When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm getting ready to paint my 1966 C2 and while the headlight assemblies are apart, I plan to replace the T3 originals with either halogen or LED sealed beam lights. Someone said that the halogen headlights draw too much amperage for the stock alternator so I would have to go to a larger output model, and I still may have circuit breaker problems with the halogen units. They recommended LED units because they draw such lower amperage and will not cause those problems. It sounds logical, but I need input from you guys on whether the LED's will cause less problems. Thanks for your help. The halogens are a lot less expensive.
I have halogens in my 66 and didn’t change anything except the bulbs. I also don’t do a lot of night driving. But everything seems to work when I need them.
Tom
Lectric Limited sells sets of repro T-3 headlights with improved illumination but halogens are preferable; I've run halogens in both my 61 and 63 and didn't have to change anything - the brighter bulbs caused no wiring or headlight switch issues...they are a cheaper, but effective, alternative to LEDs...
Some here have adapted motorcycle LEDs to the C2s, but I know nothing about how to do it, I bought off-the-shelf LEDs and they were pricey but fit into the stock buckets with no issues...and they are specifically designed not to project into oncoming drivers' eyes.
It'll cost you about $40 (Summit Racing) to stick halogens in the car and try them out - a no-brainer IMO...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Jun 7, 2019 at 04:06 PM.
I have halogens in both the 57 and 65 and if they are properly aimed they are fine for both in town and freeway driving at 85 mph AND they are not obnoxious to oncoming traffic like some of those LED lights I hate. No problems with amp draw on either car but the 57 has been upgraded to an alternator and the 65 has the standard alternator for a non A/C car.
My car has factory AC installation, so my alternator output may be somewhat higher than stock. Will check, and if that is the case, will feel safer with the halogen installation. Just do not want to spend the dollars for LED unless I need to. Thanks for everyone's input.
i've been thinking about this as well but wondered if i should try using relays as a first step
and see if that helps much. did this on a '65 ranchero and it was a big improvement. http://www.madelectrical.com/electri...adlights.shtml
Halogens are a plug-and-play - the draw is the same... and it's a nice improvement!
It's not the fault of LED lights that they blind you... People are retrofitting LED bulbs into housings made for filament bulbs.
It ruins the geometry of the lens/focus, causing the light to emit in the wrong directions.
My Tesla has LED headlights, designed for LED... no problems..
Halogen bulbs draw the same amount of current as regular bulbs. They are a plug and play replacement.
That is exactly what I wanted to hear. Buying new headlight and tail light sets so that no one will hit the new paint job that they are going on! Thanks to everyone for the responses that you sent. I appreciate them all.
Last March I contacted Daniel Stern Lighting and he recommenced the Koito housings with GE Megalight Ultra+120 halogen lamps. I'm very pleased with the upgrade as they seem to be at least twice as bright as h5001 and h5006 sealed beam bulbs they replaced. This combination also has a nice flat cutoff so drivers in oncoming traffic don't get blinded. Notice that face on both the high and low beams are a little flat. Compared to the Cali brand that do not match each other, one round face and the other is flat. Relays had been installed years ago.
Halogen vs LED headlights
