Technical headlight ring swap?

On my latest project,which is a 51 chevy,Im thinking of keep the body stock with no heavy custom mods other then bolt ons. playing around with the idea of swapping out the headlight rings with something from another make and model. looking around I cant seem to find much on this topic. wonder what is out there that will fit the 49-52 chevys. I made a number of small changes to the car now and very happy with where Im headed with the car.. any input or pictures of headlight ring swap would be great. thanks

 

Gee, I'd say there aren't many that would look better than the beautifully simple '51 Chevy rings it has now/1 Pretty car.

 

I like the car as is. Maybe french in the rings you have now if you want a change. I've seen cars where the fender is peaked and brought out straight with a different set of headlights, it changes the look of the fenders, its a good look for an all out custom. I like the slight downward slope of the stock fenders to the chrome trim ring.

 

dont want to french it.. like to find a thicker ring.not looking to peak it eather. wonder if any of the 50s ford rings will fit?

 

'52 Ford?

 

'52-54 Fords are thicker but they are also peaked and the OP said he doesn't want that. HRP

 

55 olds look perfect on just about any late 40s-mid50s car imho


sent via classroom note. pass it on

 

There was an after market (JC Whitney I think) that made thicker versions that kinda looked like a Caddy ring. It went over the factory one. Hard to find.

 

53 caddy trim rings look great.
I have found 2 different thicknesses of trim rings from 53/54 some have said the 53 is thinner and the 54 is thicker, but I believe its a trim level difference a 210 may have been thinner and a bel-air was thicker in each model year.
Godspeed
MrC.

 

I went the same route. Just added a few things as a mild custom.Maybe add some bubble headlights. I used headlights from a 2008 jeep wrangler which bolted directly to my original headlight buckets. But that was on a 50 ford. Bet they would work thou. Get great headlights as a bonus.

 

55-56 olds. If you can, get the front part of the fender they bolt to. It's much easier. I just did my '51 without them and it was a lot of work. Look at some pics of Watson's Grapevine.

 

53 caddys are cool but I think they work better on a 53-54 chevy. the side of the bezel has a peak to go with a body line. good call tho. interested in some of the Ford bezels. i figure someone might have did a sway sometime in the last 60 years!! lol as for the 56 olds ones and fenders well i have them for my 52 fleetline project..lol I plan one wild with that one but the 51 I like to dress up and leve it stock with just bolt ones and lover it down.. ones mild the other will be wild!!lol

 

just found this picture.what are they using on this car for headlight rings?

 

Looks like these from ebay



http://www.ebay.com/itm/380378920963?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_336wt_789

 

now that is interesting! thanks for the link

 

56 olds gets my vote,i chose 57 caddy eyebrows also

 

do the olds 55"s

 

Do you happen to have a shot from the front? That looks interesting

 

I would think the 51 ford or merc crome one's would fit with no modifacations to the fenders. They are bigger and bolder.

 

Im doing 55 olds on my 56 ford victoria

 

I have a '50 chevy coupe, I am using '55 Studebaker car head light rims---thy have a small built-in viser on them. They are pot-metal--they had some pitting s I sanded and smoothed them and primered them for now---they will be painted the color of the car. Sorry, I don't have any pictures or a way to send a picture.

 

The picture of the purple fastback is similar to the aftermarket pair I found (notice how much thicker the lower section is compared to stock.

 

Studebaker headlight rings fit with very little mods


Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

^^^^^^ thats the one you want.

 

When I built my 50 Chevy sedan delivery drag car, I moved the headlight bulb in about 3/8" or so - enough to get the glass nice and flush with the edge of the headlight ring. It really looked different and smooth - but I don't remember now how I did it, seems like I made a sheet metal ring and welded it into the headlight bucket moving the actual mounting points for the sealed beam back.