1972 Lemans, headlamps don't index correctly
 

I replaced all of my headlamps when I re-wired my car. I bought them from the local parts store, and on install, none of the lamps indexed correctly with the buckets and outer rings. They are the correct diameter and depth, but don't fit correctly due to the 3 lugs/nubs.

Am I missing anything? Did the parts store hose me with the wrong lamps? I don't see anything that would indicate some odd year changeover in mounting style. Car is chrome a nose base model Lemans. It can't be a difficult solution.

Thanks!

It sounds like you have the you have the high - low beam buckets mixed up, low beam only fits in their respective buckets and the high beam in theirs.
There is also left & right side buckets.

If you had the full original set of buckets when you changed out the bulbs try swapping the bulbs to a different bucket.

Cool, will check. Maybe I got things switched up. So out of curiosity... Which lamps go on the outside, hi or low?

Low on the outside,high inside.

Buckets may or may not be lettered.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...55#post5759555

I got into the headlamps tonight. What I found was 2 buckets that looked newer, and 2 that looked older. All of my lamps indexed properly on the old looking buckets, lows and highs both. None of the lamps indexed properly on the other 2. There was one slot that was off by maybe .25 to .5 inches.

I cut a slot with the dremel, and punched the old recess out, and punched a new recess in.

I have no good explanation for the odd mismatch, other than some kind of previous owner shenanigan, or a poor quality resto stamping. They all fit now. BTW, no lettering was present.

Thanks to all!

If I remember correctly, there are 4 different buckets, High Beam Left, High Beam Right, Low Beam Left, Low Beam right. Possibly stamped with a H or L. I may be imagining this, but worth taking a look.

these changed over years. I've got a big box of them from 68-72 I accumulated over the years and sat down one day to get them all straightened out into piles with a 68/9 standard and hideaway brackets as well as 71/72 fiberglass header panel for test fitting. I can remember weird stuff like a low beam left 68/69 is the same as a high beam 70-72 kind of thing (that's just a hypothetical example, not a fact!) I'd have to find the box to pull out the "map" I made of what each cup fit, but there were definite differences between the years even though they look the same so someone just grabbing one from a yard because they destroyed the old one stripping out the screws could easily get you a mismatched set on a car that will never fit correctly. I also remember there was a difference in cups between standard and hideaway setups on the 68/69 in one or two locations