1955 Oldsmobile Headlight Rings - Customizing Light

The ring is complete and after careful test-fitting the ring is welded to the headlight bucket. There is no need to weld the entire circumference, just a series of 1/2-inch welds around the perimeter. This new extension effectively spaces the bucket rearward. The mounting holes can be transferred from the headlight bucket to the new spacer by drilling through the original holes into the new spacer. This ensures the headlight will be perfectly oriented to the original fender flange.

While the fender extension is completed the extension requires a flat face for mounting the Olds headlight ring. A radius is made by shrinking 18-gauge metal to match the headlight ring.

Because the headlight ring is not concentric, the face panels of the fender extension are made in pieces. The pieces are tack-welded to the extension, the headlight ring is test-fit, and then final welding can be cone. Rodcrafters prefers to TIG-weld sheetmetal for a more malleable weld.

The original Ford headlight bucket with the fabricated spacer welded in place is installed from the rear of the fender, but the sealed beam will still be able to be adjusted and removed from the front of the car, something a lot of frenched headlights don’t allow.

Simple sheetmetal screws hold the headlight bucket in place and you can also see the face panels on the fender extensions have now been finish welded.

The headlight ring is now installed using the original holes in the headlight ring. The fit is perfect, the contours are correct. Note how the small panel under the headlight flows nicely into the fender.

Of course it’s imperative that both headlights be installed in exactly the same location so take your time doing the installation. In the end you will have vastly improved the look of your shoebox Ford.

On the inside, the ’55 Olds headlight ring almost touches the original fender, and yet the upper brow of the ring lends a nice extension to fender without protruding too much. This is simply a great modification for any ’50s car.

This profile illustrates the flawless fit of the sheetmetal to the headlight ring. Finishing the fender will require a little judicious grinding, followed by a thin coat of the filler of your choice. The factory fender remains intact under the new panel.