I know where the screws are to adj. the headlites, what I need is a good way of doing it.
IE how far away from a wall and how high from the ground to center of beam, how far to the left or right?
What bout high beams?
I there a good read on this subject?
Thanks T.C.

This is what I do to my cars. I wait till night time and I put my car out in the center of the cul-de-sac I live on( its perfectly flat). I cover one light with a towel so the only light I see is the uncovered light. I then adjust the other, uncovered , light to my personal satisfaction. I then reverse the procedure to get the other side done. This may not be too scientific but then I like the way my lights illuminate the road.

Years ago I went for a ride along with a local police sergant/ham radio buddy of mine. His squad car was illuminating everything but the road ahead. He had perfect vision of the local tree tops for example. We went to his police garage and "acquired" a screw driver and I did my trick. He was astounded at the difference. He didn't quit talking about that for months. I had my own shop back then and got quite a few referrals from him.

Sound like a good idea, thanks T.C.

The "correct" way to adjust headlights is with a headlamp screen. It can be made out of anything including a wall. Park the vehicle 30 feet from the screen and turn on the headlamps. Make sure you are on level ground. Measure up from the ground to the center of the headlamps and mark that height on the screen. Adjust the headlamps so that the concentration of the beam is centered on that mark. Both headlamps should be angled off to the right away from oncoming traffic.

Thanks Denny,
Thats a little more scientific, now all I need is a wall and a 30ft. tape.
T.C.

30' is about 10 walking steps ;)

I had always thought it was supposed to be 25' but close enough. The hard part is finding the level place to do this. You might check out the back side of shopping centers and other commercial buildings for this.

The side to side aim can also depend on the headlight beam pattern. Long ago I used to run the European H4 non-sealed beam lights. The low beams had a very significant pattern kick up to the right side. I would center the "notch" straight ahead. High beam provided a more general round pattern.

I think the towel blocking lights will be a big help in aiming the quad light setup.

Dennis, what are you doing out of the suspension forum? ;)

Goes back to his hole with tail between legs.

procedure in service manual. Another reason to own the factory books.

engineer.............. thanks for your reply?
Why would we buy one if you allready have one?
So why dont you copy it and post it so we all will know the correct way to adjust our lites ?
T.C.

I also like parking the car on a flat surface road and adjusting the lights at night. You can get the beams perfectly allinged this way. I have found this is the only way to truely get them just right. :thumbsup:

**Note** Make sure you find a deserted road!!!

I have done many headlight adjustments with those "official" headlight thingys that went on the headlight with rubber suction cups etc...had the little bubble level and all....I like my towel method better.

As to aiming them both towards the side of the road....um...no I like em aimed right down the road. Kinda like to see where I'm going.

As to aiming them both towards the side of the road....um...no I like em aimed right down the road. Kinda like to see where I'm going.
Try reading an official brake and lamp book. My methods are not made up; I am a licensed brake and lamp inspector. The lamps are to be aimed away from oncoming traffic to avoid blinding other drivers. Not that it ever gets enforced but you CAN get a ticket for improperly aimed headlamps.

I thought It would be nice to aim the high beams into oncomming traffic "just for those idiots who have there low beams aimed directly at my eyes". LOL
Thank you all for the replys, alot of good information here.
I should be able to get them going the rite direction and not be one of those people I complain about blinding me as they pass.
T.C.

Try reading an official brake and lamp book. My methods are not made up; I am a licensed brake and lamp inspector. The lamps are to be aimed away from oncoming traffic to avoid blinding other drivers. Not that it ever gets enforced but you CAN get a ticket for improperly aimed headlamps.


Dennis it is most definitly NOT my intent to in any way denigrate your post nor the fact that you are a licensed brake and lamp inspector. All I ever do is give my experience to TeamChevelle for whom ever can use it. I am certainly NOT the final word on anything automotive. I do , however , have alternative methods for repairing some mechanical functions on a car.

I have worked at "Licensed brake and lamp inspectors" in my past. I have also worked at several new car dealerships doing heavy line work and whatever else the boss asked me to work on to include realigning brand new car headlights that were improperly aligned at the factory.

That said , I like my method better. I do NOT align my headlights for the comfort of oncoming traffic. I align my headlights such that I get the best "down the road" vision out of them. After some 40 years of auto mechanics I am convinced that my method is best.

I think that any law that says that headlights should be aimed to the right side of the road is a faulty law and should be treated with the respect it has earned. I will bow to that law only to the extent that I will lower my headlights from hi-beam to lo-beam for oncoming traffic. I will never deliberately nor voluntarily diminish what I consider to be a safe driving practice by aiming my headlights away from the oncoming road.

Those who read these posts are welcome to use my method or yours as they see fit. :)

I there a good read on this subject?
Thanks T.C.

QUOTE: (engineer) procedure in service manual. Another reason to own the factory books.

QUOTE: (TC)engineer.............. thanks for your reply?
Why would we buy one if you allready have one?

I don't see a reason for the smart a$$ reply to engineer, didn't he just answer your question?:confused:

If you had the book you could be fixing the car instead of waiting on a reply. You can learn a lot of other things from the books too, they are definitely worth the cost.
There's also a search function on the site that is also very useful.

Just trying to help.
BillL

Not intended as a "smart a$$ remark" I guess it's how/what you read into it?
Sorry if I upset you, wasnt my intention.
My car is all but done so I dont want to buy a book on how to put it togeather or service it?
It is not stock so almost nothing in the "service manual" would apply to my car anyway. (OMG #'s dont match)
I guess I should have posted "FREE read" on the subject?
On the other hand..............
This is a forum where people discuss things, ask questions ect......so I guess I figured that someone would post a good way to align my headlites without my having to spend $50.00 to get that information. (out of the service manual would have been nice)
But hey, it looks like I still have some good information to go by, I know it's not "by the book",only because that information wasnt offered, but I can get the job done with what information I have.
Thanks for your reply T.C.

QUOTE: (engineer) procedure in service manual. Another reason to own the factory books.

QUOTE: (TC)engineer.............. thanks for your reply?
Why would we buy one if you allready have one?

I don't see a reason for the smart a$$ reply to engineer, didn't he just answer your question?:confused:



Engineer is in the habit of saying that "It's in the manual", instead of helping out by posting useful info or offering to look it up. Anyone knows that most information regarding our cars can be found somewhere in a manual, so replies like that are totally useless. Kinda like "my library is bigger than yours". If we all had all the books and manuals that are available, there wouldn't be much need for Team Chevelle, right?