2tone81

Should all four lights come on when on high beams? I have outer two on with low beams and one inner and one outer on high beams. Owner manual calling for 4000 low beam bulb and 4001H high beam , better more modern choices for 1981?

65GGvert

Both outside ones on low, all four on high.

DUB

65GGvert wrote the way it is!

Some people have done a modification to the bulbs to use a halogen bulb inside the bulb if I am not mistaken from what I have seen...but I might be wrong on this.

Installing a halogen bulb is all I would do.

DUB

Easy Mike

Have you checked the connectors on the lamps which do not light? Could be in need of a cleaning.

gbvette62

81's came with Halogen high beam bulbs, while the low beams were standard Guide Power Beam sealed beam bulbs.

slickfx3

i see fine and it's rather bright with stock, at least our lenses don't cloud over like the plastic ones, less to worry

DUB

I AGREE!!! Which is why I have all of the headlights bulbs...low and high.... be halogen.

And in the very early cars with low amp rated alternators...I will generally 'bump it up' in amp rating due to many times there are a lot more things being installed electrically and the factory alternator will not work well....or at least pushing its limits of being effective.

And for those who may not know this....using relays for your headlights will allow you to supply more power to the bulb. Thus...the brighter the bulb will be.....so it has been discussed before here on the forum in detail. I personally have never tested this philosophy with a light meter to verify...but it seems correct in principle.

DUB

2tone81

Thanks for the info guys. Seemed strange one outer low beam goes out when i switch to high beams, but I haven't pulled the bulbs out to check connections or which bulbs are bad yet. Warmer by the computer than in the garage.

DUB

Found this...check it out.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...dlights-2.html

DUB