headlight adjustment

mjewell · 12-17-2003

hello all...

i just picked up my new '72 gt, and it came with the right light bucket removed. the left one would not lock correctly, so i tried to adjust it. i can get it to lock open, but not closed. i have tried moving the cable in and out to no avail. i have not even tried to work with the right bucket installed yet, but i'm worried that it will complicate things to put it in right now. any ideas on where to start, how to adjust correctly, etc. the book leaves alot to be desired on this subject.

thanks,

mike

BQS4 · 12-17-2003

Mike;
I hate to say this, but, one of the most notorious things about GT head lights is the 3 metric bolts that hold the assembly to the pivot mechanism, and it sounds like you may have 1 or 2 of them broke off. These bolts take a lot of beating from the headlights flipping over and loosen up easily, and if you don't constantly check your head lights, you can break them off. You'll have to dis-assemble the whole thing to get to the bolts and what's left of the ones that broke off and somehow (various methods can be used) get the broken pieces out and replace the bolts, and if/when you do get them out, replace the bolts with a much harder bolt, the ones in there stock, are like a grade 2 (US equivalent) get a grade 8 (metric equivalent is 12.9, I think), it won't stop the breaking, unless you make it a habit of chcking the headlights. I do everytime I get out at home at the end of the day, I walk by the front and give the headlights a wiggle with my hand, if they move any, it's time to tighten the bolts up.
Hope that helps.
Gene

pvcar · 12-17-2003

a cool thing i notcied the other day i wus putting my headlight buckets back on and i had writtn on the bottom which wus right and which wus left but as i wus putting them on i noticed on the little overlap ring on the bucket they have steped an r for the right one and an l for the left it looks factory since it would be very ahrd to do such a thingby hand, jus thought id let u all no that little tip.

namba209 · 12-17-2003

Mike, at the bottom of the home page in the download section, there is a narrative on the care and feeding of the GT headlights. It is very informative and gives hints on how to remove, install, and adjust the headlights. HTH.

Ron

BQS4 · 12-17-2003

Mike;
There's also another possible problem, there's 3 wafer thin spring plates that try to absorb the shock of the headlights. These break too, after 30+ years of being flipped over. I have had both side on my headlights break. Sorry for the extra bad news, but, the headlights do require a particular amount of attention.

mjewell · 12-17-2003

more about the danged headlights! with the light assenblies out of the car, and the rotating arms exposed...are the arms supplsed to go into the locks and latch both directions? mine don't. it appears as if the lights are supposed to use momentum to actually altch and lock...is this the way it's supposed to be? also, the rotating arms seem to have alot of play in them. they move about 1/2" more after the lever is moved fully one way or the other - is this right? is everything worn out, or do i just need to make more adjustments. any help is greatly appreciated.

mike

greensmurf20 · 12-17-2003

i may be wrong, but i think you do need to have some momentum behind the rotating headlights to make them lock. both of my GTs have been this way, if you try to rotate them slow, they wont lock in either position.

nobody · 12-18-2003

They do need the lights in and spun by the cable to lock in place. There are two gears that actually drive the assembly so some play is to be expected, but 1/2 inch seems more than normal. I would hang onto the actuator bar with one hand and the rotating mechanism with the other and look for play then.

I also agree that the manuals are little help with the lights. There is one that is, the workstation handbook. I have seen one in english that I'm still trying to talk somebody out of or make copies. OGTS has them in German for 40 bucks, if you read German.

Jason73GT · 12-18-2003

You might try doing a search on headlights. I remember downloading a .pdf file maybe six months ago with details on headlight removal. I think it was originally an OWANA article. I don't recall if it had any info that might help, but I know it exists. I've got a printed copy of it somewher it my ratsnest of an office.

J

Marc · 12-18-2003

Here's the link to Wayne Torman's article on the OANA site.

I hope this is Kosher!

http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/oana/tech/Headl.pdf

12-17-2003	#1 (permalink)
mjewell Opel Junkie Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: kansas, gardner, kansas city Posts: 116	Unanswered: headlight adjustment hello all... i just picked up my new '72 gt, and it came with the right light bucket removed. the left one would not lock correctly, so i tried to adjust it. i can get it to lock open, but not closed. i have tried moving the cable in and out to no avail. i have not even tried to work with the right bucket installed yet, but i'm worried that it will complicate things to put it in right now. any ideas on where to start, how to adjust correctly, etc. the book leaves alot to be desired on this subject. thanks, mike

