head light lens on 36

TodFitch · March 13, 2009, 02:46:28 AM

My cross reference for those lenses is at:

http://www.ply33.com/Parts/group8#8-34-95

A web search shows that Valley Vintage Auto Parts claims to have that part. I have never purchased from them so I can't speak to how good a vendor they are.

elmo · March 09, 2009, 01:46:00 AM

Nelson i'm not even sure if he makes them for a 36 it was just a suggestion ,somewhere to try . i do know he will make almost any lens a long as he has a mould for it , or a lens to make a mould, be it right hand drive or left

36 Ply · March 08, 2009, 05:34:21 PM

CG Sailor-

Family plans have changed, so I'm posting now. Ref the photos you posted of your headlight buckets: The screw hole for the lens retaining screw is approximately one inch in from the outside edge of the bottom of the bucket.

Following info is from the August & Sept. 1983 Skinned Knuckles magazine:

1936 Plymouth lens; Riteway (all models), part #2000
1937 Plymouth lens; Riteway (U.S. only) , part #2004
1937 Plymouth lens: Riteway (Canada only), part #2000

Lens diameter: part #2000 7 3/4 in.
part #2004 7 19/32 in.

My advice is, if you attend car parts swap meets or flea markets, take your good lens with you to match up with a potential replacement, as there are subtle differences in lens diameters (see above).

Regards, and good luck,
Pat O'Connor

Nelson · March 08, 2009, 06:30:46 AM

C G Sailor,
They are easy to break, and getting harder to find.
'36 & '37 were the same size. '38 was slightly larger. When you find a potential replacement, in case you haven't noticed, you will need to measure width and height , as they are not actually round, they are slightly oval. ( Only by about 1/8 inch) Also Left Hand Drive and Right Hand Drive lenses will be different, because in low beam, head lights shine off to kerb side not straight ahead. I.e RHD, shine off to the left, and LHD to the right to help keeping the light out of the on-coming drivers eyes. (RHD ones are marked with 'EXPORT' embossed in the glass at the bottom of the lens.)
Australia is RHD, so elmo54 suggestion might not be viable, unless his man makes the LHD version as well.
On the plus side you will also find that the same lens fits Grahams and Studebaker's from '36 / '37 as well. ( I used to have a couple of extra Export versions, i.e. RHD ones, that found new homes in a Graham.) They do turn up on eBay from time to time.
Good luck in your hunt.
Cheers, Nelson.

36 Ply · March 07, 2009, 10:13:26 PM

CG Sailor-

Quick reply for now, still busy with family stuff. J.C. Whitney used to sell a sealed beam adaptor kit for pre-1940 cars, to convert the bulb headlights to sealed beams. Perhaps this is what you have.
I should have the dimensions for various year Plymouth headlight lenses, but won't be able to look them up until Monday.

Regards,
Pat O'Connor

elmo · March 07, 2009, 07:18:20 PM

CG Sailor try this address he is in Austraila and makes repro len's for chrysler family vehicles. a lot of the DeSoto club guys have dealt with him and i have only heard good things about his len's. www.georgelaurie@bigpond .com

CG sailor · March 07, 2009, 07:01:54 PM

Thanks Pat
I have another set in my storage. I was looking at them and they were not the same as far as the wires went. The spars had a three prong plug that looked like most modern vehicles look. It was as these were made for a sealed beam. Did they change a few years from 1936? I noticed that they had a ground attached to the other side that was attached to the wiring harness. I also messured my lens and it looks like they were close to 7 3/4". The lens may not e the original to the car.

36 Ply · March 07, 2009, 10:52:25 AM

CG Sailor-

My headlight buckets have a different lens retaining screw for the right and left side. The one that I believe is the correct and original screw has something like a rivet at the tip that prevents it from coming all the way (out) unscrewed, so that you can't lose it.

I'm busy this weekend; if no one answers by Monday, I'll do some research with my parts book and try to get you a better answer.

Regards,
Pat O'Connor

CG sailor · March 07, 2009, 10:03:02 AM

I assum that the screw hole is on the bottom like in my picture. Is it any different or has other parts with it?

CG sailor · March 07, 2009, 08:21:42 AM

Guys, Thanks for the information. I havent been outto the garage since that happened. I am trying hard not to think about it. My lens are off the vehicle right now. My car was in parts and I am at the point of getting the light buckets put on. I'll post a pic when I get a chance. I put the break lights together and the lens went in a little better than these. I dont have a screw in the bottom of my buckets though. I did notice a small spot onthe bottom and was wondering what that was for. Doese anyone have a pic of what the screw looks like? Thanks

Lew · March 06, 2009, 04:25:06 PM

There are some '36 dodge truck headlights on Ebay right now but not sure of the match. Perhaps you can exchange info with the seller on size and have a matched pair.
Try also arizonzaparts.com or Len Dawson in Wash. state. They are listed in the Ply. Bulletin.vendors section
Enter part no. 674173. which is also the same number for '37 headlamps.
LR

elmo · March 06, 2009, 01:56:30 AM

Pat's advice is good , here is what the book says about removal/replacement. Loosen the screw at the bottom of the headlght body, using the lens removing tool (its very similar to the rubber suction cup that was used for clearing blocked drains , i found the best substitute was the rubber suction cup that panel beaters used for pulling shallow dents from cars) press inward at the bottom of the lens causing it to come out at the top of the body, and withdraw it upward and out of the body. to replace the lens enter the lens at the bottom , lining up the locator with the locating notch in the body, slide the lens toward the bottom of the body till the top of the lens clears the body opening . press inwards at the top of the lens , hold the lens in place and tighten the lens retainor screw

36 Ply · March 05, 2009, 10:24:04 PM

CG Sailor-

Sorry about your broken lens. There is a screw at the bottom of original (metal) headlight buckets that must be unscrewed (it shouldn't come all the way out), then push in the bottom of the lens with the palm of your hand, while keeping the lens from dropping with your other hand.

I always have a piece of old carpet on the floor whenever I take a lens off, in case something slips.

Regards,

Pat O'Coonor

Pandanom · March 05, 2009, 10:13:00 PM

Quote from: CG sailor on March 05, 2009, 09:24:37 PM
I am trying to install my glass head light lens on the buckets and cant figure out how to get them to go on. These are original and unfortunatly I broke one last night trying to push it in. I was sick to my stomach and decided that was my key to stop for the night. My second question is, do they sell them aftermarket? I dont care if they are plastic or glass. I need one. By the way its a 36 Plymouth 2 Dr sedan. UGGGGG!

Don't feel too badly, those things are easy to drop. What size diameter is it? On my '37 they are 7-1/4" I believe but don't have one in front of me to measure. Your '36 is probably different. There were many changes in the two years. I actually found a pair of NOS lenses for my car on Ebay. Bernbaum or Roberts may have them too. I can check their catalogs tomorrow if you don't have their catalogs. There are some lenses out there, you just have to find them. I looked for a year before finding a pair. Funny thing is when I got the NOS ones in the mail they were not well packed so one fell out of the old box and hit the floor. Luckily I was sitting down and it did not fall far and did not break. So, you're not the only one.

CG sailor · March 05, 2009, 09:24:37 PM

I am trying to install my glass head light lens on the buckets and cant figure out how to get them to go on. These are original and unfortunatly I broke one last night trying to push it in. I was sick to my stomach and decided that was my key to stop for the night. My second question is, do they sell them aftermarket? I dont care if they are plastic or glass. I need one. By the way its a 36 Plymouth 2 Dr sedan. UGGGGG!