56 Ford Wago Headlamps

Jwawhite

Jwawhite

Well-known member
Had a "crooked eye" on the right side. On disassembly, the plastic? Nuts were broken on the two adjustment screws and I installed two new steel nuts in its place. Question, are both buckets the same? The adjustment screw at the 12 and 9 position? On the right HL, there doesn't seem to be an adjustment to turn lamp more inwards....are the previously installed springs in wrong position? I note the are three eyelits for the two springs ....could they have been placed wrong? Or do I have two driver side buckets. Up and down works fine on passenger side
 
I would think there should be 2 adjustment screws one on top for up/down one on side for side/side spring on inside2 springsdoesn't make sense as you have no side to side movement
 
There are two headlight adjusting screws, one at 12 o'clock and the other at 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock depending on left or right headlight. The springs that attach to that 3-hole plate behind the headlamp should be oriented opposite the adjusting screw locations. Note: I believe some of these headlight buckets only had one spring located equidistant between the adjusters and opposite side.
Nevertheless, I think you are making a big mistake by replacing those square nuts with steel ones. Those will rust very quickly and the adjuster screw will be perpetually locked to it. I would get the nylon nuts, so you will never need to worry about not being able to re-adjust the headlights.
 
Good point about rust! Both buckets are identical, there have been a few surprises about this car. I'm able to adjust the HL the way things are but wonder, do I have 2 right or left buckets?? The bolts have "shoulders" that pull or push the bucket into place.
Who has their headlights off to ascertain if the 56 buckets are the same?

Thanks guys!
 
seeing as how they list only one part number I believe there is only one bucket.knowing henry and his bean counters this would make sense.think about it how many times do you adjust them over the years accidents aside.turning screws in on one side would mean turn out on opposite side would do what you need.the coming of quad headlights changed that.
 
Jwawhite said:
..... Both buckets are identical, there have been a few surprises about this car. I'm able to adjust the HL the way things are but wonder, do I have 2 right or left buckets?? The bolts have "shoulders" that pull or push the bucket into place.
Who has their headlights off to ascertain if the 56 buckets are the same? .....
Click to expand...
54vicky said:
seeing as how they list only one part number I believe there is only one bucket.knowing henry and his bean counters this would make sense.think about it how many times do you adjust them over the years accidents aside.turning screws in on one side would mean turn out on opposite side ......
Click to expand...
Just because I was curious and had to look ~
The '55 (not wagon) I have also has matching headlight buckets. Looking at the headlights from in front of the car the adjusting screws on both sides are at 12 & 9 o'clock. Like yours they also have push-pull adjusting bolts with a shoulder/groove that fits into a C shaped edge of the bulb holder. There are no springs visible from the front. I've not had them out of the fenders.
In addition to all the parts swapping that could have happened to these cars in the past 60+ yrs, this only example I've had my hands on was rebuilt from a hard hit to the right-front at least 40 yrs ago.

Were the headlight buckets R & L handed, or did Ford save on tooling costs and inventory hassles by having one interchangeable part? The 'one part' answer may be correct.

.
 
Last edited:
Seems that on some of my later 4 "eyed" cars that all four looked the same with the 12 and 9 screws. Since they were a push/pull setup they could remain the same. Lincoln Mk VII was one of the first with the Aero headlamps and came with adapters in the trunk of the cars to adapt the headlight adjusters of the day. Not pertinent to the question, but always thought we used to have some experienced engineers.
 
Thinking about this more, you're right about keeping costs down at Ford...I've read somewhere how the same parts are used in other Models, I think the article pertained to auto transmissions.
 
Some years ago I showed a friend the manual shift knob off my 55 bird. He looked at it and said "I know what this is, there's one of them on all my old Ford tractors". Why build a different one?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top