Here is how to Align your Headlights, DIY.

[George Jets]

OK finishing up the front Park Lights re-wiring and now it's time to Re-Align the Headlights after 36 years of service.

Parking on a level surface, and with things everyone has on hand.
Eyeball the headlights with a quick check with the Lucus 1 qt. oil bottle with the point on the end.
Want the headlights pointing straight ahead and 2 degrees down when you are finished.

Here is how you can do it:

Now back to a full smile with new Headlight Doors that include the new Amber Park lenses.

Headlights on, Aligned, and all Lights Working.

Success, Success...

Have fun, as everyone knows it's fun working on your Mopars.


* * * * *

 

[67Dart273]

Why not just do it the right way--with a simple bit of tape on a wall. Hell I can't do that at home, I used to run up to the old mall around the front corner, in early evening, no traffic back there, and set it up. I believe it's all outlined in the service manuals

Page 5-4 of the 73 service manual, for Dodge passenger cars

LOL my favorite section of "Mall Wall." It faces E, so in the late afternoon/ evening there is good contrast. Rarely anyone parked around that end, so plenty of room and not much activity. Only a couple miles away

 

[MDchanic]

Why not just do it the right way...

Page 5-4 of the 73 service manual, for Dodge passenger cars

The instructions in the '64 manual are exactly the same.

And, it's a bit wordier, but Dan's extremely thorough instructions for aiming all headlight types, including newer ones, are here.

His illustration for older-style headlights looks like this (direct link to his page):

And for the most common European-style beams (like lots of replacement lamps out there):

"IRL" actual aiming looks like this:

The left headlight is a modern (Toyota) H4 replacement, the right headlight is a GE original.

And here it is with both headlights replaced:

You may be able to see the little pencil marks on the garage door if you enlarge the photo, but it doesn't really matter. This is just a "what you will actually see" example.

– Eric

 

[72Duster440]

That is not the correct way, but most likely is good enough with old dim sealed beams. When aiming newer, brighter bulbs, I'd recommend doing it the correct way to not blind oncoming traffic amd to not short your self on the distance they should throw light.

 

[MDchanic]

That is not the correct way...

When aiming newer, brighter bulbs, I'd recommend doing it the correct way...

Which is not the correct way?

And which is the correct way?

– Eric

 

[Bodyperson]

Three hairs above the knee cap.

 

[72Duster440]

Which is not the correct way?

And which is the correct way?

– Eric

Sorry, the not correct way is with a level and an oil bottle.

The correct way is to measure the height to the center of your headlight bulb, then make a line that high on a wall. Park so the headlight bulb is 25 feet away on a level surface, then determine if your headlights are marked VOL or VOR and adjust accordingly. You should also measure bulb distance from centerline of vehicle and make sure the lights hit the wall with the same spacing.

How To Aim And Align Your Headlights

 

[George Jets]

For those old enough to remember in the mid 1970s, AC headlight alignment kit... approved.

On Ebay ( eBay item number: 404992817699 )
For all the details how they worked. Suction cups to hold to headlights, different headlamp ring adapters for different size lights. Set to 2 degrees down and good to go. At the local Union 76 Service Stations near you (in the mid 1970s).


* * * * *

 

[MDchanic]

For those old enough to remember in the mid 1970s, AC headlight alignment kit... approved.

I've got one of those in the barn somewhere. AC brand, in a black plastic carrying case.

Came in the cabinet of the SUN machine I bought surplus from the State of New York.

Never tried to use it. The garage door is so easy.

When I was a kid, every time you got a state inspection, they'd slap that sucker on your headlights.
Funny, I don't recall ever being blinded by another car's low-beams back then.

– Eric

 

[George Jets]

Hence back to Post #1, same theory same technique but for the flat faced rectangular bulbs.



* * * * *

 

[Dicer]

I used one of those, (above pics) in my new car prep days back in the dealership. Headlights had the NIBS made right into lens. The nibs help the adapter rings to fit squarely onto the headlight, as you can see in the second picture. Nowadays I just use the garage door method, works OK for me.

 

[toolmanmike]

For those old enough to remember in the mid 1970s, AC headlight alignment kit... approved.

