Headlight Bucket Removal

[texasz]

I am trying to remove the fender from my car and can not determine how to remove the headlight bucket. It seems as though there are 3-4 screws/bolts which hold it to the fender but I can not see the heads on them and when I feel them with my fingers then do not seem to have a place for a screwdriver nor a hex head for a wrench, they feel like the edges are perfectly round and the top is completely flat.

So the obvious question is how do I remove it???

[Bambikiller240]

There are 3 or 4 screws as you say (think it's 4, but memory could be wrong). My guess is that yours are covered with undercoating or mud and crap. If you scrape (or wire brush) all that $hit away, hopefully you'll find screw heads that haven't been buggered up by the previous owner of your car. This is easier done with the front wheel removed from the car. Support the car well, since you'll be sitting in the wheelwell while doing this.

[2ManyZs]

Since you're taking the fender off anyways, just take the bolts out of the fender support (in front of the radiator support) and take the inner bolts off the headlight bucket and take the bucket/fender off in one piece. Make it a lot easier to get to the headlight bucket while it's on a pair of saw horses....

Use plenty of WD or PB and use a wire brush to clean the studs so you don't break one off when you try to take the headlight bucket off the fender.

I always take the bucket/fender off in one piece, it's a lot easier and safer, nothing worse than snapping off one of the mounting studs on the bucket or stripping out a screw head.

[hls30.com]

Your memory is right on Carl, 4! flake off the undercoating and I hope you will find nice, pretty bolt heads, not the rounded rusty rivets that my bolts had become! I did just what 2many Zs suggested.

Will

[26th-Z]

4 studs and the nuts are tiny - 8mm? I like my long sockets for that application. You may find two rubber plugs in the fender, similar to that rubber bung plug in the hatch rail. They are vibration bumpers for the assembly.

[ChrisA]

Dose those little studs with penetrating oil. I broke several off and it wasnt fun fixing that mess. 26thZ is right on--8mm socket to get the nuts loose. A flashlight with a magnetic strap works well under the fender. Even in bright daylight its tough to see up under there.

I obtained some small 8mm bolts and tack welded them in for the ones I broke. Dab of antiseize on them at re-assembly.

Chris

[Bambikiller240]

4 studs and the nuts are tiny - 8mm? I like my long sockets for that application. You may find two rubber plugs in the fender, similar to that rubber bung plug in the hatch rail. They are vibration bumpers for the assembly.

Studs? Are you refering to the sugar scoops, or the Headlight bucket? My headlight bucket had phillips head screws.

[26th-Z]

Sugar scoops

[ChrisA]

There are 3 or 4 screws as you say (think it's 4, but memory could be wrong). My guess is that yours are covered with undercoating or mud and crap. If you scrape (or wire brush) all that $hit away, hopefully you'll find screw heads that haven't been buggered up by the previous owner of your car. This is easier done with the front wheel removed from the car. Support the car well, since you'll be sitting in the wheelwell while doing this.

Geez, I blew that one all to hell. Yes, phillips head screws hold the headlight bucket to the fender. Studs hold the front fender extension(sugar scoop) to the main fender. Guess I should have read the first post more carefully.

Chris

[2ManyZs]

Whichever he's talking about, my way is the easiest and safest way.... take it all off along with the fender and put it on a bench and work on them.

I use a Dremel tool with a little wire wheel in it to clean off the crud and rust off the studs and backside of the screws as much as possible.

[hls30.com]

You tell 'em 2Many! Two bolts by the ac condenser and you will have all the room you need!

Will

[2ManyZs]

Got a couple more bolts in the valence panel too... still, it's a lot better to do it this way since he wants to remove the fender, than to chance snapping off any studs or stripping out the screw heads that are probably half full of dirt/undercoating etc....