66 Headlight bulb retainers

[Donald H.]

I am starting restoration on my 66 coupe. The first picture below is of the headlight bulb retainers that I removed from my 66. The second picture is of retainers that LIC and Paragon sell.

The ones I removed have a round back opening and have a zinc dichromate finish and there is a 1 stamped on one of the ears of the inner retainer and a 2 in the outer. However, I can see no obvious difference in the outer/inner.
The ones that the vendor's sell are black and have a square back opening.

Which is correct?

Thanks,

DonBulb retainerss removed.jpgAs sold.jpg

[Leif A.]

Re: 66 Headlight bulb retainers

The one's you removed from your car are correct. Why are you changing them out for new? They look perfectly fine to me.

[Richard M.]

Re: 66 Headlight bulb retainers

I agree with Leif, keep the originals. I don't know about accuracy of the repros but I've had to buy some for several C1's as they were rusted badly.

There is a very important difference between the L1/L2 R1/R2 parts on the 1958 to 1962's, and the 1 & 2 differences in the C2's. The "1" is for the High Beam, the "2" is for the Low beam. The 3 tabs on the back of the lamps align with the 3 slots on the retainers, or "dogdishes" as I call them.

Look closely at the slots in your left photo(if it's showing a 1 and a 2 it appears), and you should see the differences, then try install the lamps over each dish. They should fit only one way.

Rich

[Donald H.]

Re: 66 Headlight bulb retainers

I agree with Leif, keep the originals. I don't know about accuracy of the repros but I've had to buy some for several C1's as they were rusted badly.

There is a very important difference between the L1/L2 R1/R2 parts on the 1958 to 1962's, and the 1 & 2 differences in the C2's. The "1" is for the High Beam, the "2" is for the Low beam. The 3 tabs on the back of the lamps align with the 3 slots on the retainers, or "dogdishes" as I call them.

Look closely at the slots in your left photo(if it's showing a 1 and a 2 it appears), and you should see the differences, then try install the lamps over each dish. They should fit only one way.

Rich

Absolutely correct. It's hard to see the difference unless you really look. Becomes obvious when I fitted the bulbs.

Thanks,

Don

[Donald H.]

Re: 66 Headlight bulb retainers

Now that I know these or originals, I will definitely reuse them.

Thanks,

Don

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 Headlight bulb retainers

I am starting restoration on my 66 coupe. The first picture below is of the headlight bulb retainers that I removed from my 66. The second picture is of retainers that LIC and Paragon sell.

The ones I removed have a round back opening and have a zinc dichromate finish and there is a 1 stamped on one of the ears of the inner retainer and a 2 in the outer. However, I can see no obvious difference in the outer/inner.
The ones that the vendor's sell are black and have a square back opening.

Which is correct?

Thanks,

Don[ATTACH=CONFIG]55367[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55368[/ATTACH]

Don------


As others have noted, the originals are the ones in the left photo. These could have been either zinc plated, pre-punch galvanized, or painted black. Since the RINGS (this is the GM term for these parts) are specific as to position, it's even possible to have differently finished rings on the same car.

The round hole rings were used up until about 1969. Then, the "square hole" rings came into use. I've never seen these anything but painted black but it's possible there were some otherwise finished. The nomenclature on the rings also changed from L-1, L-2, R-1, R-2 to A, B, C, D at the same time. However, the "square hole" rings were GM SERVICE for 58-69 so they will function OK.

Keep in mind that these rings were being used by the MILLIONS across all GM car and truck lines starting in 1958 and for MANY years thereafter. I'm sure GM had multiple suppliers. Some may even have been manufactured "in-house".

[David L.]

Re: 66 Headlight bulb retainers

Enclosed are photos of used (painted black) and NOS (yellow cadmium) head light mounting RINGS, GM # 5955498 (stamped "A" or "98") and 5955500 (stamped "B" or "00") (Gr. 2.726 in parts catalogs). I believe I got the black rings from a 1969 Chev. back in the 1990's. You might want to refer to the link below.

Dave

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...eadlight+rings

[Donald H.]

Re: 66 Headlight bulb retainers

Thanks all. I've cleaned up the originals and stored awaing re-installation hopefully in no more than a year. I started taking my 66 apart for full body off restoration. Hopefully faster than when I did my previous 60. That took me 3 years.

thanks again,

Don