H4 conversion to '70 911T COUPE- "fit"

[F. Williams]

I recently swapped out my sealed beams for a pair of H4 assemblies. One side fits great, the other will not. When I tighten the retaining screw on the bottom of the H4 assembly, the chrome trim ring "jumps-off" of the metal ridge used for securing it.
I compared the "good side" installation, with the "problem" one. They physically appear the same. On the "problem side" if I under-tighten the screw to an acceptable level (where the chrome ring will not jump off) there remains a gap where the rubber seal is. Clearly not enough.
Could the lower screw hole receptacle be bent? Both sides of the car are the same. Do I need to add some material to the tip of the headlight bucket where the chrome ring grabs?

Thx

FD

[FrayAdjacent911]

First thing I'd try is take the assembly from the side that fit, and see if it does the same thing on the side that won't fit. That will tell you if it's the assembly, or something with the bucket.

[Mike O'Meara]

The tab which accepts the retaining screw may need to be bent slightly. It is angled to begin with, and if the angle is too great it will draw the housing upward as it is tightened and pop it off the upper edge of the bucket. Be careful not to strip it, I ended up welding a nut to the tabs because the tabs on my 72 stripped. Also, use some kind of safety wire or zip ties as back up to hold on the headlight if it should come loose in the future. AMHIK. "Jeez, why is that guy I just passed flashing his lights at me, and why are the treetops on my right side lit up? Found out the next morning. Somewhere in West Virginia there is a beat up H4 in a ditch by the side of the road.

[F. Williams]

I temporarily went back to my sealed-beam OEM lights. I actually prefer the "more chrome" trim ring "original look."
The isolated "problem-side" acted up a little, even with reinstalling my OEM lights. Per advice provided by readers--
I believe it is the lower screw-in tab that is bent slightly to far.
I will "tweak" it later. What I want to avoid is having the thing snap off- especially on a "driver" car needed at night.
With the H-4s I had hit the brakes hard one night on the FWY and the problem light assembly popped out and back in again- pretty bizarre and comical (as in embarrassing).
Thanks for reader's input!
Happy driving!

FDW

[cegerer]

Lights popping off is a fairly common problem, particularly during spirited driving. That's why racer's use these: