Its been a while since I have replaced the headlights on my 69 mustang. I am installing the outer lights. The headlight is plugged in in the back and sits in the tray like bowl, I have the retaining ring on the bulb but I cant pull that damned spring to the tab. I have some needle nose and I grab it and try to pull it onto the tab but every time its like it wont go far enough even though it was hooked onto the old, dead lights before.

This is really frustrating specially when I wanted to drive it tonight and cant.

Help please.

Thanks

 

Could I install the lights without using that spring? Cause I cant get the thing on.

 

Never mind that tried without the spring and the headlight sorta flops, it needs the spring but I cant get it still to attach to that tab.

I am trying to pull that spring and attach it but it wont pull far enough to attach to the rim piece with the tab.

 

Put the spring on first, then the screws.

 

Install spring, slide headlight into trim ring and twist the whole headlight into position,screw in screws using magnetic tipped screwdriver.

 

When I did mine (back in high school 3-4 years ago) I took a piece of filler rod for oxy/ace welding and bent a small hook on the end of it (kept it since because I know if I have to fiddle with the headlights I need it). Works perfect for hooking the spring and pulling it out. A wire coat hanger is just a little too soft I think, but worth a shot if it's all you have.

 

It seems pulling the spring out is out of the question I have tried with needle nose pliers and some other little loop tools and it just wont go far enough not to mention I think I will break that piece on the other end that the spring is hooked to if I pull to hard. Dennis I will try your way tomorrow hopefully that works, spending an hour and a half and not getting them on is so so so frustrating.

 

It took me hours of fighting with the spring to get it on. I was cussing up a storm every time it snapped out of the needle nose pliers. Persistence paid off though and I won in the end!!