Topic: 1969 Mach 1 grille surround

[CCP]

Trying to replace the outer grille surround mouldings. Wow, not much room to get at the retaining clip nuts!
 Is it necessary/easier to remove the headlight buckets?
  Thanks, any advice or past experience would be greatly appreciated.


             Pete.

[Armond]

Those moldings were installed before the headlight bucket was mounted to the fender.  I have never tried to R&R them with the buckets still attached to the fenders.  I don't think to do it properly, it would be possible.  Good Luck!

[CCP]

Hmm..ok thanks. Next question; is removing the headlight buckets a big job? LOL.

[J_Speegle]

Hmm..ok thanks. Next question; is removing the headlight buckets a big job? LOL.

If the car is completely together - I would say its a pretty involved task. Lots of things to detach, lots of things to ding into as you remove and reinstall

[CCP]

Got them off, what a battle. Is there a different  style clip/retainer I could substitute. A push in or similar type?
           Thanks again.


          Pete.

[J_Speegle]

Got them off, what a battle. Is there a different  style clip/retainer I could substitute. A push in or similar type?

Don't know a direct replacement - sure there is in all the thousands of plastic ones available but you have them off now I would just go with factory and be done with it

[dieseldave]

I cut down a 11/32nds deep socket to 1 7/8" long and used 1/4" drive wobble extensions. Still took me hours to install 2 nuts. I too did it on the car after the paint. I never thought to install the mouldings before installing the fenders.

[J_Speegle]

I cut down a 11/32nds deep socket to 1 7/8" long and used 1/4" drive wobble extensions. Still took me hours to install 2 nuts. I too did it on the car after the paint. I never thought to install the mouldings before installing the fenders.

Your not the only one that did it that way 

[CCP]

Thanks for the input guys! I already have a bunch of 'custom' tools, so what's a few more.
 Sounds like it's time consuming, but i'm sure it can be done.