64 headlight buckets
 

What is the difference between the two types of 64 headlight buckets pictured? I had three of one and one of the other. one has two mounting holes for the trim ring and the other has three. Also are those the correct looking springs? In the Ames catalogue they list rivet on springs which I don't see where mine ever had that.

Thank you!

The upper one in your photo is a replacement. Here are a couple shots of an NOS assembly.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/qDYAA...Zh/s-l1600.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lqcAA...Zw/s-l1600.jpg

could there be an early and a late? the reason I ask is that I have three of the upper ones and one of the lower so its hard to understand why three of the four where replaced

Back in the day, it was very common to buy a headlamp assembly just for a blown bulb. Sometimes they were new from GM and many times they were popped out of wrecks at boneyards. To many, myself included, it is easier to change the assembly than dealing with those little screws. Hell, I used to scrounge around junkyards looking in trunks for unused spares. I would get a set of new tires on wheels for $40.00. A couple of bucks got me a few headlamps.

Chief, those were the days. I was checking out at Pick n Pull one day and a guy was buying some electric light assembly and the cashier was going to charge him for the bulbs. I do not remember what assembly it was but it was not headlights. Made him take them all out.

I do understand that over 50 years things get swapped with whatever someone can find to keep the thing running but it seems like it would be way harder in this case and more involved to replace a headlight bucket that involves the adjuster screws and spring than just to turn out the screws and put a new bulb in it. the stands or mounts are one year only and Pontiac specific so they couldn't have been taken form anything else.

The headlamp mounting rings for a '64 GTO are not "one year only". It is not smart business for GM to do that for a simple piece on a production vehicle.

Without getting into all 4 headlamp mounting rings for the '64 T/6 and T/8 here is just one:

Group 2.726 - Part 5948825

58 - 62 All (Lt. Inner)
61 - 64 T/6 - T/8 (Rt. & Lt. Inner)
63 - 64 P/8 (Rt. & Lt. Inner)
67 - 68 F/6 - F/8

chief

That is good information and I'm resigning myself to the fact that I'm going to be looking for several buckets. I was referring to the brackets that screw to sore support as one year only though

Also would you be able to help with which are the correct springs?

Thank you!

I have never owned any specific springs and with all the scammers out there selling so called "NOS" parts but don't come with a GM package, just get some from Ames.

I have a bunch of '64 headlight buckets if you need 3 or 4 or 10. email me at [email protected]

Funny thing is, I just sold a complete set out of a low mileage '64. T-3's worked too. All I have now are NOS

BUCKETS
 

Group 2.726 - Part 5948825

58 - 62 All (Lt. Inner)
61 - 64 T/6 - T/8 (Rt. & Lt. Inner)
63 - 64 P/8 (Rt. & Lt. Inner) 1963-64 P/8 (LOWER) UPPER IS 5948826
67 - 68 F/6 - F/8

I saw that after it was too late to edit it. I copied that out of my inventory book. Obviously, there is no "inner" on a P/8 in those years. All the input in the book is from PMD parts manuals. Either it was typed in wrong in my book or it is a typo in the parts manual. I have been coming across a few typos in the PMD parts manuals lately. Typos on some parts packages as well.

Chief of the 60s

On the Nos assembly what do the headlight springs look like? Are they riveted in?

Yes the springs are riveted to the housing.

Unfortuately I do not recall and have since sold the piece in the picture. So you will have to go on what Crisp posted unless I happen to find another one burried in my stash.

However, if you look are the back it does appear to have rivets installed. Obviously a couple are for the headlamp bezel bracket. I would assume the other, being offset and recessed, is for the spring.

would anyone have a picture? I see those springs are offered not sure if they come with rivets or are the rivets special?

Too bad Pontiac didn't continue on with the 64 headlamp assembly for 65, 66, and 67. It would have made changing parts so much easier.
Just turn it from horizontal to vertical so it would work for those 3 years.

I worked in a garage up north but never had a 64 A-body come in for headlight changes. This is first time I've seen the 64 headlamp assembly out and as it is.

remy, I took several pix of my '64 headlight assemblies before sending them off. I did not break them down entirely, my purpose was to retain the headlamps since 2 are T-3s which I suspect are original date code correct (one high beam, one low beam). Not sure if I captured the view you would like to see.

I'll start with these 2 pix. You can see the springs and on the back side, you can see the rivet head. I did not make note how the spring is physically attached in their respective "pockets".

Hope this helps. Let me know if you want to see another area, I can check if I have it.

John,

That picture helps a lot. for some reason somebody must have drilled out all the rivets and removed all four springs which seems odd to do.
I did see where Ames offers the springs but I did not see the rivets. Anybody have a source for these? is there any other options?

Thank you!

remy, when you say all 4 springs, do you mean 4 on a single mounting plate?

Mine aren't here to look at, but from my pix, I only see 2 spring pockets/rivets per plate.

You might want to check with these guys to see if they will sell you the rivets and "rivet setting tool" only.

http://www.melrosecorvette.com/corre...-setting-tool/

I'm assuming the springs for the '58-'62 Corvette are different, the "hook" for the rivet attachment is offset, I'm guessing the spring for the '64 GTO is attached in the center?

But the same rivets likely would work.

Haven't looked to see what the Ames springs look like.

Obviously you won't need all the other parts in the Corvette kit.

I'm assuming you want to restore your mounting plates rather than buy used ones in good shape? Seems like a lot of work and if 3 of your buckets aren't correct, wonder if it wouldn't be cheaper to source some serviceable complete headlight assemblies?

Keep us posted if you are successful repairing them.

If you are just trying to do it on the cheap, you could likely install the springs with a sheet metal screw from the spring side into the plate to secure them. You'll lose originality but don't see why that wouldn't work.