'31 Head lamp bar bending
 

What's a good technique for bending the headlamp bar to achieve alignment at the fenders ?

Re: '31 Head lamp bar bending
 

The bar is tubular on 99% of most versions and is easily reshaped using torch heat and a vise to clamp it in.

Re: '31 Head lamp bar bending
 

Most of the time its the fender and fender braces that need to be aligned to fit the headlight bar :)

Re: '31 Head lamp bar bending
 

I agree, so make sure you are bending the part that is wrong.

Re: '31 Head lamp bar bending
 

Boyz, not to be argumentative with y'all but that is not really an accurate statement from my experiences. Think about it this way, when you need to push/pull a Model-A, what do you push on? The majority of H/L bars out there are tweaked too.


Generally speaking, when the aprons, running boards and front fenders are mocked-up, you can stand back and look at the 'droop' of the fenders to get it close. Then measuring from the floor to the fender will establish a good reference and the fender brace can be tweaked at that time where the bolts align with the holes without prying to install the bolts. Then with the fenders in alignment, when you install the headlight bar, at least one of the flanges will not be on the same angle. A cross-view sighting will generally show a kink or incorrect bow in the bar. Anymore in an effort to save time, we section the headlight bar and use two bars to make one correct width one. Heat is still used at the headlight mount to tweak for good fender to flange fit.

Re: '31 Head lamp bar bending
 

That's our situation as Brent states. When fenders are set from level floor equally on both sides, the bracket holes don't seem to line up. Would think it's better to tweak the bar than force a fender somewhere and also help equalize the headlamps gaps to the radiator..