Topic: 1969 headlamp adjuster attachment hardware

[MikeG69]

I am doing some work on other parts of my Metuchen built 69 Coupe during this cold weather to make me feel like I am making some progress, the question I have what is the way the headlamp adjusters were attached to the front fender extensions?. I have two Ford extensions that I purchased from two different people & I do not know the car they came off of. One of the extensions has all the adjusters screwed on, the other has one screwed on, two riveted on, & one with one rivet & one screw. I have to replace them since they are all seized & will not adjust. The replacement ones have screws to attach them, which is how I will attach them, I was just curious what was the original way they were attached?.

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff499/NJMike69/100_1494_zpsplfczdei.jpg

https://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff499/NJMike69/100_1493_zps3rperrvh.jpg

[7Lscjracer]

Should be riveted, and you can leave that in place because all that is necessary is to change the adjuster screw with it's nylon square block at the bottom that snaps into the bracket with locking tabs.
That's the only part of it I've ever changed on my car.
Easy to repair the others properly with rivets too.
It looks like some rust on one rivet so it's likely steel not aluminum, but scratch at it to make sure you use the proper rivet metal.

[MikeG69]

Thanks for the info, I am wondering if this is a specific thing done at the NJ assembly plant, because I asked this question on another Mustang forum & was told that on an owner of an original 69 Grande they were screwed in, & was told by another member that screwed in is correct. Is it possible the different assembly plants did it differently?.

[J_Speegle]

I normally find/see those retained by screws don't know that I've ever seen one where the brackets are riveted in place as your pictures show. Wonder if this was a repair from the past.

The brackets/blocks on your examples are on the inside of front of the headlight bucket where typically originals are on the back side. Looked through my library and looking at the examples I have (stopped after 100 of them) the brackets installed on the back side with Phillips head screws with flat ends (not pointed).  This does make the most sense considering the raised thread bosses on the front face surface at the cut out. The examples were from all three plants.
Some examples the ones I found






Did have a pair of 69 head light buckets handy in the back of the trunk that I snapped a couple of pictures of and I believe they are both service replacements based on a couple of clues. Those brackets/blocks were installed to the front side like your but used Phillips head screws with pointed ends. Would show pictures of those but it might lead others in the wrong direction  at this point in the discussion

[MikeG69]

Jeff, thanks for the info & the pics. 

[KevinK]

I have to agree with Jeff. Having grown up on the east coast, NJ I have only observed adjusters mounted with Phillips head screws. I would assume most of the 69 cars I saw were Metuchen built as well as most of the parts at swap meets.

After looking at the original pictures, it would appear the rivets were a quick repair rather than reinserting the screws from the backside. The purpose of the raised boss would be the allow more threads and not as a spacer.

[Brian Conway]

Another Metuchen with phillips head and flat end screws.  Brian