MK1 front Head light Assembly

[nuckenfutsmk1]

Im just about to unpick the factory spot welds and remove the damaged front end and replace with a repoduction round head light one!
First any ideas on unpicking successfully without creating more wore
Has anyone bought a repoduction front headlight assembly from the UK and found that its fit well or did you through it in the bin :baby bott

[cortina-mk1]

im a little confused

all mk1s had round headlights ?

[Engine Guy]

Unpicking spot welds can be a bit tricky... I use a special spring loaded spot weld drill bit.

Go to your local panel shop they might sell you one
This kind of work is all about having the right tools!

[PaulMK1]

Since the old front panel is of no value I would simply grind off the old front panel leaving the inside seams cleaned and polished. Saying that you need to drill out the top weld around the slam panel (you can't get a grinder into that area easily).

My UK panel fitted like a treat!

[nuckenfutsmk1]

Engine guy - could you get away with using say a 5mm drill bit instead of buying a Spring loaded bit from a panel shop or is it quite worth the expense. Please explain unsure of what the bit does other than drills a hole?

[cortina-mk1]

there are special panel drill bits for spot welds

nothing fancy

under $20 for a pack of 2

good harware store of engineering place will have them

[nuckenfutsmk1]

Sold ill pick some up.

So after yourve unpicked and drilled out the spot welds and fitted the panel. would you weld in the drilled out spot welds or run small seem welds from panel to panel
or
Can you hire a spot welder from say coates or Kennard hire and make it ridgy didge

[TITO]

Originally Posted by nuckenfutsmk1

Engine guy - could you get away with using say a 5mm drill bit instead of buying a Spring loaded bit from a panel shop or is it quite worth the expense. Please explain unsure of what the bit does other than drills a hole?

Its like a small hole saw cuts around the weld.

[Engine Guy]

Originally Posted by nuckenfutsmk1

Sold ill pick some up.

So after yourve unpicked and drilled out the spot welds and fitted the panel. would you weld in the drilled out spot welds or run small seem welds from panel to panel
or
Can you hire a spot welder from say coates or Kennard hire and make it ridgy didge

I would weld the holes up if I were you.... seam welding is very time consuming, and to be honest the front panel would'nt be an area I'd seam weld anyway...
Although there are areas of the car I would seam weld!!

Cheers
Engine Guy

[nuckenfutsmk1]

Well I bought a panel front smcka of the classic ford forum and dummied it up today and its fits great. I ended up cutting the headlight flares off for eazy fiting. It was hard to continuely pull the panel off and on when trying to line the panels up. I didn't end up buying the special panel drill hole saw but rather just ground and cut the panel back til all was gone. Im starting a step by step photo shoot that i will eventually post. Finish the car first though. cheers for the input

[Mk1Bluey]

Awesome i've often considered going to the round headlights so a step by step would be great.. please keep me informed thanks mate.