Headlight stone guards

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Mike Wilson
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Headlight stone guards

#1 Post by Mike Wilson »

Some of us like the look and function of headlight stone guards. They were a Porsche option. The originals were attached to the body with three Tenax fasteners. The originals come up for sale every so often at $1000+ for a pair but I didn't want to drill holes in the body but wanted ones that were removable. Two types of aftermarket ones are available; clip-on and thumbscrew. I had the thumbscrew type but wanted a more original look.
The machine screw studs for the Tenax fasteners are 4.5mm but I needed/wanted 6mm for extra strength and the fit the existing headlight rim screw hole. I finally found Loxx fasteners that look like Tenax. The snag was the U.S. distributor would only sell in lots of 100. Their explanation was understandable. The few I needed resulted in a lot on their shelf with little demand. I contacted the German source would sell me what I needed in lots of 10 so I bought a dozen each if what I needed. Great people to deal with. The headlight rim screws I obtained from Sierra Madre. They screw into the body and the Loxx stud screws into that securing the headlight rim.

The next step was drilling the holes for the studs on a pair of headlight rims. I had a couple of used pair that I dropped off to Jose at Christensen's Plating along with the stone guards (the thumbscrew type). I wanted him to fit the guards to one pair of the rims and drill the holes for the studs before chroming the rims. They came out beautiful as is all his work.

So now a somewhat original look and easy to remove guards to clean the glass.

Oh yah, I also set up the top of a styrofoam box to work on the headlights. The opening allows rim to sit flush without the glass interfering when removing and installing the clips.

Mike
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Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

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Mike Wilson
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Re: Headlight stone guards

#2 Post by Mike Wilson »

A few more pics.

Mike
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Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

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Mike Wilson
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Re: Headlight stone guards

#3 Post by Mike Wilson »

And a few more.

Mike
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Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

Dave Erickson
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Re: Headlight stone guards

#4 Post by Dave Erickson »

Nice work, Mike. Will you be at North South? I would like to see them close up!

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Mike Wilson
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Re: Headlight stone guards

#5 Post by Mike Wilson »

Hi, Dave, and thanks. I am signed up for North Meets South.

Mike
Mike Wilson
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'63 B coupe

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Ron LaDow
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Re: Headlight stone guards

#6 Post by Ron LaDow »

Weren't the factory-optional parts Zn castings with vertical bars?
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Vic Skirmants
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Re: Headlight stone guards

#7 Post by Vic Skirmants »

Ron LaDow wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 12:53 am Weren't the factory-optional parts Zn castings with vertical bars?
Ron; you're thinking of the guards on the early speedsters that replaced the glass.

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Bill Lawless
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Re: Headlight stone guards

#8 Post by Bill Lawless »

Funny you post this as yesterday I found a stone hole in my Hella European Headlight, Bummer, lens are not cheap..
 Thanks,
Bill
65' 356 SC Cab Irish Green :D
82' SC Targa
81 VW Westfalia with 2015 Forester Engine
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George Krompecher
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Re: Headlight stone guards

#9 Post by George Krompecher »

Ron LaDow wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 12:53 am Weren't the factory-optional parts Zn castings with vertical bars?
I have a set of those from my '58, don't even know whether they are original. Can't say they look nice.

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Mike Vollmer
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Re: Headlight stone guards

#10 Post by Mike Vollmer »

I have a set of the original tenax stone guards but also got cold feet drilling holes in my car. My solution was earth magnets and super glue. Tested to 85 mph.
Sorry for the photo orientation.
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Jon Schmid
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Re: Headlight stone guards

#11 Post by Jon Schmid »

When I bought my coupe almost 20 years ago, the car had the vertical stone guards. I took them off and refitted the glass globes because I like the look a lot more.

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Wes Bender
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Re: Headlight stone guards

#12 Post by Wes Bender »

The previous owner of my C put stone guards on it. Because I don't do any off road racing, I took them off and replaced the headlight rims that he had drilled. The last headlamp lens breakage I experienced was somewhere between Watertown and Plattsburgh NY back in 1962 in a '57 356A.
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.....

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Mike Wilson
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Re: Headlight stone guards

#13 Post by Mike Wilson »

Great idea Mike V.

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

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