Re: Peterson's 1940 Packard

Posted by Joe Santana On 2011/5/27 2:06:27

West,
I haven't seen further comment on the headlight trim. I started putting together my headlights tonight. 25 years ago when I removed the trim I put a little twist in it prying it off. Now the headlights are painted and replacing the trim was one of the least pleasant things I've done, short of popping valves., esp the first time.

It wouldn't go on no matter how much pressure I put on it. I taped both sides of the center retaining strip and scraped off the excess paint with a tiny flat file end. It looked like I was scratching the paint, put it was excess falling from the edge of the painted strip. Then I tried again to press it on. When that didn't work I lined it up on the curved end and tapped the front end with a rubber mallet. Tapping moved towards whacking and thud, suddenly the front end felt solid. The stainless strip would fit itself to one edge, so I gripped it and pulled it against me tapping it, fairly healthy hits, from the far side until it popped in. I moved along about a half inch at a time. Once it grabs, it's down and stays down. But I didn't try to do the opposite curved end, just kept working my way there. Just getting in place took out most of the twist. Where it wasn't straight I tapped it more and improved the look.

There's a metal guy here I may take it to because I believe it could be perfectly straight if tapped wi the right tools by someone who knows what they are doing.
I thought for sure I would put a big scratch in the paint, but didn't. And the thing is on there, maybe better because of the paint.

Just don't hit too hard and blame it one me.

I'll take pix when I do the other side.