36' Headlight Reflector Size

[Rockymountainsparky]

When I purchased my 36 coupe it was in boxes. Right now I'm getting ready to have the reflectors re-silvered. I noticed that the reflector is 7" diameter but the lenses are 8". The reflector seems too small for the lens. Is this right?

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Rockymountainsparky

When I purchased my 36 coupe it was in boxes. Right now I'm getting ready to have the reflectors re-silvered. I noticed that the reflector is 7" diameter but the lenses are 8". The reflector seems too small for the lens. Is this right?

[Kurt in NJ]

How does it fit in the headlight bucket ?

[Rockymountainsparky]

I don't know. Like I said, everything was apart and in boxes. If anyone has a reflector for a 36 car handy, could you measure the diameter?

[Newc]

Some reflectors require those small brackets on the circumference, I had to sort a lot for those. Newc

[Charlie Stephens]

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I would have them aluminum plated. Sounds cheap but it is what they do for medical mirrors and spacecraft mirrors. It will probably cost more than silver. Try UVIRA, (541) 474-5050

Charlie Stephens

[Rockymountainsparky]

Before I have them coated, I need to make sure that I actually have the right reflectors. I have no clue how they mount in the headlights. The previous owner had taken everything apart, then it sat for close to 50 years. During that time, he restored several old cars then passed away. I'm hoping someone can let me know if I have the right parts and how to put them back together.

[nelsb01]

The glass lens fit out to the edge of the headlight buckets so yes, they will be larger in diameter than the reflectors that fit into the headlight buckets.

[Rockymountainsparky]

Thank you everyone for all the replies. I guess I'll have to purchase the clips and play with the buckets to figure out how everything goes together.

[Blindhuckster]

Here is a picture of the 1936 headlight assembly from the Ford Chassis parts book. Perhaps there is a part number stamped on your reflector 48-13028 so you can verify it is the correct one. The clip part number is 48-13017. I included a picture of the parts breakdown. It looks like Fred at Southside Obsolete Ford Part has the NOS clips. I have bought several items from him lately and was very pleased. Hope this is helpful. Nate

https://southsideobsolete.com/

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Blindhuckster

Here is a picture of the 1936 headlight assembly from the Ford Chassis parts book. Perhaps there is a part number stamped on your reflector 48-13028 so you can verify it is the correct one. The clip part number is 48-13017. I included a picture of the parts breakdown. It looks like Fred at Southside Obsolete Ford Part has the NOS clips. I have bought several items from him lately and was very pleased. Hope this is helpful. Nate

https://southsideobsolete.com/

[oldandtired]

Rockymountainsparky...Seems to me that the 35 and 36 passenger buckets are basically the same dimensionally for the bucket itself and that the 38/9 pickups used a bucket that is dimensionally the same as the 35 passenger car. The 35-37 pickups and the 38/9 pickups use the same headlight lens as the 35 passenger car. I can think of no obvious reason why the 36 passenger headlight reflector would be different from the one used in the 35 passenger car and the 35-39 pickups. I have never had a 36 passenger car, so perhaps I am wrong about the reflector. In any case, I have a resilvered OEM reflector and it is right at 7 7/8 inches in diameter outside to outside. It may be slightly less than that because it is wrapped to keep the silver from oxidizing and I do not want to remove the wrapping until assembly. I do not see from the picture posted by Petehoovie how the reflector could mate to the headlight lens and gasket if it is only 7 inches. Maybe someone with a 36 could post some measurements?

[Model51]

Here's an illustration from my book. It's for a 1935-1936 pickup and truck, so the headlight bucket and lens aren't the same, but it's basically the same arrangement of parts. I figured that sometimes having a slightly different view can help figure things out.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Model51

Here's an illustration from my book. It's for a 1935-1936 pickup and truck, so the headlight bucket and lens aren't the same, but it's basically the same arrangement of parts. I figured that sometimes having a slightly different view can help figure things out.

[Rockymountainsparky]

Actually that is a great help. Thanks for posting.