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Hot Rods Headlight Advice!

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Nicholas Coe, May 16, 2019.

  1. Should I have painted these headlights to match the body? I thought black looked good as it matches the frame and other details.... IMG_20181019_171622.jpeg IMG_20190516_175540.jpeg IMG_20190516_180112.jpeg IMG_20190516_180512.jpeg IMG_20190516_175857.jpeg

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  2. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,602

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    "Should I have" takes away from what you feel in my book. Either color is fine with me.
     
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  3. LM14
    Joined: Dec 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,936

    LM14
    Member Emeritus
    from Iowa

    I'm painting mine to match the body. Makes it look more complete to me.
    SPark
     
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  4. My mechanic added them as shipped with a black crinkle finish. He said we could always paint them later!

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  5. Stu D Baker
    Joined: Mar 4, 2005
    Posts: 2,755

    Stu D Baker
    Member
    from Illinois

    As your mechanic said, you can always paint them to match the car. I would paint them, if it was my car. Your choice.
     
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  6. F-ONE
    Joined: Mar 27, 2008
    Posts: 3,271

    F-ONE
    Member
    from Alabama

    I like it here's why.
    It looks like. Hot Rod.

    Those are sealed beams,correct?

    Sealed beams in a universal black bucket....very period in my opinion.

    One of the more recent trends has been the original style OEM '32 lights like you have in the first photo. Honestly I think the big OEM lights really belong on a stock car.

    The black sealed beam buckets look like a period upgrade. It looks genuine to me.
     
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  7. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,602

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Crinkle isn't a color. That changes everything. You should change the finish then.
     
  8. That is actually what one of my hotrod mentors said. I prefer the smaller ones.
    Thank you!

    Nick

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  9. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 9,814

    BJR
    Member

    Black makes them look like aftermarket lights in my opinion. Body color or chrome would look better.
     
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  10. robracer1
    Joined: Aug 3, 2015
    Posts: 514

    robracer1
    Member

    leave them black, when every is the same color it takes away some of the detail you added
     
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  11. Not what you're asking...but I like the look of the headlights being further forward (like in the first picture) moreso than where the new headlights brackets put them. But that's only my opinion and it's your car.
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2019
  12. I prefer the looks of the smaller lights mounted forward where the large lights were. Either color, but the body color looks more finished. JMHO though.

    Mick
     
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  13. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    I like the old ones better, color, location and size
     
  14. nochop
    Joined: Nov 13, 2005
    Posts: 3,818

    nochop
    Member
    from norcal

    Move em forward, any color, you asked
     
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  15. Hey Nicholas, I don't usually offer opinions on other people's car, but you've asked quite a number of times for others input along the way. So, please don't take this as a slam on your car, but I started to think...what if I bought your car...what would I do to it to make it mine? This would be the plan for my new car:
    • wheels would be swap meet bound...I'd be looking for a set of Halibrand Sprints, American Torque thrusts, chrome reversed, Radir Rockets, or Crager SS...sizes 15x4.5 or 5's for the front, 15x7 or 8's for the rear
    • the old tires would go with the wheels...I'd be looking for near cartoon rubber rake for an open wheel car say front tires 155 x 15, rear 30 x 9 x 15 or 30 x 10 x 15 (maybe even pie crusts)
    • along with the new rubber rake, I would raise the tail a bit to exaggerate the rake and to get the top of the rear wheel arch to match the tire
    • the fasteners around the firewall would be made to blend in (body color paint)
    • cowl lamp would go with the wheels
    • hard to tell, but the grill shell might get lowered (difficult to tell...in some of the photos it looks too high, though it could be camera tricks)
    • I would build a hood top so it looks a bit more finished, but still gave a peekaboo look to the engine candy
    • the headlights (either large or small) would be moved forward to their original position using the original stands...the headlights would be painted body color
    • the headers would be replaced with headers or manifolds that fit the exhaust between the frame and the engine, and the exhaust would be run under the car to the rear
    • interior would be white tuck and roll with maroon piping and the top insert would be in place (might even consider white tuck and roll panel for that 60's show car vibe)
    • engine color would be changed...probably to white (same as interior) and the valve cover would get polished (losing the black between the fins)
    • the spark plug wires would be re-routed to the back of the engine behind the valve covers
    • I'm also also considering painting the firewall white
    • I'd experiment with polishes to see if I could bring more shine to the maroon paint
    • I'd add some pinstripes
    I'm kinda digging the way my new car is coming along...now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2019
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  16. WB69
    Joined: Dec 7, 2008
    Posts: 1,958

    WB69
    Member
    from Kansas

    Personally I would paint to match the car. But, it is your car, so whatever you like.
     
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  17. Awesome advice! Please continue the feedback as I make more changes. Nick

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  18. Here's the front end headlight placement. This part drove us nuts but we finally chose this setup to go with the shock mounts. IMG_20190517_163943.jpeg IMG_20190517_163920.jpeg IMG_20190517_163913.jpeg

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  19. Should have left the big headlights on. Plus the headlight should align with the front edge of the grill. IMHO
     
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  20. paul55
    Joined: Dec 1, 2010
    Posts: 3,490

    paul55
    Member
    from michigan

    body color.
     
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  21. Individualism......... Why ask what others think? I don't get it....... Cool is in the eye of the beholder.
     
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  22. I'm asking here as we don't have many old school guys in my area. I'm looking for various opinions about the styles of the 1960s. I value everyone who has commented on my build. I assure you that I will build a car that represents my personality but I hope to also represent the late 1960s era correctly.

    Thank you!

    Nick

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  23. I'll definitely be asking about polishing help soon! IMG_20190516_180512.jpeg

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  24. chevyfordman
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 1,354

    chevyfordman
    Member

    Personally I like body color, blends better with the whole of the car. I would machine a cool part to go between the headlight bucket and the headlight stand instead of that Total Performance part that came with the T bucket kits. It could be made of stainless, aluminum, or steel, a donut or tapered sided ring or a ribbed donut to match the stand. Small detail that would be cool. Its going to be a nice car either way.
     
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  25. Thank you!

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  26. In the time frame we are all aligned with, you didn't see many original head lights, they came in later in the resto rod era.
     
  27. I agree!

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  28. Petejoe
    Joined: Nov 27, 2002
    Posts: 12,264

    Petejoe
    Member
    from Zoar, Ohio

    I agree.
     
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  29. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member

    I went to HS in the 60s, and here in the Northeast, rods were not cookie cutter Y2K trend builds like many are today.

    You are doing fine with your car for a young person not even born in the 60s. If the car is not your personality, then why own it.

    as far as not having any old rodder guys in your area? You will find them when you start using it a lot for errands, or just out getting gas, ...they will flock to that car and then tell you what they had when young.
     
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  30. Do you find yourself sitting in the garage just staring at the headlights and second guessing yourself? Give yourself a break- they look fine either way- when you get tired of the black- paint them body color . Don’t have over-think this stuff..


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