76CutlassSalon

I remember that back in the 1970s there was a flap regarding poor quality headlamp adjusters used by the factory on the mid-'70s Colonnades and other GM cars of that era. The plastic adjusters would fail and headlamps would end up "pointing at the ground".

Fast forward 40 years --- I am now having problems aiming the headlamps far enough upward on our largely original '76 Cutlass Salon. I haven't actually removed the headlamp units to examine them, but when turning the adjuster clockwise I can feel the screw adjustment "max-out" and begin to skip before the headlamps are aimed "far enough down the road". Assuming that this is related to the old problem, where can I buy new, upgraded headlamp adjusters for this car?

Jeff

MDchanic

I don't know specifically what the nut looks like on the post-72 cars, but I believe it was always a Dorman HELP! product.

Welcome to ClassicOlds.

- Eric

mrolds69

I've never heard of a problem like that. It could be many things, adjuster screws too short, springs missing, nuts inserted from the wrong side of the core support, etc. Car may have been hit in the front and wrong hardware used. You have to look and see..........

oldcutlass

Welcome to the site, heres a link:
http://www.dormanproducts.com/catalo...H-I-JFinal.pdf

rocketraider

I can vouch for the same problem on Ninety Eights. Had to replace all 8 on my Regency with closest available match and seems I still can't get the aim where it should be.

76CutlassSalon

Thanks, guys; this helps a lot.

I am a pretty parts-savvy guy, but for whatever reason I have always had trouble navigating that Dorman online catalog. If you don't know Dorman's exact name for the part, then the part "doesn't exist".

Jeff

MDchanic

Very true.

The other problem, in this case, it that GM did not sell the nylon nuts separately - they were considered a part of the headlight base - so there's no GM part number to cross reference.

You have to pull off the headlight doors and look at what kind of nut holds the adjusters.
Olds liked nuts that are riveted on to the headlight base, rather than the snap-in nuts that some others used, but I have no idea what they used on your series.
Once you see what it looks like, it should be easy to pick it out visually.

- Eric

76CutlassSalon

I'll get in there today and give it a look-see, Eric; thanks.

Jeff

m371961

Don't know if these are even close.http://www.delmarwire.com/home/trim-fastenershttp://

76CutlassSalon

Thanks, Patrick; I've been looking for a source for some of the Packard 56 terminal bodies on they have available on that site!

Jeff

m371961

Thank Joe P.

76CutlassSalon

Thanks, Joe P.

Jeff

76CutlassSalon

UPDATE:

After a bit of additional research, Dorman #42161 appears to be the best match for the headlamp adjusters. I found some on eBay for cheap and I ordered a total of 8:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190729537644

I also found some headlamp adjustment springs which looked similar to my very rusty old ones so I ordered four (no part number, unfortunately):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111637990929

Not too bad for a total outlay of $20.65 (shipping was free in both cases).

Bear in mind: I can't be 100% certain that these parts will be "drop-in" until they arrive, but I'm willing to bet they will be close enough that I can "adjust" them to work properly.

Jeff

marxjunk

if you can source a pic...i may have it NOS i have 100s of headlamp adjusters, they came from a fleet managers estate and she never threw any thing away...

i just looked at the ebay listing..i have some of those

76CutlassSalon

Thanks, Mark; I'll try to remember to take a photo and post it.

Jeff