C1 rookie

my headlight bezels fit like crap. how much can i try to bend them down to fit? will it end up breaking the metal or fracture the chrome? they stick up about a 1/4" above the fender spear.

firstgear

To the best of my knowledge you can not bend the rings. In my case when the body work was being done I had the shop build the area under the spears to fit tight. It is not unusual for cars to the gap your talking about.


What we did






What I didn't want....

scopeli

most bezels have a bad fit. this is very common. place a nylon washer under fender spear to make difference less noticeable.

wmf62

that's what i did
Bill

62Jeff

check out this article, it's focused on 61-62 but perhaps it will provide some ideas for your car.
http://rarecorvettes.com/RARE/FenderTop.html

Ironcross

the chrome 58-60 is completely different from the 61-62....as the trim extension fits and rests over the fender spear, and I do not believe them to be parts interchangable ......

oldsarge

That seems to be a very common problem, I have seen too many to count in 58 & 59 with a poor fit. It was definetly a poor factory fit issue, and unless you go to the extreme of filler and paint, that is just the way it is.

AZDoug

That is pretty much it.

If you see a car with a perfect fit ring set, the front end has been worked extensively.

Doug

wilbur

I bought a new set of repo headlight rings for my 58 and took my chance at bending them.

holding them upside down and pushing down, a little at a time. Worked for me.