CCKW Headlight Buckets: Question

[TJ Wheelman]

Ive noticed on our 1941 CCKW that when I replace a headlight element that I have to turn the Headlight bucket outward towards the out side of the fender to remove and replace the bulb, it wont clear between the bucket housing and the brush shield. Was this an engineering oversight? Is this why some of the later CCKWs have a different style Headlight bucket?

[joel gopan]

Please elaborate the difference you have noticed. The basic headlight unit of the CCKW was the same throughout the War. The molding or Door is the same for both sides, and due to the orientation of the head of the clamping screw, it is harder to undo on one side of the truck than the other. it was simplicity at its finest. The CCKW style Guide Headlamp housing can be found on several non General Motors WWII trucks.

[TJ Wheelman]

Perhaps the different ones I noticed had come off the Studebaker US6. Ive seen several CCKWs with the Stude type headlight buckets (with the screw in front and bottom of the headlight bucket holding the ring on). In fact the rust colored truck in the (Tired Iron) section has such headlights. I still dont understand why the bucket was placed so close to the brush guard that it had to be rotated outward to replace the headlight element unless the engineers were afraid of creating too much of a shadow by placing it far enough rearward to replace the element with out rotating the bucket.

[dr deuce]

You will find some CCKWs and Chevys with the brush guard pieces cut out in front of the headlamps because of the problem you speak of. You have to loosen something on the bucket to get the headlamp in or out.
A good tip is to use anti-sieze on the 3 - quarter inch bolts that hold the bucket mount to the fender for 'next time'...

I have one cckw and have seen others with a very shallow bucket that is probably just barely able to house the lamp and the connector. I have always assumed that these were a European replacement. Anyone know for sure?

[joel gopan]

It was not a big deal to rotate headlamp to one side to get to the screwhead, it may be a pain to reaim the headlite, but that is how it was done. Of course now 60 years of corrosion on the mounting stud and 60 years of dull screwdrivers may have taken its toll.
FYI, the G-630 Studebaker/Reo 6X4/6X6 used Corcoran Brown Headlamp assembly. The French produced a lot of shallow Head Lamp Buckets for the CCKW and it is evident in the GMC Books and on pics of CCKWs owned by collectors throughout Europe. The NOS Buckets are Scarce over here. I buy all I can find, along with clean used ones.
GI Joe