MGB 1978 MGB Headlight Ring

[Midgey]

1978 MGB Headlight Ring

I just purchased two new halogen headlights for the 78 MGB. But, I can't quite tell how to get the headlight rings off to do the replacement. No screws are obvious. Do you just pry the ring off?

 

[tony barnhill]

Re: 1978 MGB Headlight Ring

Yep - carefully

 

[Nunyas]

Re: 1978 MGB Headlight Ring

There's a spring retainer on the inside of that trim ring. Mine was at the bottom, and I slide a fine flat head screw driver between the ring and the head light to compress the spring and release the trim ring. The location of your retainer may be different. So the trick will be locating it and then ~gently~ prying the ring over it.

 

[Stewart]

Re: 1978 MGB Headlight Ring

Before you do anything Tape Lots of Lots of tape around the headlight area as that little spring can be a royal pain in the butt^10,000 and there is a good chance of scratching the paint.

 

[Guinn]

Re: 1978 MGB Headlight Ring

Some people use a paint-can opener. It is a metal rod, bent into a circle on one end and it has a kind of hook on the other.

Reach under the ring and grab the back lower edge of the ring with the hook and pull sharply. The ring should pop off.

I made a better hook from a small screw driver by heating the end red hot, pounding it flat then turning the end over with a pair of locking pliers. This allowed for more hooking capability.

Guinn

 

[ccougill]

Re: 1978 MGB Headlight Ring

how do you figure out where the spring is if it can be different places? This is a project I need to do and one of the few I think I can do one handed

 

[wrenchpuller]

Re: 1978 MGB Headlight Ring

If the bucket is installed correctly, then the spring retainer should at the bottom
Cheers Ric

 

[ccougill]

Re: 1978 MGB Headlight Ring

thanks I'll look for it there

 

[wigan]

Re: 1978 MGB Headlight Ring

Taping around the ring to protect the paint is a good idea as I found out (the hard way :-( ) Will have to remember that next time!