62- headlight adjustment

[John O.]

Hi all

I was just wondering if there is a easy way to adjust the headlights without the adjusting level unit that they used before in garages? I don't know any place that has them.Would I be able to do it with the lights on against my garage door? How far should I be from the door? How high should the beam be? How wide between beams?

Your help is appreciated. John

[George C.]

Re: 62- headlight adjustment

John,
This is a great question, I know my C2 lights are not right either. I read an article several years ago that suggested you can use the garage door method but first park a car of about the same height in front of the door, turn the lights on and mark the door with tape, one mark for low beam and one for high.. Park your C1 the same distance from the door and adjust away. I hope someone has a better solution for both of us.

Good luck,

George
#36809

[Kent K.]

Re: 62- headlight adjustment

John,

Call several older garages in your area or ask at parts stores to locate someone still using the older aiming tool. In all retrospects, they should be prevalent since many cars on the roads today still use the older style round (or semi-rectangular) headlamps with aiming tabs.

The shade tree mechanic method I've used is to find a level road without street lights and almost no traffic. Park the car in the right traffic lane with headlamps on and aim them as necessary. Be sure to check high and low beams. There are diagrams for aiming lamps somewhere, maybe in the assembly manuals, but I can't remember exactly where.

Good luck,
Kent #6201

[Terry D.]

Re: 62- headlight adjustment

John

There is a diagram of this in the 61 Chevrolet Shop Manual, but it does not go into much detail. What I did was trial and error. Drive the car at night and see where your headlights shine. Then from 20 to 25 feet away from garage door or similiar surface adjust the inside low beams. Make sure car is on a level surface. The high beams are then adjusted about one inch right and two inches above your low beam settings.

You might have to do this a few times to get it right. Remember to mark your spots on the door for reference.

Remember these old sealed beams will not shine out in front of the car as far as new cars do. Hope this helps.
Terry

[Rob Dame]

Re: 62- headlight adjustment

Stand about 10' in front of the car and aim the HLs at your knees