Author Topic: Headlight bucket paint finish - 68 Metuchen  (Read 1165 times)

Offline mungus

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Headlight bucket paint finish - 68 Metuchen
« on: November 29, 2023, 12:26:25 AM »
Hello,

My headlight buckets seem to have 2 different color schemes.

One has some over spray of the OEM finish paint and the other has its sides and rear blacked out...
I'm guessing the over-sprayed one is correct but as its been resprayed at some stage can anyone confirm how the buckets were finished in NJ in 1968?
« Last Edit: November 29, 2023, 02:42:31 PM by J_Speegle »
March 14th 1968 - Metuchen S code Fastback
C6 auto, LS 3.25 diff, Gulfstream Aqua, Black Vinyl, Headrests, Console, GT group, PS, PB, AM/FM stereo, F70 tires, tinted glass, louvered hood.

Offline CharlesTurner

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Re: Headlight bucket paint finish
« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2023, 02:12:41 AM »
If you're talking about the part that the headlight fits into, it should be semi-gloss black, a bit more to the gloss side.  They were painted separate, should not have any body color.
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Offline J_Speegle

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Re: Headlight bucket paint finish - 68 Metuchen
« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2023, 02:59:05 PM »
Hello,

My headlight buckets seem to have 2 different color schemes.

One has some over spray of the OEM finish paint and the other has its sides and rear blacked out...
I'm guessing the over-sprayed one is correct but as its been resprayed at some stage can anyone confirm how the buckets were finished in NJ in 1968?

Just so we don't get confused due to terminology. Have seen people describe both parts identified below as the "headlight bucket"

The item below with the red arrow was painted as Charles described - a semi-gloss black on the glossy side, possibly dipped rather than sprayed. This was not attached to the fender of headlight bucket below when the car was painted. If it has body color it is from a respray at some point in the cars life.

The item with the blue arrow was painted body color. back side, towards the fender, was not always well coated with the paint.



Jeff Speegle

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Offline jwc66k

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Re: Headlight bucket paint finish - 68 Metuchen
« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2023, 05:35:08 PM »
Just so we don't get confused due to terminology. Have seen people describe both parts identified below as the "headlight bucket"

The item below with the red arrow was painted as Charles described - a semi-gloss black on the glossy side, possibly dipped rather than sprayed. This was not attached to the fender of headlight bucket below when the car was painted. If it has body color it is from a respray at some point in the cars life.

The item with the blue arrow was painted body color. back side, towards the fender, was not always well coated with the paint.



It's refreshing to see a drawing with Ford base numbers used to clarify "slang" (and abbreviations sometimes) descriptions.
The item with the red arrow is more commonly referred to as the "headlamp adjusting ring" or (in military description jargon) - "Ring, Headlamp Adjusting".
Just as long as the same language is used (the forum has recently acquired a few more members from overseas so be accurate).
The "bucket" was sprayed with primer (probably at the casting plant site) then sprayed with the required body color at the assembly plants (more than just the three Mustang assembly plants - Ford used virtually the same procedures at all) prior to them being required on the assembly line. The "ring" as previously stated, was probably dipped at its stamping facility then shipped to the assembly plants.
Jim
« Last Edit: November 30, 2023, 07:11:26 PM by jwc66k »
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Offline mungus

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Re: Headlight bucket paint finish - 68 Metuchen
« Reply #4 on: November 29, 2023, 06:38:41 PM »
Thanks Jeff, well explained and it was as you suspected, the blue part you mentioned, that I was referring to.
March 14th 1968 - Metuchen S code Fastback
C6 auto, LS 3.25 diff, Gulfstream Aqua, Black Vinyl, Headrests, Console, GT group, PS, PB, AM/FM stereo, F70 tires, tinted glass, louvered hood.

Offline jwc66k

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Re: Headlight bucket paint finish - 68 Metuchen
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2023, 07:11:06 PM »

I wonder if all the items shown in the drawing were sub-assembled and installed as a single (one for each side) assembly?
Jim
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Offline J_Speegle

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Re: Headlight bucket paint finish - 68 Metuchen
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2023, 08:29:50 PM »
I wonder if all the items shown in the drawing were sub-assembled and installed as a single (one for each side) assembly?
Jim

Don't believe so.

Fenders were detailed out (marker lights, emblems, headlight buckets, as well as all the parts in the drawing to the left of the red arrow bucket except for part #13064) before being installed on the unibody.


The trim rings (#13064) were left off till after the headlights were adjusted - After wheel balancing at least at Dearborn. Even at soem of the last inspection areas you can see those rings still not in place.
Jeff Speegle

Anything worth doing is worth doing concours ;)

Offline jwc66k

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Re: Headlight bucket paint finish - 68 Metuchen
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2023, 01:05:15 AM »
Don't believe so.

Fenders were detailed out (marker lights, emblems, headlight buckets, as well as all the parts in the drawing to the left of the red arrow bucket except for part #13064) before being installed on the unibody.


The trim rings (#13064) were left off till after the headlights were adjusted - After wheel balancing at least at Dearborn. Even at soem of the last inspection areas you can see those rings still not in place.
As a sub-assembly, without the trim ring, it would have made the line move "better". As a former Production Control Manager, I would have considered doing that.
Jim
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Offline CharlesTurner

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Re: Headlight bucket paint finish - 68 Metuchen
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2023, 01:53:42 AM »
Some '68 assembly plant pics taken during the strike for reference...
Charles Turner - MCA/SAAC Judge
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Offline Bossbill

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Re: Headlight bucket paint finish - 68 Metuchen
« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2023, 11:53:47 AM »
Is the floor rubber or some other "soft" material in that area?
Laying a fender down with its edge to the floor would create damage otherwise.

Bill
Concours  Actual Ford Build 3/2/67 GT350 01375
Driven      6/6/70 0T02G160xxx Boss 302
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Offline jwc66k

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Re: Headlight bucket paint finish - 68 Metuchen
« Reply #10 on: December 01, 2023, 04:15:59 PM »
Is the floor rubber or some other "soft" material in that area?
Laying a fender down with its edge to the floor would create damage otherwise.
The two pictures show the painted items are hanging (to prevent damage). So why would fenders be laid down?
Jim
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Offline J_Speegle

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Re: Headlight bucket paint finish - 68 Metuchen
« Reply #11 on: December 01, 2023, 07:13:04 PM »
As a sub-assembly, without the trim ring, it would have made the line move "better". As a former Production Control Manager, I would have considered doing that.
Jim

The black bucket, headlight and ring may have been assembled as a sub assembly on a bench and then installed in the painted headlight bucket if that is what your describing


Some '68 assembly plant pics taken during the strike for reference...

Just as a reminder for those viewing the plant picture is of Dearborn

Is the floor rubber or some other "soft" material in that area?
Laying a fender down with its edge to the floor would create damage otherwise.


If we look at the San Jose plants those show parts/subassemblies like the grill, upper valance, trim and grill emblem/surround) being assembled together as they hung from the hangers on a track rather than on a bench or table
Jeff Speegle

Anything worth doing is worth doing concours ;)

Offline Bossbill

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Re: Headlight bucket paint finish - 68 Metuchen
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2023, 12:32:27 PM »
The two pictures show the painted items are hanging (to prevent damage). So why would fenders be laid down?
Jim

These areas are on the floor.
Bill
Concours  Actual Ford Build 3/2/67 GT350 01375
Driven      6/6/70 0T02G160xxx Boss 302
Modified   5/18/65 5F09A728xxx Boss 347 Terminator-X 8-Stack
Race        65 2+2 Coupe conversion