'55-'56 Ford/'55-'57 Bird headlight surrounds

Lamar Wadsworth

Lamar Wadsworth

Senior Member
I saw a nice '55 Ford a while back with fully chromed headlight surrounds. Were these aftermarket? Thunderbird? I'm 73, old enough to remember when '55 and '56 Fords were plentiful in the junkyards everywhere in the late '60s and early '70s. Never saw a pair back then.

Also, I have a few of the Customline/Mainline/Bird headlight surrounds with no chrome. Seems like several of them have some small degree of bending/warpage in that when installed on the car they are not perfectly aligned with the top of the fender, off maybe 1/16" or as much as an 1/8". I know they are pot metal which I have never been able to heat/bend. Would you try to build it up with body filler? Look for better headlight surrounds? Does anybody repro these in fiberglass?
 
I would think they were either J.C. WHITNEY or went to the chrome shop.

As for the HEADLAMP DOORS, there are two differing ones for the 55 and two for the 56 depending on trim levels.

Do you see any CASTING ID NOS on the inside of the doors?

Once year is determined as correct, I would try to massage the doors to the fender contour without using filler.

Another little diddy is that the 1955 assembly/service replacement fender was replaced by the 56.
 

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  • Screenshot 2025-04-04 at 03-00-11 1949-1959 Ford Car Parts Illustrations Catalog - MPC - 1949-19.jpg
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I doubt you can massage pot metal unless you are good at doing that.. Building then up seems to be the best course of action.
 
The BEST COURSE of ACTION is to be certain you have the correct door and them massage the fender, not the headlamp door.

It is not the SPACE SHUTTLE PAUL.
 
I remember seeing bird’s with the chrome eyebrow off the passenger car, and the original (or pass car) units fully chromed. Not common, but it was done.

The AZ one is new to me. I like that.
 
I disagree It is a lot more work massaging a fender for 1/16th or 1/8th than applying what is essentially a skim coat of filler. In addition, you initially said massage the doors - not the fender. You don't "massage "pot metal. Besides - he is looking for advice on fixing the doors, not the fender.


THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE KULTULZ


KULTULZ said:
The BEST COURSE of ACTION is to be certain you have the correct door and them massage the fender, not the headlamp door.

It is not the SPACE SHUTTLE PAUL.
Click to expand...
 
Car in question is a '55 Fairlane Town Sedan that my parents bought new. It'll never be a show car, will never be anything more than a fun old car to drive and take to cruise-ins close to home. Giving it some mild custom touches, Shaved hood and deck lid. Remote trunk release (took me maybe an hour to rig up with the stock latch and Genuine Junkyard Parts). '55 Fairlane headlight doors look nice on a Bird, provided the chrome is not pitted. but I like the '55 Mainline/Customline pieces better because you never have to deal with pitted chrome. Same reason I shaved the deck lid. The Fairlane trim across the bottom is horribly pitted and new repros are out of my price range. Like I said, it'll never be a show car. I just want to have fun with it before I get too old and feeble.
 
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