Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

[Thomas H.]

I took apart the headlights on my 58. Out of the four headlights, there are two different styles of cups and three different styles of rings. I have a new set of cups for it but need some help on which type of ring is correct.

Out of the four rings, three are different. One has three tabs and an oval hole for the spring. One has two tabs and an round hole for the spring and one has three tabs but a notched hole for the spring. So which is correct?

Tom

[Thomas H.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

Anyone????

[Bill M.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

The originals for my early '59 have 2 tabs and a round hole.

[Richard M.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

Ahh, and I thought I was the only one with this kind of problem.....

Of the last 4 quad headlight C1's I've worked on, every single one had a mish-mash of headlight parts. Wrong dogdishes, wrong rings, mix of Phillips and Slotted screws, etc.

I eventually figured them all out and got the correct four unique dog dishes, but the rings supplied by the vendors are problematic. Most have 3 tabs for the IIRC, later C3 HL's. Keep that in mind if you need to buy any.

I'm beginning to like the pre-'58 cars better as there's only 2 that can get goofed up, not 4.

[Thomas H.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

Ahh, and I thought I was the only one with this kind of problem.....

Of the last 4 quad headlight C1's I've worked on, every single one had a mish-mash of headlight parts. Wrong dogdishes, wrong rings, mix of Phillips and Slotted screws, etc.

I eventually figured them all out and got the correct four unique dog dishes, but the rings supplied by the vendors are problematic. Most have 3 tabs for the IIRC, later C3 HL's. Keep that in mind if you need to buy any.

I'm beginning to like the pre-'58 cars better as there's only 2 that can get goofed up, not 4.

Hi Rich,

This car never ceases to amaze me. I have to give the previous owner an "A" for effort, but a "D" for execution. Another simple project that has reinforced my feeling that everything on this car is either wrong or incorrect. I firmly believe I will have touched every fastener by the time I'm done...........

I'll look for some of the two tab versions. Plus if I get some time this week I'll take a run up to storage and take a look at my 60 which I know has the originals on it.

Bill responded that his 59 has the two tabs and a single round hole and IIRC my 60 is the same way.

I think I have turned the corner on the car though. I have all of the underdash components back in and I just picked up the engine block from the machine shop Saturday. I pick up the heads later this week. Maybe I can start putting the engine together next weekend.


Tom
I was hoping to have the car on the road in June, but it is looking more like late August now............

Tom

[Kevin M.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

My 58 has 2 tabs and a round hole

[John F.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

You just break one of the three tabs off!

[Richard M.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

John, That's okay if the bucket is held by the spring. Depending on which is used, some require that the ring is held by the spring to capture the bulb. The 3 tab repros don't have a round hole. They have a notch instead. Therefore they can't be used.



Also, the 1958 to 1962 dogdishes are the same profile as the 1968 to 1982. The 1963 to 1967 used a totally different arrangement. Why this was decided by engineering is a mystery to me, but with the headlight doors of the midyears, I guess they had to change it for some reason. Then went back to the earlier design.

This repro kit below covers the C1/C3, but I believe it's only similar in profile to the C3 design.

[Roger W.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

I see that this kit contains the springs. Is there a source for the rivets or is there a way to change the springs using the old rivets? I have new springs, but have not installed them yet.

[Richard M.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

Roger,

Yes that kit comes with the springs but not the rivets for them. I also see just the spring kit itself has no rivets included. Other vendors may have them though.

You would have to locate the correct soft aluminum rivets somewhere, or......

Your other option is to use 3/16 pop-rivets. If so, I'd keep the head of the rivet on the backside(rear) of the bucket, with a backup washer on the inside(front) of the rivet barrel to capture the spring securely. With the rivet head to the rear, fill in the center hole with some dum-dum, then spray some undercoating on the bucket and it'd probably look "typical factory".

Rich

[Roger W.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

Thanks for the suggestion Rich. Pop rivets are probably the best way to go.

[David L.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

The GM #5948828 ring (2 tabs) first appeared in the 1958 Chevrolet parts catalogs. GM # 5948828 was replaced with GM # 5954892 (3 tabs) in July 1969 as per Chevrolet Parts History.

Dave

[Keith R.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

Two tabs and one round hole on my '60

[Wayne L.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

The best place to get correct parts is at a junk yard. All GM 58-62 vehicles that had four headlamps have the four different cups, correct rings and correct screws, etc. Of course this only works if you have access to junk yards that hasn't crushed all of their old cars!

[Mike E.]

Re: Headlight ring variations - which one is correct?

Original rings for 58-62 had two tabs and one hole for the spring to hook into. Original cups have a round center, and on one of the tabs should be stamped one of the following: L2, L1, R2, or R1. There are many creative solutions to defeating that system, but none correct. In the cups, there are stamped indentations around the outer circumference. Those properly orient the bulbs with the tangs on the back of the glass. A wrong cup in the wrong spot in the buckets causes upside-down headlight bulbs, etc.