Given that the fender extensions (head light buckets) were installed after paint, the line worker did not have any means to compensate for any alignment issues, aside from the clearance in the attaching holes.
Sure they could have reached around to the wheel well and adjust if it was really needed but they only had seconds to clap it one and get ti right. They did have allot of practice though
Think that if they were aligned to the fender very well there should be little need to adjust them further since the fender and headlight bucket would both be adjust together as needed
Jeff, the grey surface primer that could be found on the head light bucket....based on your observations, did the line painter make an effort to paint the back side or was it simply coated as part of painting the exterior surfaces?
Don't believe there was an attempt to paint the back side of the headlight bucket other than attempt to cover at least with a coat of the section that faced the grill opening when the hood was open. Just like the back side of the fender that would show through to the interior and the driver/passenger when the door was open. Think this is the same thought pattern by the workers, inspectors and engineers applied here
Here is an example of the surface I'm referring to
Of course as mentioned the paint flowed allot as did the overspray so when painting the edge (for example) of where the fender would be attached the paint is directed at a 1/4" + wide surface while 95% of the paint traveled to surfaces directly behind - the back side of the headlight surface with about 50% of the paint spray
