2017 VS Headlight Buckets Not Seating Correctly

Install headlights and tighten without the gasket.  After installed slip the gasket over chrome to fill the gap. That's how I did my CMC - the little ridge goes in the gap.

Thanks WolfGang...what type of gasket do you have? The T type or U/J shapped gasket?

And if that doesn't work, at the top of the bucket and attached to the body is that "L" shaped metal tab that holds the top of the headlight assembly to the body.  (I believe you call it a "hinge".)

Look at it carefully as you tighten the screw at the bottom of the headlight trim to see if it is too close together or allows the trim to be too far from the body or if it is not fully grasping the trim at the top.  Once you see what's going on, bend the vertical part of that tab one way or the other (in or out, up or down) to see if that cures the problem.  It may need some "fine tuning".

I have used both the "T" type and "L" type rubber gasket rings and either work OK and both are a PITA but the assembly method Wolfgang mentioned should work.

Also, I just looked at mine and I have a small spacer between the body and the bottom tab of the headlight to hold it out off of the body when tightening the bottom screw.  That should prevent too much torquing of the trim ring when assembling it and tightening it.

I used the T type - where leg of T when into the space between body and light fixture.

@WOLFGANG posted:

Install headlights and tighten without the gasket.  After installed slip the gasket over chrome to fill the gap. That's how I did my CMC - the little ridge goes in the gap.

 

Vintage Speedsters don't typically use that type of gasket.  They use a round gasket with a slit that slips over the edge of the chrome ring.

Sounds to me like you just didn't get the chrome ring over the flange correctly.  Possibly, one of the spring clips is in the way. 

Dang, my car doesn't even have a rubber gasket there. It looks like they're either $4.55 or ~$25 from Stoddard, depending on what style you get. 

https://www.stoddard.com/porsc...ical/headlights.html

David:  I'm not sure that the 356 headlight seal will fit properly or not.

Remember that you have a VW headlight assembly, Not a Porsche, which might have subtle differences to the 356 (which can certainly look the same except for the flutes in the glass lens).

So, the rubber gasket you want is for a 1946 - 1966 VW any model and the VW part number is 111 941 191 and those usually sell for between $6 and $15 bucks a pair for decent ones.

https://www2.cip1.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=1643

Make sure it's for the right year range, as they changed headlight style in 1967.

I'm using early 911 gaskets on mine.

If your car was built by Vintage Speedsters, order them from Greg Leach at Vintage Motorcars of California Inc..  Actually, in your original message you said they were flapping in the breeze, so probably already have them and don't even need them. 

Good Morning,

Thanks for all the advice...I'll be taking everyone's inpit and trying to get them seated correctly this afternoon.

Troy, you mentioned the spring clips possibly being in the way? Would that be at the top of the assembly near the metal tab...or L shaped bracket? Before placing the new buckets on the speedster I made sure the clips were as close to the same position as the old buckets I had removed....but I will doble check.

Thanks Again,

David "Gomez"

San Jose, Ca. 95129

I have a 2013 VS, and it came with nylon spacers between the body and the metal tab at the bottom of the headlight trim ring (like Gordon describes above).

It looks like these are to keep the metal tab at the bottom from bending as you tighten the screw, but not to keep the tab at the top from popping loose.

As Gordon suggests, the bracket on the car body at the top probably needs to be fiddled with a little. If the bucket seats on that properly, it shouldn't pop loose as you tighten the screw at the bottom.

Also, as Troy notes, VS shipped a U-shaped (in cross section) rubber seal that's different from the seals I find available from VW shops. They probably sourced it from Home Depot. It grips onto the trim ring (sort of) before you put the trim ring back on (you couldn't attach it after the trim ring is back on the car). My biggest problem is always getting that seal to stay on the trim ring as I fit everything back into place.

A final note: It could be just on my car, but I've never been able to adjust the headlight position with the adjuster screws once the buckets are back on the car. The buckets wedge in too tight against the fiberglass behind them. So, I put the headlights in, point them at a wall and turn them on, guess at how far off they are, take them out again and guess at how much to reposition them, put them back in, rinse and repeat. It never takes more than a half hour to adjust the headlights this way.

Good luck!

@GomezInSJ posted:

Good Morning,

Thanks for all the advice...I'll be taking everyone's inpit and trying to get them seated correctly this afternoon.

Troy, you mentioned the spring clips possibly being in the way? Would that be at the top of the assembly near the metal tab...or L shaped bracket? Before placing the new buckets on the speedster I made sure the clips were as close to the same position as the old buckets I had removed....but I will doble check.

