Headlight bucket questions
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 790
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From: Highland Village, TX
Headlight bucket questions
I just bought a very nice 56 grill and gravel pan at a swap meet. I gave up on finding a decent 53 grill in chrome or that could be chromed and my 53 gravel pan is completely shot. I already have the dimples in my 56 air defelectors and know I will need to get a set of 56 parking lights.
The vendors seem to indicate that the headlight buckets for 56 are different than 53-55. However most of them sell 53-55 headlight buckets but I have found no repops for 56 buckets??? Seems very odd considering only 56 grills seemed to be available aftermarket.
What I don't understand is do I need to get 56 headlight buckets or can I reuse my 53s?
The vendors seem to indicate that the headlight buckets for 56 are different than 53-55. However most of them sell 53-55 headlight buckets but I have found no repops for 56 buckets??? Seems very odd considering only 56 grills seemed to be available aftermarket.
What I don't understand is do I need to get 56 headlight buckets or can I reuse my 53s?
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,548
Likes: 77
From: Manhattan, KS
Years back someone here mentioned that the buckets from Ford vans can also be adapted to work. I picked up a pair at a garage sale about that time, but never got around to using them. They look to be similar to the and are probably mid 70's.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Highland Village, TX
I just find it odd that Mid Fifties in their catalog mention you need 56 buckets yet nobody seems to reproduce these only 53-55 buckets. However the opposite is true when it comes to the grills, nobody makes 53-55 grills only 56.
What the??
What the??
FTE Legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,563
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From: northwestern Ontario
You now have me curious so will have to check as soon as I get back out in the shop. I'll check back later.
FTE Legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,563
Likes: 8,228
From: northwestern Ontario
Hey 53 are you really older than me, I just got back in from the shop, the only difference I can see between the two buckets are the 53 are 1/4" bigger in diameter than the 56 at the spot that bolts to the grill and the 53 has a rolled up edge where the 56 has the rolled edge trimmed off. The 53 also has a tab at the bottom that is to hold the crome ring on, the 56 doesn't have that tab. I didn't think to check the bolt hole spacing between the two but seems as though you have. I'll do some more checking tomorrow morning.
John
John
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Highland Village, TX
Hey 53 are you really older than me, I just got back in from the shop, the only difference I can see between the two buckets are the 53 are 1/4" bigger in diameter than the 56 at the spot that bolts to the grill and the 53 has a rolled up edge where the 56 has the rolled edge trimmed off. The 53 also has a tab at the bottom that is to hold the crome ring on, the 56 doesn't have that tab. I didn't think to check the bolt hole spacing between the two but seems as though you have. I'll do some more checking tomorrow morning.
John
John
I appreciate you looking. If I get a chance tomorrow I'm gonna try to assemble and see how far I get.
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Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
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From: Pflugerville, tx
I used my 55 buckets on my 56 grill. you have to trim the outside of the bucket a little to get it to fit properly.. a little over an 1/8 in all the way around.
then I got a set of 56 buckets... figures.
sam
then I got a set of 56 buckets... figures.
sam
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 128
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From: Longview wa
How did you deal w/ the problem of getting the grill to set back all the way,mine never went all the way home. My other parts 55 also came w/ a 56 grill, what they did was cut the back of the bucket off and attached the spring clip to the air deflector. It would be nice to know the correct way of landing the grill correctly before I start choppen
RICH
RICH
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Highland Village, TX
How did you deal w/ the problem of getting the grill to set back all the way,mine never went all the way home. My other parts 55 also came w/ a 56 grill, what they did was cut the back of the bucket off and attached the spring clip to the air deflector. It would be nice to know the correct way of landing the grill correctly before I start choppen
RICH
RICH
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Longview wa
Thanks 53,
I saw that earlyer in the chat but it wasn't confirmed, I guess I'm just going to have to start looking for a 56 deflector set.
There's a 56 about 12 mi. from here, better check it out.
Thanks again
RICH
I saw that earlyer in the chat but it wasn't confirmed, I guess I'm just going to have to start looking for a 56 deflector set.
There's a 56 about 12 mi. from here, better check it out.
Thanks again
RICH
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
I used the 56 deflectors (from MF), and the 56 grill fit perfectly.. the headlights are frenched back about 1.5 inches on the 56, (the size of the dimple)..
also, be careful ordering the deflectors.. there is one with a universal grill hole setup and one with a 56 setup.. I originally wanted to use my 55 grill, and oops I THOUGHT I ordered the universal mounting.. but didn't.. had to cut new holes.. then went to the 56 grill. and had to fill them back in again!..
never a dull moment..
Sam
also, be careful ordering the deflectors.. there is one with a universal grill hole setup and one with a 56 setup.. I originally wanted to use my 55 grill, and oops I THOUGHT I ordered the universal mounting.. but didn't.. had to cut new holes.. then went to the 56 grill. and had to fill them back in again!..
never a dull moment..
Sam
