66 GMC Headlight Adjusters.

[Blessed66]

I followed a poster's advice on purchasing these nice headlight adjusters I found in the search bar (yes, I used it) but I'm having a small problem. I don't have the most complete tool collection in the world and cannot get the dang rivets out of the old adjusters.

Any advice for removing that panel to get to them or an easier way to get these rivets out?

[DPowers]

Can't you just drill them out?

[Blessed66]

Originally Posted by DPowers

Can't you just drill them out?

I did, but the rivets end up just spinning in place. To be fair, I'm starting on the low beam driver's side on the side adjuster first and I think there's a plate behind there. Not entirely certain, because I'm working on the piece on the truck and can't feel the rivet on the back side.

[Southcity]

Dpowers is correct, you can drill them out, I did the same on my 66 GMC. If the rivets just spin try moving up (ever so slightly) to a larger drill bit or cut a thin strip of electrical tape and wrap it around the drill bit, just enough so it will grab on the rivet. This helps only after you have the pilot hole and a spinning rivet, worked great for me.

[Blessed66]

Originally Posted by Southcity

Dpowers is correct, you can drill them out, I did the same on my 66 GMC. If the rivets just spin try moving up (ever so slightly) to a larger drill bit or cut a thin strip of electrical tape and wrap it around the drill bit, just enough so it will grab on the rivet. This helps only after you have the pilot hole and a spinning rivet, worked great for me.

Thanks, I will try that. I felt a little dumb because I've riveted things before, just never removed a rivet. I have a feeling this will be the first of many.

On a side note, and as a follow up, have you (or anyone else) seen an instance where an allen head bolt held in one of the threaded posts from the back? All my others are just open threaded plastic posts (where the adjuster screws in) that bottom out on the headlamp panel. This one was metal. And blind bolted in.

That was fun.

[Southcity]

I have not seen that but not surprised to hear about it. There are usually some *interesting* fixes done by previous owners to discover when you purchase an old truck/car. Good luck with your repair, also you may want to consider using a headlight relay kit for that GMC (since you have the front-end apart)a big improvement in headlight performance for these vehicles.

[Blessed66]

Originally Posted by Southcity

I have not seen that but not surprised to hear about it. There are usually some *interesting* fixes done by previous owners to discover when you purchase an old truck/car. Good luck with your repair, also you may want to consider using a headlight relay kit for that GMC (since you have the front-end apart)a big improvement in headlight performance for these vehicles.

Interesting is one word for it, alright!

And yes, I plan on running the relay kit when it's all said and done.

Thanks!