'66 Dart headlight buckets

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Professor Fate

Professor Fate

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I'm reassembling my '66 Dart wagon after paint, I installed the grille and my newly acquired (used) headlight bezels when I ran into an issue on the driver's side fender- the bucket screws right in to the fender's factory holes, but the headlight is about a half inch off towards the side of the fender, and installing the bezel brought it to my attention when the headlight was waaay off center in the trim (I never had bezels on it before, they were a pain to find).
The headlight bucket looks identical to the passenger side one, and that side fits the bezel perfectly. It makes me think that over the years the car may have ended up with two right hand headlight buckets- I know the driver's fender was replaced at some point, and who knows what was used to mount the headlight...
So I guess that I'm looking for someone to confirm what I already suspect: that the two sides are, in fact, different. Then I can place an ad!
 
Oops, forgot the pic!
1731630463426.png

And another question:
If they are indeed different, do any other years interchange with the '66?
Thanks
 
Is the adjustment way off? I had a similar issue when I put the front end of my '66 back together on the passenger side and it turned out to be way out of adjustment. I don't think it was that far off though. If I recall correctly, I believe both buckets were the same. I could be wrong though. It's easy enough to find out I guess.
 
No, the adjustment is close; but it seems the whole unit needs to move over 1/2-5/8".
I was hoping someone may have one apart and be able to tell me for sure.
 
i just painted mine and did not mark them right / left . when i took them out , they were reinstalled without thought to sides , and look right . 50/50 shot i was just lucky ?
 
Maybe it could be a different year bucket, but it interchanges with the right side with no alignment issues?
Maybe if someone has a parts book, they could confirm that the numbers are the same or different.
I can make this one work, but I'll have to redrill the mounting holes for the bucket and add new clearance holes for the adjusters- hate to start drilling and grinding on fresh paint, even though it will be hidden...
 
The bucket (seat and shell) are the same for both sides (2290761 is the assembly). The only different one I know of is the export version for RH drive cars, but, I think it's mainly the bulb and maybe the seat where the bulb dimples are located.
 
Do both yours look identical? Maybe one bucket is off a different year and/or model?
 
cudamark said:
Do both yours look identical? Maybe one bucket is off a different year and/or model?
Click to expand...
Yes, I was able to swap them side-to-side with the same results- the driver's side is "off".
And before anyone asks, neither fender is damaged or modified.
 
Sorry it took so long for pix, life got in the way...
Both buckets (trick of the camera- they're not as off-center as the pic makes them look):
1731971792973.png

Left (DS) headlight:
1731972067620.png

Right (PS) headlight:
1731972282719.png

And as I said, I can switch them side-to-side, and the driver's side remains "off".

Actually, since these pictures were taken, I've slotted/massaged the mounts, and shimmed the contact area between the seat and shell and got it to line up a bit better, but it's not quite there yet...
 
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