So in putting back the headlights I've discovered that the headlight adjustment screws are fine but the nuts they screw into on both buckets are stripped. Yay! So any thoughts for restoring them? helicoil maybe? My headlight buckets look like they're welded in place - would it be easier for me to just whip them out and buy new-for old bucket assemblies?

remove them and use a old ford set they are a bit bigger
it may take one ford screw to re thread them

Aha! Which model ford?

mustang pinto or the old econoliner