Author Topic: Homemade headlights brackets  (Read 3230 times)

EDNY

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Homemade headlights brackets
« on: November 08, 2017, 09:52:44 PM »
Want to make a set of headlight brackets for my 33M ...anyone have a any pictures of homemade brackets so I can get my brain fired up?  Will be mounted the same as OEM units (fender/radiator). Since the cars body and fenders have been rearranged factory brackets won't work.

Remember seeing a set made with square tubing once...although prefer round tubing.
33 Chevy 5 Window, 34 Chevy 3 Window, 37 Chevy 4dr sedan

TFoch

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #1 on: November 08, 2017, 10:38:58 PM »
Do you have a picture of the front of your 33?  Just trying to see what it looks like.
Spending time with my grandkids gets in the way of finishing my car but I don't regret it!

madmike3435

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #2 on: November 08, 2017, 11:25:41 PM »
really need to see what the car looks like now, to hopefully  give an opinion .

what could be so different about the rad shell and fenders on a 33 master ???

mike

EDNY

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2017, 11:09:17 AM »
Let me re-word my post.

Looking for methods used to attach homemade headlight brackets to fenders.

Have no problem attaching them to radiator frame or fabricating them - basically interested in seeing how they are bolted to the fender. (BTW these are fiberglass fender/running boards and will need more surface mounting area especially on the inside.
33 Chevy 5 Window, 34 Chevy 3 Window, 37 Chevy 4dr sedan

62131

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2017, 04:12:58 PM »
Ed is your hood also fiberglass?  My 32 has a mounting plate mounted to the fender support under the front fenders where the original headlight bar mounts, maybe you could add a support bracket to yours.

EDNY

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #5 on: November 09, 2017, 07:37:36 PM »
Ed is your hood also fiberglass?  My 32 has a mounting plate mounted to the fender support under the front fenders where the original headlight bar mounts, maybe you could add a support bracket to yours.


Hood is steel...I have a set of original 33 under braces like you describe...once installed they are riveted to the fender lip....I'm thinking that might be a problem with the fiberglass cracking - plus the brackets don't align like they should since the fenders are mounted further forward.
33 Chevy 5 Window, 34 Chevy 3 Window, 37 Chevy 4dr sedan

madmike3435

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #6 on: November 10, 2017, 03:09:11 PM »
I agree that the fender braces riveted to the fender can pose a cracking problem.

  Is there a solution, maybe a metal piece formed to the inside fender shape and fiber glassed into where its riveted/bolted.   I think the stock metal fenders used a carriage bolt ???

As to the fenders being longer and bracing does not line up, why is that. ?????

 A stock fender lays flat on the frame and would have bolts that hold it in perfect alignment so everything lines up, as its supposed to.  That's what I have observed.

Do you want to make a custom headlight mounting bar, so that you can drop the height of the headlights.  I have been thinking about that for a while for my 35's

I did see a chevy 34 sedan that used 33-34 ford mounting brackets to lower the headlights.  Kinda stuck in my head as a possible idea to get a diff look.

Aluminum bar stock , some 3/8--1/2 aluminum plate as fender mount, could get the headlight lower if that's what your after.

mike lynch    8)


EDNY

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #7 on: November 10, 2017, 07:31:19 PM »
Thanks Mike...the one problem I having with the stock fender brackets is that they will hit the Mustang II tubular upper control arms. Not a big deal, once I get the fenders, running boards, hood and radiator all "synchronized" I'll fab up braces.

Probably will "fiberglass in" in some arched supports with protruding mounting points to attach the rear and front brackets to. Plan on stiffening the fenders also by laying down a couple extra sheets of fiberglass cloth.

That will leave me with (2) original steel 33M fenders and mounting brackets, making the headlight brackets will be easy also.
33 Chevy 5 Window, 34 Chevy 3 Window, 37 Chevy 4dr sedan

madmike3435

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #8 on: November 10, 2017, 07:52:08 PM »
yes that is generally the problem with some IFS systems the fender brace needs to be modified because the fender sits on top of the frame.  You would not have that problem with kugel or heidth systems.

I would fabricate new fender braces out of round steel , rather than cut the stock ones that fit the 33 steel fenders.  Unless you have a couple of sets and one is junk .

I still think flat piece of aluminum or steel with bolt ( carriage type ) going thru stock mounting hole carefully crafted to follow the shape of the fender would work.

mike lynch

62131

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #9 on: November 12, 2017, 07:07:48 PM »
yes that is generally the problem with some IFS systems the fender brace needs to be modified because the fender sits on top of the frame.  You would not have that problem with kugel or heidth systems.

I would fabricate new fender braces out of round steel , rather than cut the stock ones that fit the 33 steel fenders.  Unless you have a couple of sets and one is junk .

I still think flat piece of aluminum or steel with bolt ( carriage type ) going thru stock mounting hole carefully crafted to follow the shape of the fender would work.

mike lynch


I used a Mustang II style front suspension made by JW Garage the way it was designed the top hats mounted outside the frame rails on top of the cross member. fenders still laid flat on the frame and the fender support cleared the upper a arms. The only problem was the front apron would not clear the rack an pinion but with a little modification it worked out.

EDNY

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #10 on: December 05, 2017, 02:12:24 PM »
OK made my headlight support brackets out of 1" round tube...they actually came out pretty nice and are needed to support the fenders so I can finish mounting the running boards and shorten the doors. Fenders and running boards bolted together but just hanging until I fab up supports.  Have adjustable coil overs on all four so the final ride height will come down some. Will replace the OEM TPI unit and bolt on my Stealth Ram....hope to have it ready for 2018.

FYI: 33M So far:

chopped 2.5"
wheelbase increased 2.5"
hood lengthened 4.5"
Channeled 5" in rear 3" in front
running boards lifted 3" and stretched 3"


All of that and it still looks like a 33 Master.
33 Chevy 5 Window, 34 Chevy 3 Window, 37 Chevy 4dr sedan

madmike3435

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #11 on: December 05, 2017, 02:47:01 PM »
EDNY, I agree other than not having a front gravel shield it looks like a stockish 33 master 5 w.

Question.......you stretched the chassis 2 1/2"........why?   

Whats the reasoning behind that ?   Because it caused you to do a lot of extra modifications .

If you entered the car in a judged show it would get extra points for all the mods you made so far.

mike       8)

EDNY

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #12 on: December 05, 2017, 03:13:20 PM »
Mike

Just increased the wheelbase (not chassis - and pushed the engine back) so the IFS cross-member wouldn't interfere with the harmonic balancer and give me more radiator/fan room. Also takes some weight off the front suspension.

The front gravel pan plan is make something like a carbon fiber wing to direct the air up into the radiator and give some downward pressure....it will have a nice flow because the radiator bottom is just a hair above the planned V shaped wing.

I just make it up as I go....
33 Chevy 5 Window, 34 Chevy 3 Window, 37 Chevy 4dr sedan

madmike3435

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #13 on: December 05, 2017, 06:46:45 PM »
That's one of the problems with IFS, the cross member gets real close to the harmonic balancer and if the motor is sitting too low in the chassis, you would have to lift motor to get balancer off.

What some people do is too make a notch in the cross member where the balancer is and box the area back in.   As clint eastwood said in the movie Heart break Ridge, " be a marine , adapt and overcome " .

mike    8)

madmike3435

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Re: Homemade headlights brackets
« Reply #14 on: December 05, 2017, 06:51:10 PM »
my example of IFS ( kugel system ) in my 35 chev standard frame .  Balancer just clears the cross member .

mike

 


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