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june1ron
Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Bozeman, MT
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 Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:42 am Post subject: Vanagon Headlight Mounting |
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Anyone know an easy solution for securing the headlights?
I'm restoring an '87 Westy Weekender, and my local VW parts store says that the plastic hardware that connects the headlight to the headlight-frame is no longer available.
Right now, the top mounts on my headlights are secured by the plastic nuts, but the bottoms aren't secured by anything, so the headlights swing back and forth.
I'm wondering how people have dealt with this before? |
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insyncro
Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:54 am Post subject: |
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There are aftermarket available on eBay.
I have not used them so don't know how they work.
I use stainless steel bolts with nuts and washers.
Each bolt will have 4 nuts and 4 washers.
I red loctite the furthest rear nut in place.
You can adjust easily.
I buy all needed at McMaster Carr and the total cost for both banks of inner and outer lights on a 86-91 van is approximately $14.00 when bought in quantity.
While you are at it jump grounds from each brown wire at the socket, to the body for good measure.
dylan |
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june1ron
Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Bozeman, MT
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 11:00 am Post subject: |
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Finally got started on this this weekend.
For anyone trying at home, the stock bolts/nuts for securing the headlights to the metal support are M5. |
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r39o
Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005
Posts: 9800
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 11:14 am Post subject: |
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Use the search function. Been discussed a few times.....
_________________
"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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chimivee
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2009
Posts: 741
Location: Orange, CA
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 11:18 am Post subject: Re: Vanagon Headlight Mounting |
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| june1ron wrote: |
| Anyone know an easy solution for securing the headlights? |
Are you talking about the adjusters? There are some DIY solutions such as:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=456788&
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-James
86 Syncro Westy, etc |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6247
Location: Portland OR
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thatvwbusguy
Samba Member
Joined: April 18, 2007
Posts: 1712
Location: Newmarket, New Hampshire
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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The original headlight hardware has been reproduced and is readily available from www.airheadparts.com. Just search for "headlight adjuster" on their website and they will all come up.
_________________
Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
Newmarket, NH
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion. |
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VW Fanman
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2010
Posts: 93
Location: deep denial
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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I just picked up a full a (well, minus 2 adjusters that are on back order, ETA 2 weeks) set from BD for my '87. This weekend I took all the lights down, cleaned them, dried them and mounted them. I can hardly wait for the final two to come in so I can complete the process.
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What have I gotten myself into? |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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RBEmerson
Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2011
Posts: 2108
Location: SE PA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 11:02 am Post subject: |
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[/head scratch] I'm not sure I see the worry about this one. Headlight adjuster parts are readily available from Van Cafe. Went there, did that when converting to HID's. GW and (BD AFAIK) sell full kits but Van Cafe sells sets of anchors and adjusters for various points on the lights. The point here being the parts are readily available, if not exactly inexpensive. Given their job is to keep your headlights aimed properly, a safety issue, it's not something I'd take a DIY shortcut on.
DISCLAIMER: I have no connect with any of the sellers listed, other than being a customer.
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Lord, give me coffee to change the things I can change, and wine to accept the things I can't change. |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6247
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 11:37 am Post subject: |
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| RBEmerson wrote: |
[/head scratch] I'm not sure I see the worry about this one. Headlight adjuster parts are readily available from Van Cafe. Went there, did that when converting to HID's. GW and (BD AFAIK) sell full kits but Van Cafe sells sets of anchors and adjusters for various points on the lights. The point here being the parts are readily available, if not exactly inexpensive. Given their job is to keep your headlights aimed properly, a safety issue, it's not something I'd take a DIY shortcut on.
DISCLAIMER: I have no connect with any of the sellers listed, other than being a customer. |
At the time of the original post almost 3 years ago, many of the stock headlight adjusters were sold out and NLA. They have reappeared and are now available.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 11:40 am Post subject: |
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| PDXWesty wrote: |
| RBEmerson wrote: |
[/head scratch] I'm not sure I see the worry about this one. Headlight adjuster parts are readily available from Van Cafe. Went there, did that when converting to HID's. GW and (BD AFAIK) sell full kits but Van Cafe sells sets of anchors and adjusters for various points on the lights. The point here being the parts are readily available, if not exactly inexpensive. Given their job is to keep your headlights aimed properly, a safety issue, it's not something I'd take a DIY shortcut on.
DISCLAIMER: I have no connect with any of the sellers listed, other than being a customer. |
At the time of the original post almost 3 years ago, many of the stock headlight adjusters were sold out and NLA. They have reappeared and are now available. |
That is true..... But at $83 for a set.