 

Thanks Again,

David "Gomez"

San Jose, Ca. 95129

 

 

Yes, the clips that hold the lens housing in the ring.  Coincidentally, I replaced both headlights on a Speedster I have today.  The first one popped off the flange that the headlight hangs from as I was tightening the bolt at the bottom.  I just needed to be sure it was firmly hooked on to the flange and I held a little downward pressure on the top of the ring as I screwed in the bolt.  No problem now. 

@GomezInSJ

Here are the clips shown by the arrows. 

They could get in the way if not strategically placed. 

Thank you all for the advice, thoughts and input. I don't think I'm going to have time today to tinker with the lights. I was able to head out to lowes and purchase a spacer similar to the one Sactomitch shows in his pic. I'll be sure and post some pics as I begin to work on the buckets. 

Carlos, any advice on where the clips would create issues with seating properly?

Thanks,

David "Gomez"

San Jose, Ca 95129

@Carlos G posted:

@GomezInSJ

Here are the clips shown by the arrows. 

They could get in the way if not strategically placed. 

Those are the clips, but it's just the ones near the top that you need to be worried about.

Yeah, up top where the tab/metal piece is that the headlight hangs on.

Thanks Troy, I have a little bit of day light. I'll give one or both a shot. If not I'll be working on them tomorrow am. 

Troy, you sell the crusing windows? Do you sell a pouch with those as well. Your in Fresno?

Thanks,

David "Gomez"

San Jose, Ca 95129

Ok, this is where I am in the process. Removed bucket and gasket, reseated bucket. The bucket does not come of bracket/hinge but I dont see any room for the gasket to fit. 

*also included clip placement 

David "Gomez"

San Jose, Ca 95129

Post some pictures of your gasket. 

Here you go Troy! Without the gasket the bucket seats perfectly.

You have the typical Vintage gasket that I described in an earlier post.  It looks like it should fit with no problem or maybe just a little more downward pressure.  Maybe try bending the flange that it hangs from very VERY slightly.  

Back in November I worked on my headlights to replace the rubber gaskets around the glass lenses (those are also a bitch to get them to stay on). If I remember correctly the black gasket is U shaped and bites into the chrome ring. At least that's how it looks in one of my photos. See if that helps. Let us know. I love your car's color; it's killer.

Thanks everyone for the advice and input. I have ordered a few different types of gaskets from various sources and will be giving each one a shot until I find a pair that work. In the mean time I am riding around raw dog with no gaskets. I will confess I am using a 3m body shield cut to fit around the area as not to scratch the paint. The buckets fit and seat nicely. 

Stay tuned!

David "Gomez"

San Jose, Ca 95129

NIce colour for sure. 

@IaM-Ray posted:

NIce colour for sure. 

+1

Is that Aetna blue? It looks like it in the (night) light. Please tell me you have red interior. 

Looks like it; killer color combo.

@Impala posted:

Looks like it; killer color combo.

Yeah. I fell in love with it last year. The car pictured belonged to one of the two Bosch distributor experts in the country that just happened to be local. He rebuilt a German 009 for me.

It's a Karmann Coupe with a 912 powertrain. 

 That color is beautiful. I wonder why the headlight buckets are rusting bad enough to require replacement in a car that's only 2-3 years old.

@slowshoes posted:

 That color is beautiful. I wonder why the headlight buckets are rusting bad enough to require replacement in a car that's only 2-3 years old.

Maybe he's referring to the metal frames in which the sealed beams mount. The buckets themselves are fiberglass because they're part of the body.

Impala would be correct, the metal frames were pretty rusty. Not to mention the inside of the sealed beam housing being rusted as well. I'm assuming this occurs from regular washing and a build up of condensation. I'll post a few pics of the housing and rust when I get a chance.

Today I was able to install the rubber floor mat, front and back....I think it came out pretty good.

I should be getting a few gaskets in tomorrow, so hope all goes well with the gasket install.

GomezInSJ

San Jose. Ca. 95129

The color is Aquamarine, non metalic 5707. It looks like Aetna Blue at times, in the sun. But the color can be deceiving. Here are a few pictures in different light. The light play can make the paint appear lighter and or darker.

The young man in the pictures is my Son...Darby.

GomezInSJ

Nice.  I think that's my favorite 356A color combo.

Great looking car, David!  I'm with Lane- love the color combo.  Needs to be a little lower, though...