Crome ring removal 1936 dodge head light

[amigo]

Can any one tell me how to remove the chrome ring on a 1936 dodge headlight ? with out a hacksaw

[keiser31]

It's VERY tough without destroying it. Why are you removing it?

[1936 D2]

I wouldn't suggest removing it if you don't absolutely have to. :eek:

[keiser31]

If you are just needing to get inside of the bucket, try this...

[amigo]

The bucket has surface rust and my body guy tells me that the rust will creep from the ring if we dont refinish the whole bucket

[jpage]

I had to remove mine too because of damage. First you'll have to remove the lenses and reflectors. I also removed the lamps for better control. I took a very small (miniature) screwdriver,and from the INSIDE,gently inserted it between the lamp and the ring at the split. With slight pressure I pried the ring away a little at a time. Don't try to pull on it or it may bend. Then very slowly I used a small wooden dowel and tapped it off from the inside. I found on mine that once they were loose ,they came off fairly easily. They shoud press back on after you are finished. I noticed that they were installed in manufacture after the housings were primed but before final paint to avoid chipping and I would recommend doing the same. Don't take this for gospel,it just worked for me. Good Luck!

[amigo]

Thanks sounds like a plan

[auburnseeker]

If you don't know how to get the lense out. The lense has to come out first. I believe it's the same as Chrysler that year. You need to push in and down on the lense. It's spring loadedTHe top will then come out and you kind of have to wiggle it out. It's a bit of a pain. it may be stuck to the cork gasket on the reflector so it may take some persuading. The rest is pretty straightforward if you don't damage the screw on the bottom of the bucket. That holds the reflector on. Kind of like a pin in a slot. It's an educational experience to say the least especially if you don't know how to get the lense out and strip the screw out on the bucket. Don't ask how I know. Good luck.

[jpage]

The little screw on the bottom of the lamp is the lense locking screw. It does not hold the reflector. The reflectors are held in by 3 spring loaded clips that slide into brackets inside the lamp body. If you insert a screw driver between the lamp body and reflector and gently pry outward the reflectors will come loose. Just be careful not to damage the trim ring.

[1936 D2]

Sounds like "creeping rust" would be a good reason! I read through the other responders' comments. All are well taken.

I used a rather thick putty knife that I modified by heating and bending the blade to match the curvature of the headlamp bucket. Then very cautiously and slowly tapped the trim ring off the headlamp bucket from the outside. I started this process from the center of the top of the lamp housing, near the center of the trim piece. I worked my way both directions around the piece with the loose ends of the trim piece to get the last of the "treatment". That way the stress stays the same on the piece till the very end and helps prevent twisting or bending of the piece. In hindsight this was all very risky because of the possibility of the tool slipping off the trim edge at some point and scratching the stainless trim piece.

The lens release screw on the bottom keeps the reflector in place and up straight so the lens stays in place and tight against the cork gasket that fits in the rim of the reflector. When this screw is released to the first stop, the reflector can tip so the lens can be removed out the top of the opening. This same screw must be full removed to be able to take the reflector completely out of the lamp bucket.

Hope all this helps.

[bbbbbb9]

Any source for replacement trim rings?

[jpage]

Unfortunately there are no replacements available. You'll have to search for other lamps that have a good rings and replace both lamps or remove the rings and reinstall on your lamps. It's tricky but can be done. Depending on the amount of damage on your rings, they can be straightened and polished. I just finished repairing mine; not perfect but pretty close! If you're careful in removing them they will generally go back on easily but may require a small amount of epoxy to hold the tips in place. I have found that the rings were in place prior to final paint but after intial priming. That helps avoid pushing the paint off when installing the rings.

[bbbbbb9]

Unfortunately there are no replacements available. You'll have to search for other lamps that have a good rings and replace both lamps or remove the rings and reinstall on your lamps. It's tricky but can be done. Depending on the amount of damage on your rings, they can be straightened and polished. I just finished repairing mine; not perfect but pretty close! If you're careful in removing them they will generally go back on easily but may require a small amount of epoxy to hold the tips in place. I have found that the rings were in place prior to final paint but after intial priming. That helps avoid pushing the paint off when installing the rings.

Thanks Jim. What about the spring that holds the lense? I have one but need one. I gues you could make one if you found the right material?

[jpage]

There is no spring that holds the lense in the lamp body that I recall. The lense is inserted top first then pushed up and in at the bottom until it pops into the lamp behind the rim. The reflector holds it against the rim by pressure from 3 springs behind the reflector. The lock screw on the bottom then locks the reflector against the lense keeping it in place. The reflector retainers and springs are available from Restoration Specialties. I would probably have to go there and pick them out as they may not know which ones they are.( If you need them). The headlamp lenses are not retained like the tailghts lenses are as the tailights do use a split spring retainer. I trust you have original refectors? Let me know what you decide on the front engine mount. Jim

[bbbbbb9]

The one I have that was complete had a spring steel thick wire that had 3 triangular bends in it that the lenses rested on. It's circular and rested against the lamp body and inside the chrome trim. The 3 triangular raised portions contact the lense and since it's spring steel this held the lense inside the chrome.

[jpage]

I have not seen that spring configuration on any of my cars. That sounds similar to the tailamps. Also , no spring appears in my parts catalog. Are you sure that yours are really '36 dodge?

[bbbbbb9]

I have not seen that spring configuration on any of my cars. That sounds similar to the tailamps. Also , no spring appears in my parts catalog. Are you sure that yours are really '36 dodge?

I'm losing my mind latelt Jim. I was talking about taillights. For some reason I skipped ahead in the thread and thought that it was about taillights.

Sorry folks

[jpage]

If we're talking about tailights now, I may have an extra spring. There are no current reproduction tailamp trim rings available at this time that I know of. There was a man who was reproducing them about 10-12 years ago but I think he may given it up. They were actually pretty nice. You'll have to replate the old ones and they can be removed but again, it's a little tricky!

[Steve9]

Can any one tell me how to remove the chrome ring on a 1936 dodge headlight ? with out a hacksaw

I removed the rings on my 36 that came off rust-free buckets, pretty simple. Then, I removed a ring from a rusty bucket. This was a very troublesome exercise. The rust grabs the ring and keeps it from freely separating itself from the bucket. GO SLOWLY!