71 Headlight Assembly

[Sheldon S.]

I have several questions about the different parts on a Late 71 Headlight Assembly.
1- Are the Bezels diecast or fiberglass originally
2- Are the Bezels painted body color both sides or just outside
3- Are the Retaining cups for headlights Painted Black or dichormate finish
4- Are the six springs inside the assembly black phosphate or natural
5- are the headlight adjusting screws cad or zinc plated or natural

Thanks
Sheldon

[Grant W.]

Re: 71 Headlight Assembly

I have several questions about the different parts on a Late 71 Headlight Assembly.
1- Are the Bezels diecast or fiberglass originally
2- Are the Bezels painted body color both sides or just outside
3- Are the Retaining cups for headlights Painted Black or dichormate finish
4- Are the six springs inside the assembly black phosphate or natural
5- are the headlight adjusting screws cad or zinc plated or natural

Thanks
Sheldon

Hi Sheldon
I have a 71 that I'm restoring too...kind of.

1. Die cast Headlight bezels
2. Painted on the outside. Remnants of either brown primer or maybe green zinc primer on the inside, should have some paint overspray on the inside but you can't see it.
3.Cups are semi gloss black.
4.Big fat short Springs are Phosphated black, thin long ones are natural or cad
5. adjusting screws are a zinc but seen them cad.
Hope this helps.
Grant

[Sheldon S.]

Re: 71 Headlight Assembly

Grant, can you clarify the springs, there are two small(short) springs that hold the headlight pots on, are those the black ones? Then there are four longer ones, two slimmer than the other two that are on the center actuator, are all four either zinc or natural?
Thanks
Sheldon

[Chuck S.]

Re: 71 Headlight Assembly

Grant, can you clarify the springs, there are two small(short) springs that hold the headlight pots on, are those the black ones? Then there are four longer ones, two slimmer than the other two that are on the center actuator, are all four either zinc or natural?...

Grant was describing the springs on the actuator only. See your AIM about UPC 12 Sheet A2: Item 23 (3935516) is the zinc spring, item 10 (3926434) is the phosphate spring. Two of each are used each side.

Headlamp pot spring (about AIM 12A4, item 5, 5949929)) is also zinc plated.

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 Headlight Assembly

I have several questions about the different parts on a Late 71 Headlight Assembly.
1- Are the Bezels diecast or fiberglass originally
2- Are the Bezels painted body color both sides or just outside
3- Are the Retaining cups for headlights Painted Black or dichormate finish
4- Are the six springs inside the assembly black phosphate or natural
5- are the headlight adjusting screws cad or zinc plated or natural

Thanks
Sheldon

Sheldon,
Question on the headlight retaining cups -- which I agree should be gloss black -- are they numbered 1 2 3 4 or lettered A B C D. I know each is a unique part with a stamped identifier, but I can't recall (way too many years since I have had mine off) whether they are numbers or letters.

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 Headlight Assembly

Sheldon,
Question on the headlight retaining cups -- which I agree should be gloss black -- are they numbered 1 2 3 4 or lettered A B C D. I know each is a unique part with a stamped identifier, but I can't recall (way too many years since I have had mine off) whether they are numbers or letters.

Terry------


The system changed over the years. After the introduction of "dual headlights" in 1958, I believe that the headlamp RINGS (the GM terminology for the "cups" or "buckets") used the L-1, L-2, R-1, and R-2 stampings to designate position. Sometime after that, but at least by 1969, the designation changed to A, B, C, D.

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 Headlight Assembly

Then my 1970 is A B C D. I just couldn't remember if they were numbered or letter. I wanted to submit that addition for the 1970-1972 Judging Manual, but I wanted to be correct without taking the car apart to find out.

Now if someone with a 1968 has a headlamp out. Hint, hint.

Thanks Joe.,

[Grant W.]

Re: 71 Headlight Assembly

Hint Hint and 68? I guess that would be me???
On the left is the midyear headlight capsules and as Joe has described. L-1 L-2 and R1 and R2

On the right is the 68 and up headlight capsule. It has the A B C and D stamping. Incidentally for some 68 owners. Some of the headlight capsules were gold irrated finish and not painted black. I think late 68 cars started having the black semi gloss paint.

So Terry I hoped I helped out a bit. Now you don't have to take your headlight apart.
Thanks, grant

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 Headlight Assembly

Thank you Grant -- for the information and the picture. Now I won't have to take it apart -- at least not for this issue, but there is another one filling up my email in box.