Topic: 69 shelby fender /headlamp bucket retainers

[mach1one]

I'm in the process of mating up my headlamp bucketsto the fenders. Now are the 3 nut retainers installed before the fenders are mated to the headlamp buckets. these are the 3 retainers that the hood lockbrackets bolts go to. It appears to me that if the middle retainer is not installed prior to bolting the fender and bucket together there is no way to install the retainer without removing the bucket again(the opening here is way to small for that.  If the retainers are installed prior to bolting the fender and headlamp together the retainers would be painted gray during that paint process. Am I to assume the retainers were painted gray? Thanks

[Bob Gaines]

All the clips where installed on the headlight buckets before painting. The clips installed on the buckets for the hood lock brackets are painted the gray (Technicolor body color first ) when that part of the process was done. The hood lock brackets are black. Bob