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After several failures of new aftermarket T3 headlights, I began looking into the LED world to see if it had caught up to this hobby. Come to find out it has but like so many things in the aftermarket Corvette parts world, LED headlights are a "bend over and hold your ankles" upgrade. $200+/per for the Holly lamps? Will someone please enlighten me: are there are other viable options out there? $900 will buy a lot of incandescent T3's and it may make more sense. As a C2 owner for over 37 years and aware of inflated parts prices just because of the crossed flags logo, this one is at or near the top of Bullsh*t Mountain.
I put halogen bulbs in the '64 and got improvement. I later did the relay conversion and saw an even greater improvement.
BTW, because I run a 100-amp, 1-wire alternator, I gutted the voltage regulator and put the headlight relays in the empty case so they don't even show and are right at the terminal that gets maximum voltage from the alternator.
In my 67 I put LEDs only in the outer or low beam lights, they are very bright and if I switch to the high beams, which are old fashion halogens,the four headlightd together are unbelievably bright. I do not see the need for changing all four, and I’ve had my 67 for just over 40 years.
C2 headlights are no different to any other 60s car with 4 headlights.
Have a look into Wagner or Sylvania halogens from Rockauto, not as bright as LEDs but they’re brighter and whiter than stock, a direct bolt in and dirt cheap. No relays or wiring alterations needed.
In my 67 I put LEDs only in the outer or low beam lights, they are very bright and if I switch to the high beams, which are old fashion halogens,the four headlightd together are unbelievably bright. I do not see the need for changing all four, and I’ve had my 67 for just over 40 years.
Don
Thanks Don. That's certainly a less expensive option: 2 rather than 4 overpriced Holly LED lamps. Still not feeling the vaseline however.
C2 headlights are no different to any other 60s car with 4 headlights.
Have a look into Wagner or Sylvania halogens from Rockauto, not as bright as LEDs but they’re brighter and whiter than stock, a direct bolt in and dirt cheap. No relays or wiring alterations needed.
I've looked at Rock Auto and saw the halogens. I thought I'd skip over the 2nd gen technology and go from incandescent to LED but that's not gonna happen at those prices. I'll rethink the halogens if I don't just buy 1 new T3.
I've looked at Rock Auto and saw the halogens. I thought I'd skip over the 2nd gen technology and go from incandescent to LED but that's not gonna happen at those prices. I'll rethink the halogens if I don't just buy 1 new T3.
Depends on how much night driving you do ?
I don’t do much (in my c2) anymore, so Halogens are fine for me.
I converted ALL four to LED using Amazon LED lights. Then I got Packard housing, ends, 12 and 14 gauge wires, and Hella relays and it looks like it came from
the factory. I made a new headlight harness and it just rocks. Now I have all four on as low beams and they are very bright. I drive with those on during the day so that distracted driver's have a better chance of seeing me. The brights are really bright but I don't use them hardly ever.
The H4 bulbs that I got are no longer carried by Amazon but the were relatively inexpensive and have worked very well.
I converted ALL four to LED using Amazon LED lights. Then I got Packard housing, ends, 12 and 14 gauge wires, and Hella relays and it looks like it came from
the factory. I made a new headlight harness and it just rocks. Now I have all four on as low beams and they are very bright. I drive with those on during the day so that distracted driver's have a better chance of seeing me. The brights are really bright but I don't use them hardly ever.
The H4 bulbs that I got are no longer carried by Amazon but the were relatively inexpensive and have worked very well.
I'm not sure about the parts you mention: Packard housing ends and Hella relays. By Packard do you mean the 3 prong plastic connectors? Male or female? And can you be more specific about the Hella relays?
The other advantage is the crappy aftermarket headlight switches that trip the internal circuit breaker regularly causing flickering or periodic blackness until they reset, don’t require relays as the LEDs draw significantly less current.
Factoid- I'd be happy with that set up for <$200. The Kelvin° look the same for all 4 lights even tho' you used different vendors for the lows and the duals. Whose dual headlights did you get?.
I just replaced the two outside low beam headlights in my 1965 with "Octane Lighting" 5 3/4" stock low beam headlight glass lens-H4 super white (Item # 0L-004). I them removed the bulb that comes with the new light and replace it with the "Octane Lighting" G3 mini LED super bright bulb. Very easy to remove and install. Plugs in directly to existing wire harness.Wow, what a difference driving at night. Looks great as it blends with the stock Hi-beam bulb. I bought them from my local corvette shop in Madison Height, Michigan for $125 for the set. I don't drive very much at night but with the fall weather, the sun sets very early now. As long as the weather is nice, and the roads are dry, I'm out enjoying my dream car. Hope this helps.
Hi Spike66. Packard is the type of connector and brand GM used for decades, as far as I know. I think that they might be listed as Delphi Packard or something online at Amazon or Mouser Electronics.
Here is a picture of the Packard ends, the relays, and a part of the wiring harness that I made. Hope this helps. Like Factoid mentioned, my headlight housings were about $80 for all four. Don't remember the bulbs price, but it wasn't too much. With LED lights, the relays are probably not totally necessary but they do protect the headlight switch and wiring to it from large voltage due to that wiring and switch becoming low voltage trigger wire when using relays.
Thanks Diablo427. I like the whole set up but I'd need a list of parts to get and maybe a little tutorial to walk me through the fab and assembly process. Automotive electrical is not my strong suit.
I put halogen bulbs in the '64 and got improvement. I later did the relay conversion and saw an even greater improvement.
BTW, because I run a 100-amp, 1-wire alternator, I gutted the voltage regulator and put the headlight relays in the empty case so they don't even show and are right at the terminal that gets maximum voltage from the alternator.
Here is a schematic I made for my ‘64. Using the GM connectors, there is no splicing. Simply plug and play.
Colors and gauges are for a 1964. Other years may have different colors This is the new harness. The two red wires go to the new circuit breaker, the black wire to ground, and the connectors plug into the front light harness and headlight harness.
Thanks Diablo427. I like the whole set up but I'd need a list of parts to get and maybe a little tutorial to walk me through the fab and assembly process. Automotive electrical is not my strong suit.
I have used C E auto electric for items like this.. Easier for me to buy than to figure out how to build... Look at their " headlight relay kits" ....
I tried SEVERAL of the "budget" LED options from ebay and others.
It was a CRAP-shoot.. literally. ebay bulbs were "mis-alighned", so that the bulbs were clocked 30 degrees wrong... Horrible!
Others I tried were too deep.. the cooling fan on the rear was pushing against the back of the bucket, blocking all airflow. not good!
I bit the bullet and bought 2 of the Holly bulbs (low/high beams) a few months ago. They are awesome. Great performance, fit correctly, and fan-less design.
I ordered the two other bulbs (hi only) soon after... but they were on back-order and are only shipping this week. (got them on sale - "only $175 each!)
Yes.. $800 in headlights is ridiculous... but I drive the car at night, and sometimes you get what you pay for.
I have a 100 amp alternator and an American Autowire upgraded harness - I think I might give this a try without the relays. I do drive my car at night and I'm in a semi-rural area... the deer here don't seem to obey the "deer crossing" signs at all and just seem to dart out wherever they like.
Headlight conversion
