[DeTomaso] headlight buckets sizes

[Rob Dumoulin]

I recently stripped #1488 and found some surprises. I do not know if this
applies to you, but here is what I found and what I assume it meant. For
one, the driver fender had been cut out and replaced from the mid-axle line
forward.  My bucket on that side was not stamped with my VIN, so it was not
original.  The bucket, however, is exactly the same dimensions as my
original one (I don't have it handy to measure).

What is different is the replacement fender itself and its bucket opening.
My original fender has a notable flat area about 1/4 inch between the
headlight bucket opening and where the edge goes vertical for the hood
drain channel. There is a similar symmetrical line on the outside edge as
well.

The replacement fender flat area is almost non-existent and the headlight
bucket opening is bigger because of it. I assumed the driver side
replacement fender was a later model fender and possibly the replacement
headlight bucket was an early model, but that is just a guess.  I had heard
the buckets were stamped with the VIN because they were custom fit.

I had two choices:

Make the driver side bucket wider, or
Fill the fender about 1/8 inch each side.

I chose to fill the hole in and shape the replacement fender headlight
opening to match my early model opening.

Rob

On Wed, Sep 23, 2015 at 2:00 PM, Larry Finch via DeTomaso <detomaso at poca.com
> wrote:

> All,
>
> Anyone have experience adapting early buckets to late fender openings?
>
> Believe early buckets are smaller than later buckets.
>
> Yes?  No?
>
> If early buckets ARE smaller,  perhaps perimeter welding of  a
> proper-sized wire and subsequent filler/sanding to proper finish?
>
> Anyone go down this path before??
>
> Larry
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-------------- next part --------------
   I recently stripped #1488 and found some surprises. I do not know if
   this applies to you, but here is what I found and what I assume it
   meant. For one, the driver fender had been cut out and replaced from
   the mid-axle line forward.A  My bucket on that side was not stamped
   with my VIN, so it was not original.A  The bucket, however, is exactly
   the same dimensions as my original one (I don't have it handy to
   measure).A
   What is different is the replacement fender itself and its bucket
   opening.A  My original fender has a notable flat area about 1/4 inch
   between the headlight bucket opening and where the edge goes vertical
   for the hood drain channel. There is a similar symmetrical line on the
   outside edge as well.A
   The replacement fender flat area is almost non-existent and the
   headlight bucket opening is bigger because of it. I assumed the driver
   side replacement fender was a later model fender and possibly the
   replacement headlight bucket was an early model, but that is just a
   guess.A  I had heard the buckets were stamped with the VIN because they
   were custom fit.
   I had two choices:
   Make the driver side bucket wider, or
   Fill the fender about 1/8 inch each side.
   I chose to fill the hole in and shape the replacement fender headlight
   opening to match my early model opening.
   Rob
   On Wed, Sep 23, 2015 at 2:00 PM, Larry Finch via DeTomaso
   <[1]detomaso at poca.com> wrote:

     All,
     Anyone have experience adapting early buckets to late fender
     openings?
     Believe early buckets are smaller than later buckets.
     Yes?A  No?
     If early buckets ARE smaller,A  perhaps perimeter welding ofA  a
     proper-sized wire and subsequent filler/sanding to proper finish?
     Anyone go down this path before??
     Larry
     _______________________________________________
     Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA
     Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes
     DeTomaso mailing list
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     To manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe,
     etc.) use the links above.

References

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