12-17-2003	#2 (permalink)
BQS4 Southern Red Neck Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Snellville, GA Posts: 6,027 Real Name: Gene Provided Answers: 12	Mike; I hate to say this, but, one of the most notorious things about GT head lights is the 3 metric bolts that hold the assembly to the pivot mechanism, and it sounds like you may have 1 or 2 of them broke off. These bolts take a lot of beating from the headlights flipping over and loosen up easily, and if you don't constantly check your head lights, you can break them off. You'll have to dis-assemble the whole thing to get to the bolts and what's left of the ones that broke off and somehow (various methods can be used) get the broken pieces out and replace the bolts, and if/when you do get them out, replace the bolts with a much harder bolt, the ones in there stock, are like a grade 2 (US equivalent) get a grade 8 (metric equivalent is 12.9, I think), it won't stop the breaking, unless you make it a habit of chcking the headlights. I do everytime I get out at home at the end of the day, I walk by the front and give the headlights a wiggle with my hand, if they move any, it's time to tighten the bolts up. Hope that helps. Gene __________________ "Yes, I do have a rifle rack in my Sportwagon"

12-17-2003	#5 (permalink)
BQS4 Southern Red Neck Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Snellville, GA Posts: 6,027 Real Name: Gene Provided Answers: 12	Mike; There's also another possible problem, there's 3 wafer thin spring plates that try to absorb the shock of the headlights. These break too, after 30+ years of being flipped over. I have had both side on my headlights break. Sorry for the extra bad news, but, the headlights do require a particular amount of attention. __________________ "Yes, I do have a rifle rack in my Sportwagon"

12-17-2003	#6 (permalink)
mjewell Opel Junkie Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: kansas, gardner, kansas city Posts: 116	more headlight questions more about the danged headlights! with the light assenblies out of the car, and the rotating arms exposed...are the arms supplsed to go into the locks and latch both directions? mine don't. it appears as if the lights are supposed to use momentum to actually altch and lock...is this the way it's supposed to be? also, the rotating arms seem to have alot of play in them. they move about 1/2" more after the lever is moved fully one way or the other - is this right? is everything worn out, or do i just need to make more adjustments. any help is greatly appreciated. mike

12-17-2003	#7 (permalink)
greensmurf20 OPEL-LESS!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gobles michigan 49055 Posts: 2,112	i may be wrong, but i think you do need to have some momentum behind the rotating headlights to make them lock. both of my GTs have been this way, if you try to rotate them slow, they wont lock in either position. __________________ previousely owned 8 GTs and 1 manta. currently own 92 25th anniversary Z28. Ttop, 350, T56 swap, many upgrades, basically a complete restore. 67 chevy sportvan deluxe....next in line.

12-17-2003	#3 (permalink)
pvcar 4ZUA787 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Rancho Palos Verdes CA,USA Posts: 668	a cool thing i notcied the other day i wus putting my headlight buckets back on and i had writtn on the bottom which wus right and which wus left but as i wus putting them on i noticed on the little overlap ring on the bucket they have steped an r for the right one and an l for the left it looks factory since it would be very ahrd to do such a thingby hand, jus thought id let u all no that little tip.

12-17-2003	#4 (permalink)
namba209 6,000 Post Club Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Imperial Beach, CA South of San Diego Posts: 6,054 Provided Answers: 6	Mike, at the bottom of the home page in the download section, there is a narrative on the care and feeding of the GT headlights. It is very informative and gives hints on how to remove, install, and adjust the headlights. HTH. Ron

12-18-2003	#8 (permalink)
nobody No Access Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: in transit Posts: 3,873 Provided Answers: 1	They do need the lights in and spun by the cable to lock in place. There are two gears that actually drive the assembly so some play is to be expected, but 1/2 inch seems more than normal. I would hang onto the actuator bar with one hand and the rotating mechanism with the other and look for play then. I also agree that the manuals are little help with the lights. There is one that is, the workstation handbook. I have seen one in english that I'm still trying to talk somebody out of or make copies. OGTS has them in German for 40 bucks, if you read German.

12-18-2003	#9 (permalink)
Jason73GT Opeler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 37	You might try doing a search on headlights. I remember downloading a .pdf file maybe six months ago with details on headlight removal. I think it was originally an OWANA article. I don't recall if it had any info that might help, but I know it exists. I've got a printed copy of it somewher it my ratsnest of an office. J

12-18-2003	#10 (permalink)
Marc What's a Nopel? Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New Joisey Posts: 136	Here's the link to Wayne Torman's article on the OANA site. I hope this is Kosher! http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/oana/tech/Headl.pdf __________________ 34 years in the making & I'm finally driving an Opel GT!!!

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