Tony Arme at Hot Rods By Dean...
Tony Arme at Hot Rods By Dean (HRBD) finishes the installation of sealed beam headlamps on our Project Shop Truck '47 Chevy.
It's been a couple months since our last installment on the STREET RODDER Project Shop Truck buildup, but the crew at Hot Rods By Dean in Phoenix has not been resting and progress on our Shop Truck is going faster than we can get it into the magazine.
This month we're looking at the installation of sealed beam headlamps and a front bumper. Those parts, like many on this truck, came from Chevs of the 40's. We've been impressed by the amount of products Chevs of the 40's has for '37-54 Chevrolet trucks and cars. If you're restoring or customizing one of these vehicles, sooner or later you'll probably end up talking to these guys.
Backtracking a couple hours,...
Backtracking a couple hours, here's Jonathan Williams at HRBD arranging the parts from Chevs of the 40's.
In this case, we're not restoring or customizing anything. Everything on our Project Shop Truck is brand-new stuff. Our Dynacorn-bodied 1947 Chevy pickup is being created entirely from easy-to-find aftermarket parts just because we wanted to see if it could be done. So far, so good.
Keep reading to see how easy it is to install headlamps and a front bumper on your own restored, modified, or repro parts project truck.
It fit just right, so the...
It fit just right, so the gasket was installed on the headlamp housing.
The gasket was secured into...
The gasket was secured into place using eight of these fasteners, called spring type U nuts, which hold the screws in place.
The U nuts were a tight fit...
The U nuts were a tight fit and needed a little persuasion from a hammer to secure them.
This rubber headlamp gasket...
This rubber headlamp gasket provides the seal for the headlamp housing. Before going any further, the gasket was test-fitted to make sure it would fit correctly on the opening of the Dynacorn body.
Dean Livermore at HRBD told...
Dean Livermore at HRBD told us you can find these U nuts from automotive fastener companies such as Au-ve-co Products (www.auveco.com).
The headlamps are held in...
The headlamps are held in the opening by the retainer rings (arrow) fastened in place by their outer tabs.
This rubber seal was attached...
This rubber seal was attached to the inside opening of the outer trim ring by four wire retainer springs to provide a snug fit between the bezel and the headlamp.
Fitting the retainer springs...
Fitting the retainer springs in the rings takes a little manual dexterity, a little patience, and a little luck, but once they're in, they'll stay in.
The last step will be the...
The last step will be the wiring, which will be done when the electrical system is installed.
The outer trim ring was mounted...
The outer trim ring was mounted with a single screw at the bottom.
Project Shop Truck now has...
Project Shop Truck now has headlamps. Nothing to do now except wait for it to get dark.
That was easy, but we're not...
That was easy, but we're not done yet. We still have a front bumper to install.
All you need for the job is...
All you need for the job is a re-popped bumper from Chevs of the 40's, a pair of Y-style bumper brackets, mounting hardware, and a truck to mount it to.
The easiest procedure is to...
The easiest procedure is to mount the bumper to the brackets and the brackets to the frame. The smartest way is to trial mount the brackets on the frame first to make sure everything lines up right. Each bracket mounts to the 'rails with three bolts.
The slotted mounting holes...
The slotted mounting holes in the front bracket were off about 3/4 inch from the bumper. Williams had the situation remedied quickly by adding a little more angle to the front of the brackets in a vise.
When he was finished, the...
When he was finished, the holes lined up and the bumpers bolted up to the brackets, no problem.
Four bolts later, the bumper...
Four bolts later, the bumper was installed.
We're making real progress...
We're making real progress on Project Shop Truck and the headlamps and bumper look great. Someday maybe we'll see a cool-looking push board in place of the bumper, just like in Josh Shaw's illustration. That's the best thing about street rod projects; you can do whatever you want.
The mounting tabs on the underside...
The mounting tabs on the underside of the splash apron made the installation of this piece even easier than the rest of the job.