How I frenched the Headlights on my 1953 Ford

How I Frenched the Headlights on My 53 Ford

I started my project by disassembling the headlight rings and then removing the headlight bulbs. I set the headlight bulbs aside in a safe place. I then removed the headlight buckets that were mounted on to the front of the fenders. I also removed the (3) speed nuts from each fender.
I left the headlight bucket assembled so the headlight adjustments would stay the same. The headlight buckets have a lip all around the outer edge and it must be carefully removed from the assembly. I used a parting wheel and then filed down all the sharp edges.
To allow trapped water to escape I added a notch in the bottom of the headlight bucket to allow water to drain out of the head light area. A hole was also added to the bottom center of the fender on the lower edge to match the notches on the headlight buckets.
I then painted all the bare metal edges on the headlight buckets and the area around the lights black. I put new larger speed nuts in the (3) holes in the headlight buckets that were used to hold it to the fender. The buckets were then installed back into the fender from the rear. I used the same (3) screws for each headlight that I saved from the original assemblies. With the buckets now installed. I am half way there!


Headlight bucket installed From the Rear, Bottom Drain Hole & Blacked Out Area around the Headlight

Now to get the headlight rings ready I removed the chrome inner rings held on with inside mounted wire clips. I then welded both outer rings bottom screw holes and the bottom drain holes shut and ground them smooth.
Next I made (6) special clips out of one inch wide steel strips. These special clips were welded inside of the outer ring. I located the (3) special clips equally spaced around each outer ring starting with one at the bottom center. Be sure to tack weld both the inner and the outer corners of the clips.


Special Clip, & a Speed Nut Installed on a Clip in the Outer Ring

Next I took my chrome inner rings and laid out the (3) equally spaced holes required to retain it in the outer ring. My chrome inner rings had a seam and I wanted it at the top so it would not show when finish assembled. I laid out the first hole on to masking tape that I had placed across from the seam I laid out the other holes on to attached tape and after checking everything twice I center punched and drilled the (3) holes in the inner chrome rings. Be sure to size the holes for the screws you are going to use.


Chrome Inner Ring with (3) Equally Spaced Holes Shown

I removed the tape and used the wire clips that held the inner and outer rings together before to hold them again. I aligned the inner ring seam to the top of the outer ring and drilled the (3) holes into the outer rings welded in clips.
I then removed the wire clips I used to temporary hold the ring together and drilled out the holes in the clips to except (3) large speed nuts in each ring. I painted the inside of both outer headlight rings flat black to cover the cars original light colored paint.
I then tack welded the outer headlight rings to the fenders. Be sure to align the top edge of the outer ring to the top edge of the fender.


Tack Welded Outer Ring to Left Front Fender

Finish weld and grind and add body filler and sand to suit.
Add your inner Chrome rings and the frenched headlights are complete.