[makilaak]

I just bought some pieces for hideaway headlights including bumper brackets to notice that those are for fixed ones... Great, yes. As I live abroad returns are impossible. I understood that you can modify them for hideaways, but I would like to know how? Does anyone have diameters for those extra supports?

[north]

Not sure what you mean. The front bumper brackets for non hideaway GTO and all LeMans are a formed single piece while the hideaway brackets are welded assembly. I guess you could make a hole in the standard brackets to allow the crank rod between the actuator and headlight door to pass.

[makilaak]

I just wondered if that supportative structure needs to be welded due to heavier light assembly? I could weld additional material, but would like to get dimensions to do that. Also I saw that there is a hole already in non-hideaway brackets, but possibly then not in right position.

[Formulajones]

I've messed with that before. All that's needed is to enlarge the holes in the standard brackets that are already there, for the actuator rod to pass through, just as North mentioned.

As far as added support, I've never found any of that to be necessary.

[steve v]

What I recall is the headlight door assembly itself will hit the standard bumper bracket as the door lowers to the open position.
The correct hideaway bumper brackets will make your life easier.

[3goats]

You can modify a standard brackets to work. They just need to move over so doors can open as OP mentioned.
I did it myself. Just slice them open and bend them to correct dimensions and fill in the hole.
I was lucky and had a hideway piece to build off and measure. etc.
These were for my race car so i didnt care about correctness i just wanted the hideaway grills to work. Turned out good and you dont really see them.
I will look for pictures and post for you if it helps.

[Red Box Rebel]

I would not make all the modifications to the non-hideaway brackets. The correct hideaway brackets will make the installation much easier and will be correct. If you have the time, tools and ability to convert the non-hideaway brackets to accommodate the hideaway doors and other parts have at it. The correct hideaway brackets are available from AMES part number "B199WD." Expensive, but worth it in the long run.

[Tuske427]

Originally Posted by makilaak

I just bought some pieces for hideaway headlights including bumper brackets to notice that those are for fixed ones... Great, yes. As I live abroad returns are impossible. I understood that you can modify them for hideaways, but I would like to know how? Does anyone have diameters for those extra supports?

I happen to have the front bumper off of my GTO while I'm on an unrelated project posted in another thread, and I took some pics of my hideaway assembly for you since it's all apart and easy to see. Now, I can't guarantee that this is "correct" as this is my first A body GTO and my car has been cobbled together by prior owners (68 bumper and hood latch for example) but I can tell you that whatever is here does function well. Close eyes will notice that I relocated where my expansion springs attach. I was having issues with the doors not staying closed when I turn the car off and this solved it. Plenty of vacuum to open and close them, and they stay closed when the car is off. Both sets of vacuum hoses merge at a "T" fitting which then goes back to the headlight switch. Hope this (and the next few posts) are helpful.

[Tuske427]

2nd post. more pics of the driver side and one of the pass

[Tuske427]

pics of the passenger side. again, I hope this is helpful for ya

[makilaak]

Thanks - very good pictures and advice!! I certainly would have bought new correct bumber brackets from Ames, but as I already have now 'the wrong ones' I think I need to work with them. Additional delivery costs, taxes, custom fees will make me more crazy than just welding. I wonder if someone could share some dimension how to upgrade the non-hiden brackets so they could work?

[Tuske427]

Originally Posted by makilaak

Thanks - very good pictures and advice!! I certainly would have bought new correct bumber brackets from Ames, but as I already have now 'the wrong ones' I think I need to work with them. Additional delivery costs, taxes, custom fees will make me more crazy than just welding. I wonder if someone could share some dimension how to upgrade the non-hiden brackets so they could work?

I took a screen grab from (Frank's pontiac parts) online- can you confirm your brackets look like the ones on the left? If yes then I can measure mine tomorrow (which are like the ones on the right) and let you know. I just need to understand what I'm comparing against...