C/K headlight rims..

[tempestan]

I''ve got headlight rims which have short "tangs" and others have long "tangs". By "tangs' I mean the mounting tab. The short tangs seem to be appropriate for the '55 C body I'm building. What do I need to do to use the long tangs? Do I need to come up with a later model headlight housing or what do you experts suggest. I'm not positive but it appears that the change was made from short tab to long tab in 1956. Thanks, for your assistance in advance.
Tempestan

[Jeff_H]

The short tabs go with the older headlamp buckets. There should be a part of the bucket sticking out at the top with a slot to accept the tab. The later ones don't attach to the bucket at all. There is a stamped in slot arrangement in the fender itself. So, you would have to modify the fender to use the long ones.

I had to repair a bucket with the slot ripped out by pop-riveting a small pc of sheet metal that I had cut a slot into.

Jeff in ND

'53 Champion Hardtop

[tempestan]

Has anyone attempted to change the tabs from one headlight rim to another? Is this difficult, or too risky that it may ruin the rim itself? I really have a nice pair w/the long tab, hate to not use them. Thx, tempestan

[warrlaw1]

Well, this thread made me curious so I went and checked the new rims I bought from S.I. and they include both long and short tabs, washers and screws with a couple of words of instruction. 53-55 use short tabs, 56 - 64 use long tabs. 53 through 64 fenders interchange so the fender that is on your car may not be the same year as your car. How civilized to point that out!