layout help requested for early front signals

[burgandy81]

Hi All,

I need some advice.

My 80 is taking another step on its journey back in time. Early front turn signals and an early bumper are being installed this winter.

I have the front bumper figured out.

Now it is time to cut the new holes for the early style front signals and I am more than a little nervous. Taking a 4" angle grinder to relatively good body work is out of my comfort zone!

As seen below I have templates (thanks Kraig!) and the passenger side is looking OK. The Drivers side is a little more challenging as the headlight bucket has been dubiously repaired and I can no longer remove the headlamp bucket to install the template.







So.....

1. Can anyone confirm if the bottom edge of the early style turn signals is parallel to the ground or slightly angled? My current layout as the outer edge of the signals tipping towards the ground slightly.

2. How would you transfer the location of the passenger side to the drivers side???????
- With the compound angels on the front end and some poorly repaired previous crash damage i am struggling to conceive of a way to transfer this confidently.

Thanks in advance, all input is much appreciated!

Jordan

[juvius]

here's a picture of an early spider. it looks like they are level.


google images brings up a lot of pictures you can use for reference. I would check, but i don't even have my front fenders on the car yet to see how they set....

as far as transferring the pattern to the other side, you could use poster board or something to trace the location and flip it for the other side.

by the way, that green panel you have looks familiar.. i think it's from a 70 i cut up

[vandor]

Maybe you can install the bumper and make sure the turn signals are parallel with it?

[burgandy81]

Juvius,

Yes, level it is. Thanks for the picture, I had looked at several on the internet but none showed quite that angle.

I have a template created from the green body work template and that is working well. My concern is how to lay it out now. With the angels of the body work I am having trouble using a level to get horizontal.

Templates could be yours! I got them from Kraig in Washington as a temporary loan to try and get this done.

Vandor,

Thanks for the thought. I did have the bumper on and it helped a little although it was still far enough away from the bodywork that I have to transfer the line with something and I am nervous that i did not do it well.



Any suggestions on a material that I can wrap around the front end to create a level line flush with the grill opening? Something light-weight rigid in one direction and flexible in the other? (free or cheap is also preferred)

[81SPIDERMATT]

cheap laser level ... set up far enough away from the car as not to bump it and offsetting color tape to show the laser line

[burgandy81]

Yeah! Laser level, should have thought of that.

Will find some time this weekend.

Thanks!

[spiderrey]

Best way would be to trim your template so it dosent interfere with the headlight.

[cormac]

I would use an old fashioned water level

[burgandy81]

Water level, very good call!

Can't find my laser level anyway.

[cormac]

Water level, very good call!

Can't find my laser level anyway.

yeah, a little home engineering and planning and you should be able to get them exactly in the right place...I am going to have the same situation...putting older light assemblies in our 76, our Spider has some minor front end body damage as well, we want to close up the lower radiator opening so we just might go with pre 74 sheet metal if we can find it

oh, by the way, I would probably use the water level to get the entire front end level and true using a reference point from each corner, then go from there, as it is always a hassle to have to add and subtract numbers to compensate on difference, more room for error

good luck

[fiat124v8]

Also - I recommend taping off the area around the light and using a jig saw instead of a 4" grinder for two reasons: The grinders can sometimes grab the metal and launch themselves a few inches beyond our (my) ability to control them, and the ends of the turn-signal openings are short, so I think the grinder will tend to cut into areas you don't want it to. Nice looking car, BTW!

[cos]

Also - I recommend taping off the area around the light and using a jig saw instead of a 4" grinder for two reasons: The grinders can sometimes grab the metal and launch themselves a few inches beyond our (my) ability to control them, and the ends of the turn-signal openings are short, so I think the grinder will tend to cut into areas you don't want it to. Nice looking car, BTW!

i agree with the above. As an additional advise i drilled through at eack corner.

[ClarkTheShark]

I did this exact same thing i did to my 79. you can sort of see in my profile picture. - left the front bumper off completely though. To me, this is the only solution to making a bumper removal look correct. No dinky add-in turn signals.

[carl]

Before you start cutting, get some painters tape and make a replica of the lights on the tape. Stick them on the car where you think they will go just to give you a final chance to step back and look at things before you start slicing.

"I cut it twice and it's still too short"

carl

[burgandy81]

Quick update.

Finally cut these out today.

Took a little of advice from several posts. Water level to find level across the compound curves of the front end, painters tape template to layout and visually check, 4" angle grinder with cut off wheel to make straight cuts, Jigsaw for curved ends and Dremel for delicate corners.

So far so good. Just had time to make the cuts and then back to family time. More later with pics.

Thanks again for the thoughts and suggestions.

Jordan