1965 headlamp mounting panel

[Bill W.]

does anyone know if the steel headlamp mounting panel is still available from GM ? I have a repro from LI that does not fit my NOS surround .

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 headlamp mounting panel

does anyone know if the steel headlamp mounting panel is still available from GM ? I have a repro from LI that does not fit my NOS surround .

Bill-----

I presume you are referring to the reinforcement called out as GM #3859041 which, for 1967, was changed to GM #3912637.

I've looked high-and-low, checked and cross-checked, and I cannot find that either of these was EVER available from GM in SERVICE. I realize that sounds incredible but I just cannot find that they were. If they were, they were available under some other part number, perhaps as a non-PRODUCTION assemblage of parts but I cannot imagine what that would have included. Besides, I've even looked for that possibility and I can't find anything. So, I'm stumped.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1965 headlamp mounting panel

The bar was definitely available for many years. It was the first of the mid year front end parts to be discontinued, probably in the late seventies or early eighties. It was always the 67 version at least after 67. The first run from Paragon was likely done on the original tooling and had the L stamp, but the later does not. I have had little fit issues with any of them and I have probably done 600 or so. You cant expect the fit to be perfect, and some of the gab is taken up by the thickness of the bonding material.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 headlamp mounting panel

The bar was definitely available for many years. It was the first of the mid year front end parts to be discontinued, probably in the late seventies or early eighties. It was always the 67 version at least after 67. The first run from Paragon was likely done on the original tooling and had the L stamp, but the later does not. I have had little fit issues with any of them and I have probably done 600 or so. You cant expect the fit to be perfect, and some of the gab is taken up by the thickness of the bonding material.

Wayne-----


It makes sense that it would have been available. In fact, this would have been an often-replaced "crash part". However, it was not available under the part numbers shown in the AIM and I cannot figure out why a part like this would have been available under a different part number.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1965 headlamp mounting panel

Wayne-----


It makes sense that it would have been available. In fact, this would have been an often-replaced "crash part". However, it was not available under the part numbers shown in the AIM and I cannot figure out why a part like this would have been available under a different part number.

Joe,

The support may have been shown as a part without the bonding strip in the assembly manual but for service, the support also included the bonding strip. That would have given the assembly a different part number. I haven't looked at the AIM though.

I know this assembly was serviced at least in the mid 70's as I ordered/received one in about 1974.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1965 headlamp mounting panel

Found it in group 1.263 in a 1974 printing of the parts book.

The bonding strip only was part number 3859043.

The support assembly (with bonding strip) was part number 3914068.

The assembly would have had other part numbers in previous years but for service, only one part number is shown. The last available number, 3914068 would have originally been for the 67 model in production but would have been used for service for all 63-67 at that time.

[Bill W.]

Re: 1965 headlamp mounting panel

I found the 3914068 part # in a 70s parts book also . I checked with the dealer I worked at and it has been discontinued for some time .

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 headlamp mounting panel

Found it in group 1.263 in a 1974 printing of the parts book.

The bonding strip only was part number 3859043.

The support assembly (with bonding strip) was part number 3914068.

The assembly would have had other part numbers in previous years but for service, only one part number is shown. The last available number, 3914068 would have originally been for the 67 model in production but would have been used for service for all 63-67 at that time.

Michael-----


I don't know how I missed that; I looked over-and-over again at group 1.263 and I just missed it and it's not even a very large parts group. I did note that the 3859043 bonding strip was available. I guess I must have figured that since it was available separately, the reinforcement was too. That "blinded" me and I could not "see the forest for the trees".

The 1965-66 bonding strip ASSEMBLY (also SERVICE for 1963-64) was GM #3865308. It was discontinued in January, 1968
and replaced by the GM #3914068. The 3914068 was discontinued without supercession in September, 1983.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1965 headlamp mounting panel

Michael-----


I don't know how I missed that; I looked over-and-over again at group 1.263 and I just missed it and it's not even a very large parts group. I did note that the 3859043 bonding strip was available. I guess I must have figured that since it was available separately, the reinforcement was too. That "blinded" me and I could not "see the forest for the trees".

The 1965-66 bonding strip ASSEMBLY (also SERVICE for 1963-64) was GM #3865308. It was discontinued in January, 1968
and replaced by the GM #3914068. The 3914068 was discontinued without supercession in September, 1983.

Joe,

I sailed right past it the first time I looked through that group too. Maybe because it's called something other than what I expected it to be called.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1965 headlamp mounting panel

I remember when they were discontinued. I was building front ends from GM parts to sell, and that was the first part that was discontinued. Unfortunately it was the back bone of the assembly. Shortly after that the surround was discontinued. The surround was reissued later in the SMC version, and Paragon got the bars reproduced. That allowed the front end business to go on for a little while until other parts became unavailable.