head lamp installation giving me fits

[mymachone]

I am oh , so close to being road worthy with the car , I have been attempting to reinstall some seal beam Halagon head lamps.

I am having the hardest time getting the retainer ring over the lamp !
It seams the spring is too stiff and I am not able to pull it out enough to get the ring on the lamp . I do not remember this being an issue when i was younger installing new head lamps at the gas station i worked at .

Before i had the car painted I took all the head lamp buckets out and yes they are in the right spot . I left the adjusters alone so they should not have been moved. I have one more lamp to install , so far it's has taken me 3 hrs to reinstall 3 head lamps. I was ready to start cussing and thats hasn't happened for yrs. I knew it was time to retreat for a bit

Is it just me or is there a trick to this ? I don't ever remmeber this being that difficult .

[don29163]

I use an old choke cable handle with a " J " bent in the cable and pull out where the spring is.

[mymachone]

I use an old choke cable handle with a " J " bent in the cable and pull out where the spring is.

Well I ended up streaching the spring just enough to let me pull the ring over the headlamp. For the life of me , I do not remember these springs being this stiff ?

Anyhow , Don I appreciate the tip and next time , I'll do just what you suggested

One last question , I know they will need adjusting , is there a short term quick way to aim these , with out going to a shop ?

[Steven Harris]

My suggestion would be to use a garage door or wall and mark off a certain distance and use one of your other vehicles to give you a standard. Mark where those lights hit the wall with some tape and then replace that vehicle with your mustang. Aim the lights accordingly.

[bob.harlan]

My suggestion would be to use a garage door or wall and mark off a certain distance and use one of your other vehicles to give you a standard. Mark where those lights hit the wall with some tape and then replace that vehicle with your mustang. Aim the lights accordingly.

That's about what I did, just make sure the car is fairly level.