Fender repair - remove headlight bucket?

[squidmarks]

I need to do some front fender rust repair that would likely be much easier if I removed the headlight bucket. Has anyone done a headlight bucket removal? Should it just pop out if I drill out the myriad of spot welds around its perimeter?

Thanks.

What you're looking at below is the media blasted fender. The darker portion is where I went at it with a wire wheel to remove bondo that had been covering up rusted areas (must have been a top-notch body shop).

Geoff

[squidmarks]

Ignore that request. I was able to excise those bits of rust without removing the headlight bucket (there's one more on the other side I don't show). With a bit of lead work tomorrow this fender should be ok.

Geoff

[squidmarks]

Here it is after leading. I'm not the best at leading, but it'll clean up fine with body work. I like laying lead down over welds. Its easy and you don't need to be so fussy with making sure you catch every pinhole when you're welding as the lead is a pretty strong filler.

Geoff