[DeTomaso] Headlight bucket problem

[boyd casey]

When I took the buckets out they each had four big 50 cent size washers,
Like a moron I just assumed the went on the "nut" because the holes in the
mounting plate are over size. I never saw were they were originally because
I took them out n blind. I had my arm stuck so far into the wheel well it
is covered with cuts scrapes and welts.  I have a flexible shaft for my
power nut driver but it was around an inch to short! There is nothing like
trying to do a job when you don't have all the right tools! Women never
understand why we need a"another wrench"!. During the night it came to me in
a sort of Pantera "epifany
" that perhaps the washers were shims because I couldn't get the buckets to
close without the rear lip meeting the opening. and I think the other
problem is the fleft front edge of the aluminum block that holds the new
lights is around .002 to long and rubs the inner fender opening on the right
side as you are facing the car on the left light (caddy corner) and the same
place on the left light (passenger side) both outside front corners are a
hair to long.
Boyd

On Thu, May 7, 2009 at 3:41 AM, <MikeLDrew at aol.com> wrote:

>
> In a message dated 5/6/09 18 40 24, boyd411 at gmail.com writes:
>
>
> I removed my headlight buckets to do a 'Cats eye " conversion. Now I can't
> get them to fit right. They don't seem to want to line up. They are hanging
> up on the back edge when I try to close them. Is there a trick to aligning
> them?Boyd
>
>
> Nope.  It's just trial and error; they also may need to be shimmed with one
> or more washers between the back side of the headlight bucket, and the
> platform (which is attached to the bar).
>
> There is a very real danger of damaging the car if you're not careful.  If
> the upper limit switch isn't adjusted properly, the electric motor has
> enough torque to drive the back of the headlight bucket skin into the top of
> the fenders, putting big-time six-inch-long dents on the top of both
> fenders.  Proceed with great caution!
>
> I've recently gone through the headlight bucket aligning process on another
> Pantera.  This car had some accident history and the body shop failed to
> align the replacement fender properly, so the side of the headlight bucket
> had been rubbing the inside of the fender opening badly for 30 years.  I had
> to slot the mounting holes on the pad to get enough movement to slide the
> bucket over so that it wouldn't touch.
>
> The tolorences are very tight.  You can barely fit a business card between
> the outer edges of the bucket (left and right) and the edges of the fender
> opening.
>
> It's generally easiest to align the buckets with the headlights down.
> Position the buckets so they are perfectly centered in the fender opening,
> then tighten the four nuts on the studs so they are just snug, and carefully
> raise and lower the lights (don't use the headlight switch--either use a
> trigger switch with jumper wires to the motor, or raise them manually).
> Don't be surprised if you have to fiddle around with shims and/or file or
> slot the mounting holes to get the bucket to sit properly in the opening.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Mike
>
>
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