_________________
Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos
Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6247
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 11:53 am Post subject: |
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| djkeev wrote: |
That is true..... But at $83 for a set. |
My time is so scarce these days I would gladly pay $80 for a set of adjusters. I just don't have 4-5 hours to fiddle with making a home made solution. I saw your posts on what you did, and although I applaud the ingenuity, I just can't justify the time to make something that I can get off the shelf. You probably spent what, $25 on brass and stainless parts? and at least half a day to figure it out? The difference is small enough on this item that it makes it worthwhile to me to just buy them.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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| PDXWesty wrote: |
| djkeev wrote: |
That is true..... But at $83 for a set. |
My time is so scarce these days I would gladly pay $80 for a set of adjusters. I just don't have 4-5 hours to fiddle with making a home made solution. I saw your posts on what you did, and although I applaud the ingenuity, I just can't justify the time to make something that I can get off the shelf. You probably spent what, $25 on brass and stainless parts? and at least half a day to figure it out? The difference is small enough on this item that it makes it worthwhile to me to just buy them. |
We each operate at a different level of what we are comfortable doing vs what we are comfortable paying someone else to do for us.
I find a high level of satisfaction in coming up with quality dollar wise (for materials) solutions. My hobby is the doing part so I don't place a dollar value upon it, I find it relaxing.
Yes, about $30 spent and a good two hours developing and executing the first side. The 2nd side should take but a fraction of that.
Hopefully I blazed an inexpensive trail that others can follow and by doing so they can save a few dollars.
I also feel the quality of my product is much higher than the mounts you can buy for $83.
Dave
_________________
Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos
Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
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Chuey
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2010
Posts: 858
Location: Oceanside, California
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| Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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djkeev, Awesome! Thanks for chronicling that.
Chuey |
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10251
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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A tip of the hat to both supporting vendors who bring parts back, and also to folks doing home workarounds. Having said that, when I used the "fuel line, drywall anchor" technique I think I may have spent less time than installing new factory type adjusters. After the first individual adjuster is done, the others take just 30 seconds or so each to assemble. I was laughing at one point. Plus, these fuel line sections absorb vibrations vs the solid connections of factory adjusters and may increase bulb life for those of us who haunt backroads.
Viva la difference'! Or something like that...
DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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RBEmerson
Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2011
Posts: 2108
Location: SE PA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 7:51 am Post subject: |
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| PDXWesty wrote: |
| RBEmerson wrote: |
| [/head scratch] I'm not sure I see the worry about this one. [/edit] |
At the time of the original post almost 3 years ago, many of the stock headlight adjusters were sold out and NLA. They have reappeared and are now available. |
DOH! I missed OP date. TNX for pointing that out. [/smile]
That said, I stand by the "not a place to DIY" remark. OK, for "limp home", as the old adjusters can fracture and fail (BTDT), but for final use, nah. Note that in PA, where we live, there's an annual vehicle inspection, including checking headlight aiming (a requirement sometimes ignored, unfortunately for on-coming vehicles, but good for folks hunting racoons in trees...). DIY may be a fail in that setting.
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Lord, give me coffee to change the things I can change, and wine to accept the things I can't change. |
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thatvwbusguy
Samba Member
Joined: April 18, 2007
Posts: 1712
Location: Newmarket, New Hampshire
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| Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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In all actuality, a drop in HID kit will be the failing point in PA long before DIY headlight adjusters unless you have a friend at the inspection station. The adjusters are mostly obscured by the grill, but the HID capsules are sitting out there plain as day to be rejected.
Under PA Code 175.66.5, it is incredibly unlikely that any HID conversion can pass the proper aiming laws, since the optics are completely wrong for the lighting source. http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter175/s175.66.html
Where I live in NH, they fail HID conversions instantly when installed in reflector housings, then charge full price for the failed inspection and place a non-compliance sticker, which gives you 60 days to make necessary repairs before returning for re-inspection. My local inspection station had a bunch of freshly pulled HID kits sitting in a box waiting to be tossed when I was there a couple weeks back. They also have a nice selection of halogen bulbs they will install on site to avoid failing people for inspection instead of making them remove the junk themselves and come back on their own. Funny stuff.
_________________
Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
Newmarket, NH
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
Last edited by thatvwbusguy on Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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| RBEmerson wrote: |
| PDXWesty wrote: |
| RBEmerson wrote: |
| [/head scratch] I'm not sure I see the worry about this one. [/edit] |
At the time of the original post almost 3 years ago, many of the stock headlight adjusters were sold out and NLA. They have reappeared and are now available. |
DOH! I missed OP date. TNX for pointing that out. [/smile]
That said, I stand by the "not a place to DIY" remark. OK, for "limp home", as the old adjusters can fracture and fail (BTDT), but for final use, nah. Note that in PA, where we live, there's an annual vehicle inspection, including checking headlight aiming (a requirement sometimes ignored, unfortunately for on-coming vehicles, but good for folks hunting racoons in trees...). DIY may be a fail in that setting. |
No, my DIY will probably function better than the new factory style units down the road. Mine are Stainless Screws into Nylon. Theirs are ferrous screws into Nylon...... My old adjusters are a rusty mass, I imagine the new ones will age in a like manner.
Do you really think that these adjusters would actually rotate and adjust anything?!?....
My DIY system adjusts in exactly the same spots and exactly the same as the factory adjusters using a Phillips screw driver only Mine won't rust! 
Dave
_________________
Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos
Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert |
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