
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Re: 68 Headlamp door size
Terry,
I'm fairly certain my front clip was partially replaced sometime in 69? A lot of the bonding strips seem to have 68 and 69 on them. The fenders are grey / black glass and the top surround is black glass. So?
SteveComment
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Re: 68 Headlamp door size
It may not mean anything.
When was the car built??
TerryComment
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Re: 68 Headlamp door size
Body tag date of Feb. 21Comment
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Re: 68 Headlamp door size
Most likely you should have the large door openings. I would bet dollars to donuts that that is what they should be. Nearly certain of that. TerryComment
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Re: 68 Headlamp door size
Hey Terry
No Donuts for you. Not healthy for you. I fillet a side of Spring Salmon for you last night and its in the blast freezer and also have a whole sockeye salmon for you which I filleted for you too. Going out this weekend to hopefully get you one more side of Spring salmon. This is just a friendly gesture for you helping me get the correct headlight doors for my 68. Talk to you later. GrantComment
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Wow! *NM*
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Wow!
I bet they turned out nice! Kinda like finding hens teeth. I am glad it all worked out. You didn't have to doo the salmon thing. Great brain food and I can use that though. Take care, TerryComment
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