Does anyone have headlight covers on a silver Z?

[Arne]

Seal them too tight and you can get condensation inside. Or so I've heard from people who have them.

[EScanlon]

I've only had condensation when I power wash the car on a hot day.

Dust and dirt after 6 years is minimal.

No, I don't remove the covers every time I wash, nor on a regularly scheduled basis. I'm not that compulsive.

If you leave a small gap in the weatherstripping at the bottom edge towards the wheel, the rush of air will venturi any condensation and dirt out as you drive. The front turn signal lenses (early style) use the same method.

I've also added a rubber strip around the headlight lamps themselves to help seal the scoop from splashed water from the tires. It seems to have helped.

FWIW

E

[mars23z]

Ok so the ones that are real expensive are those the ones you need the G nose for? I m not ready for the g nose although I do like the look a lot. I can live with the MSA ones, or is there a better pair out there that will work with stock front end?

[rdefabri]

EScanlon is right - need to leave a small gap near the bottom to allow airflow and drainage. My XKE has factory covers and they designed that in FWIW.

[EScanlon]

Ok so the ones that are real expensive are those the ones you need the G nose for? I m not ready for the g nose although I do like the look a lot. I can live with the MSA ones, or is there a better pair out there that will work with stock front end?

Both the G-nose and the OEM for the original front end, are real expensive. They weren't always, but scarcity and demand....$$$$$. There was a guy in Beaverton advertising a pair of OEM In the Box, NOS Chrome Covers for $1000.

Most G-nose kits that I'm aware of come with the covers as part of the kit, I may be wrong on that though.

The MSA ones are the ones that Stephen mentioned. Hopefully they've worked out the kinks in the double stick tape mounting method, since that as I recall is their biggest downfall.

However, if they are the ones with the little plastic tabs that stick out the back and insert into the adjustment holes for the headlight lamps, then in my opinion, they may be easier to install.

FWIW

Enrique

[mars23z]

Well it says no drilling so hopefully it doesnt use tape. Dont know how much I like the tape method what happens when you need to get behind them

http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/CTGY/HC

[e_racer1999]

just FYI - "factory" chrome ring types and g-nose types are not equal. different shape entirely and not interchangeable

[240Z240Z240Z]

A guy from Louisiana who was at the Mitty this year used strong magnets on the back side of his headlight covers to simply hold them in place without the need for glue or tape or screw holes in the headlight buckets. His covers were painted body color and this allowed him to easily drive the car legally at night but then attach the covers for the show.

Hmmm, for some reason I thought the buckets were fiberglass ??

[e_racer1999]

^initially they were. until they came up with an efficient and inexpensive manufacturing method for the steel ones.

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26417&highlight=fiberglass

[MikeW]

Hmmm, for some reason I thought the buckets were fiberglass ??

My car has the plastic buckets and was produced (9/71) during the transition period to metal. Generally speaking 1972 and later model year cars should have metal buckets.

[zhead240]

Well it says no drilling so hopefully it doesnt use tape. Dont know how much I like the tape method what happens when you need to get behind them

http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/CTGY/HC

not positive but no drilling required means self tapping screws.

their's a guy on ebay selling mud guard which he advertises as no drilling required. it comes with self tapping screws.

[sblake01]

The MSA kits, or at least the ones I have, came with double side tape to install the brackets. As I said, they adhesive got weak and I ended up using self taping screws. zhead240, I think you're referring to self drilling screws. They will drill the hole without using a drill bit. I wouldn't use those things anywhwere on a car but either way, there's a hole, or actually 6 holes when you're done. I don't much care for that but that's what had to be done to keep the covers on.