View attachment 1716378549

On Ebay ( eBay item number: 404992817699 )
For all the details how they worked. Suction cups to hold to headlights, different headlamp ring adapters for different size lights. Set to 2 degrees down and good to go. At the local Union 76 Service Stations near you (in the mid 1970s).


* * * * *

I have one. Of course the Toolman has one.

 

[MDchanic]

For those old enough to remember in the mid 1970s, AC headlight alignment kit...

Found mine:

(and it's not Approved – it's Authorized!)

Problem is it only works on headlights that are pretty crappy.
You can't use it on modern, better-engineered headlights (no locating nubs).

– Eric

 

[toolmanmike]

Dang, you guys have the AC branded sets. My set is the Hoppy set. Good chance Hoppy made yours.

 

[RustyRatRod]

OK finishing up the front Park Lights re-wiring and now it's time to Re-Align the Headlights after 36 years of service.

Parking on a level surface, and with things everyone has on hand.
Eyeball the headlights with a quick check with the Lucus 1 qt. oil bottle with the point on the end.
Want the headlights pointing straight ahead and 2 degrees down when you are finished.

Here is how you can do it:

View attachment 1716376517

View attachment 1716376518

View attachment 1716376519

Now back to a full smile with new Headlight Doors that include the new Amber Park lenses.

View attachment 1716376526

Headlights on, Aligned, and all Lights Working.

Success, Success...

Have fun, as everyone knows it's fun working on your Mopars.


* * * * *

I like the simple approach, Casey. Thanks. Another thing you could do is use a drive line angle finder on top of the bottle. That could work as well.

 

[MDchanic]

Good chance Hoppy made yours.

Actually, if you zoom in on mine, you can see the label on the unit says,

"AC Type H
Headlight
Aimer....MFG by
Hopkins MFG Corp
Pat#....Emporia, Kan"​

– Eric

 

[toolmanmike]

Actually, if you zoom in on mine, you can see the label on the unit says,

"AC Type H
Headlight
Aimer........MFG by
Hopkins MFG Corp
Pat#.......Emporia, Kan"​

– Eric

Yep! They did.

 

[MDchanic]

Yep! They did.

Prob'ly made all of 'em.

– Eric

 

[timk225]

I used to drive to a shopping center at night and go around back, and park facing a cement block wall. Throw cardboard or a heavy blanket over one headlight, adjust the headlight until it looked good to me, switch the blanket to the other headlight, and adjust that one also. It worked well and was free.

 

[oldkimmer]

I've got one of those in the barn somewhere. AC brand, in a black plastic carrying case.

Came in the cabinet of the SUN machine I bought surplus from the State of New York.

Never tried to use it. The garage door is so easy.

When I was a kid, every time you got a state inspection, they'd slap that sucker on your headlights.
Funny, I don't recall ever being blinded by another car's low-beams back then.

– Eric

That’s because 3 candle power never had any oomph in them. Not till about 07 did the lights have any kind of light.

 

[Mattax]

Found mine:

View attachment 1716379138

View attachment 1716379139

(and it's not Approved – it's Authorized!)

Problem is it only works on headlights that are pretty crappy.
You can't use it on modern, better-engineered headlights (no locating nubs).

– Eric

The Hella "Vision-plus" and the now out of production decent Nighthawks have the nubs.

But on the Hella's they are located inboard from the normal location. One of the smaller adapters works, I forget which one.

 

[timk225]

Reading this topic reminds me of one time back in the late 90s. I was living in a state of perpetual near-brokeness for years, driving some rusted out 1971 Valiant that I had been buying inspection stickers for for a few years, because no way would it have passed a real PA safety inspection.

One day, in need of a new sticker, I drove by one small mechanics shop with some old guy there, told him I needed an inspection sticker (Not an INSPECTION, now, just the STICKER, there's a difference!), and he heads out to the garage and starts pulling out this ancient looking thing to align headlights with. In my head I was all like "WTF is this BS, just paste the damn sticker in the window!". Well, it didn't take more than a few minutes before he began mumbling how the car needed this and that, and I just said forget it and left.

Ah, the good old days! Didn't seem like it at the time!