Clarification: Re: loose bright lights

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxx>]

Thought about this a bit more:

Believe I confused my D with one of the domestics in my memory: did
indeed swap factory adjusting bolts with 1/4" universal bolts, but
wasn't because tabs on plastic retainers broke. Remember distinctly
tapping the old retainers to accept 1/4" threads -- problem was
stripped phillips heads on factory bolts. Also checked prices from
vendors: are actually a bit cheaper than Help brand (sorry guys). My
problem was time -- 'twas a Saturday and I didn't want to wait all
week for a D order to come in. You work with the tools at hand...

Is a nice picture page 3-5-0 of parts manual that shows how everything
fits together.

Bill Robertson (apparently getting senile...)
#5939

>--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "content22207" <brobertson@xxxx> wrote:
> Your headlights seem to have gotten lost amid engine swaps and fuel
> distributors eh?
> 
> Each sealed beam assembly is held to a bucket by aluminum frame and
> four sheet metal screws. Bucket is then held to header panel by two
> adjusting screws and a tension spring. Standard arrangement for any
> vehicle of that vintage.
> 
> Two possibilities:
> Unlikely: 
> Sheet metal screws have come loose, allowing sealed beam to flop
> around in bucket.
> Likely: 
> 1) tension springs have rusted to pieces, especially the bent coil
> that holds them to bucket/header, removing tension that holds
> everything in place
> 2) tabs on plastic retainers that hold adjusting screws to header
> panel have gotten old, brittle, and broken. This will actually let the
> bucket fall out.
> 
> Remove aluminum frames, unplug sealed beams, and investigate. If
> tension springs are DOA, can cut and bend new ones from a single long
> spring (but prices from vendors are so cheap you might as well go that
> route, time permitting). If tabs on adjusting screw retainers are
> broken can substitute the "1/4 Inch Universal" size from "Help" brand
> (red packages at parts houses). Cost much less than vendors.
> 
> Don't forget to re-aim your headlights afterwards.
> 
> Bill Robertson
> #5939
> 
> >--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "K. Creason" <dmc4687@xxxx> wrote:
> > I noticed this week that my brights have come loose.
> > It's like they've popped out from the adjustment bracket. I
haven't been
> > working on that en