Charger headlight install: Am I missing something here?

[Coelacanth]

With my front bumper installed on the '70 Charger, I set about to install the headlights. I have all my 8 adjuster screws handy, but looking at the headlight brackets like a simpleton, I couldn't figure out the install. I've seen images online showing each headlight bucket installed with 3 screws, then 2 adjuster screws on each headlight bucket into the square plastic nuts pressed into the brackets. I know the buckets are marked for HI/HI-LO and RT/LT but that's not the issue. I can't see how to screw in the buckets. I *do* see 3 large holes in each headlight bracket where the bucket screws would probably be positioned, but there's nothing there for them to screw into. I had everything stored in a Ziploc bag so I don't think anything went missing. What am I missing?

EDIT: I should add that I went through the FSM and although it goes on at length to discuss headlight aiming and to simply remove the trim ring to remove the sealed beams, it oddly mentions nothing about how they're bolted onto the actual car, other than to say not to mess with the adjuster screws. Well duh, many of these cars have had the adjusters and buckets removed...

 

[Coelacanth]

Anybody with a '70 Charger can take a picture showing how the headlight buckets bolt onto the brackets? I figured this would be an easy question. Since I don't believe I lost anything since the removal years ago, I'm inclined to think the buckets install to the brackets with the 2 adjuster screws per headlight and one spring hooked into the third position at the bottom corner, then the retainer rings are screwed onto the buckets. A pic or two would really help.

 

[Kern Dog]

Anybody with a '70 Charger can take a picture showing how the headlight buckets bolt onto the brackets?

I skipped over this topic because I wasn’t exactly sure if the Charger models differed from others. From what I saw, the buckets look similar if not identical to other cars of the same era.
I went up the hill and took a few pictures…

This is a right fender for a 70 Charger. One adjuster is broken as you can see.

Now a drivers fender with both lights and brackets properly secured.

Next post, a closer look at the right side.

 

[Kern Dog]

Here we go. The original right fender from my red car. The GREEN seem to survive.

The springs are in the 5:00 position in the right fender so I assume they are in the 7:00 position in the left fender.

Cheers. I hope this helps.

 

[davek]

Your a good man Greg,thanks for posting the pics.

 

[Coelacanth]

I got my headlights installed, thanks for the help, KD. The 2 adjuster screws for each bucket were easy enough but the spring that goes onto the bottom, smaller tab of the bucket still confused me a bit. Clearly you cannot hook the spring into the hole in this tab because that's where the trim ring screw goes. If you look closely at this small tab, there's a divot or depression on one side, and the screw hole on the other. You have to get the spring to hook into this divot, then thread in the 2 adjuster screws. Then, you can screw on the 3 trim ring screws.

You can actually see the divot in KD's last pic, but the spring isn't hooked into it. It might not be installed correctly on that car, because that spring isn't hooking into anything. The trim rings for left and right sides are different, and the direction of the spring's end hook can be rotated by loosening the screw that holds in the spring.

Grendel finally has eyes...

 

[RemCharger]

It seemed to me that the 70 Chargers had 4 different buckets, R lo, R hi, and L lo, L hi. Whereas older models just had Low and High buckets.

 

[Coelacanth]

It seemed to me that the 70 Chargers had 4 different buckets, R lo, R hi, and L lo, L hi. Whereas older models just had Low and High buckets.

I'd have to double-check to confirm, but 4 different buckets is more likely. Adjusting the 2 adjuster screws for each bucket, you'd need to adjust them to aim up/down, and to aim outward. You wouldn't be able to get the outward aiming done right if the buckets on both sides were symmetrical, because on one side, you'd be aiming inward instead of outward. The adjusters on the passenger side are at 9 and 12 o'clock, but on the driver side, are at 12 and 3 o'clock...if I remember correctly.

 

[Coelacanth]

Guys, I have an update and definitive guide on how to install headlight buckets. My previous post about attaching the bottom spring to the divot works, but with closer inspection, isn't the correct way.

I had to remove my headlights and buckets to install my pop-up headlight covers (and replace a broken trim ring), because I stupidly didn't install the headlight covers in the grille & bumper assembly before installing the bumper on the car...but that's a topic I'll cover in my Member's Restorations thread.

Taking a closer look at my headlight buckets, there's an obvious hole where the spring hooks into, but it's hardly visible with my black-painted buckets and not visible at all in the photos shared above with the trim rings installed. Installing the buckets was a cinch once I discovered this, but I had to loosen some of the springs to rotate the hook end correctly so it could line up with the hole. Here's the hole at the bottom right corner, and the correct positioning of a spring in the headlight bracket. Knowing this, you simply hook the spring into the hole, aim the 2 adjuster screws into the plastic nuts and screw them in.

P.S. I know the screws I'm using for the trim rings aren't correct; mine were all missing and these are stainless and the screw heads are perfectly sized for the trim ring holes...and the Robertson heads make tightening them without slipping easy.

 

[Coelacanth]

Here's another mystery: I had 2 of these rubber boots in a Ziploc bag marked "Lo Beam Boots" for decades, but I can't see how they would be installed. Their outside diameter is too small and they just slip through the bucket and headlight bracket holes. They also have no way of attaching to the sealed beams. Any ideas?

To replace my broken trim ring, I had 2 spares in one of my parts boxes...but the spares both had 2 extra L-tabs on them. I carefully pried them off of the ring on the left, getting my thinnest flat screwdriver under the tab and gently twisting until it cracked free, then polished it up with steel wool and it did the trick to replace my broken trim ring.