replacement sealed beams C3
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
replacement sealed beams C3
75 Stingray restoration project. Rebuilt headlight assembly's and replaced bulbs. Hi beam 5001 won't fit buckets. Everyone told me must be aftermarket buckets. Order new ones and they are the same as the old ones. The original beams were mismatched Koito and Ts halogens. The Koito is a 13 H 20 and the Ts is a 5001 but the positioning lugs on the top of the bulbs are wider then the Sylvania H5001 XV. I've exhausted normal resources and need help either finding over the counter bulbs or buckets notched for the PAR 46 5001 bulbs.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 336
Likes: 29
From: Il.
You do know that there are 4 different buckets,I did not know that when I took my headlights apart ,then one day I was blasting my buckets and saw a A,B,C,D stamped on them. It,s in the assembly manual where it all goes.When I got ready to install the headlights I went to CJC auto parts and got a set of Wagner headlights .
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 303
From: Lansdale 19446 PA
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '10-'11, '15, '19
I just went through this with my 69. I have wrote it down - starting with the passenger side outside bucket to driver side outside bucket
C - B - D - A
I had no issues with the bulbs.
Hope this helps.
John
C - B - D - A
I had no issues with the bulbs.
Hope this helps.
John
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
You do know that there are 4 different buckets,I did not know that when I took my headlights apart ,then one day I was blasting my buckets and saw a A,B,C,D stamped on them. It,s in the assembly manual where it all goes.When I got ready to install the headlights I went to CJC auto parts and got a set of Wagner headlights .
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Bob,
This will really add to your frustration. Don't be too quick to condemn the buckets.
I recently purchased 4 new sealed beams for my '73 from my local Autozone and suddenly had a problem getting the lugs to match with the buckets on the high beams. After much consternation I realized the LUGS WERE IN THE WRONG LOCATION!
I took the high beams back to AZ and they said Yes, they had a bad batch (off shore made, of course) with the lugs in the wrong spot. I went next door to O'Reilly's Auto Parts with bucket in hand, and tried theirs. Same issue. But they were not yet aware of the mold/lug problem. Went down to NAPA and tried a completely different brand, fit perfectly.
I am embarrassed to say that I cannot find the receipts for these bulbs right now so I can't identify the suspect brand, but I'm pretty sure the sealed beams I bought from AZ/O'Reilly's were Sylvania.
Like there aren't enough stupid things to second guess with these cars already!
Greg
This will really add to your frustration. Don't be too quick to condemn the buckets.
I recently purchased 4 new sealed beams for my '73 from my local Autozone and suddenly had a problem getting the lugs to match with the buckets on the high beams. After much consternation I realized the LUGS WERE IN THE WRONG LOCATION!
I took the high beams back to AZ and they said Yes, they had a bad batch (off shore made, of course) with the lugs in the wrong spot. I went next door to O'Reilly's Auto Parts with bucket in hand, and tried theirs. Same issue. But they were not yet aware of the mold/lug problem. Went down to NAPA and tried a completely different brand, fit perfectly.
I am embarrassed to say that I cannot find the receipts for these bulbs right now so I can't identify the suspect brand, but I'm pretty sure the sealed beams I bought from AZ/O'Reilly's were Sylvania.
Like there aren't enough stupid things to second guess with these cars already!
Greg
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
Bob,
This will really add to your frustration. Don't be too quick to condemn the buckets.
I recently purchased 4 new sealed beams for my '73 from my local Autozone and suddenly had a problem getting the lugs to match with the buckets on the high beams. After much consternation I realized the LUGS WERE IN THE WRONG LOCATION!
I took the high beams back to AZ and they said Yes, they had a bad batch (off shore made, of course) with the lugs in the wrong spot. I went next door to O'Reilly's Auto Parts with bucket in hand, and tried theirs. Same issue. But they were not yet aware of the mold/lug problem. Went down to NAPA and tried a completely different brand, fit perfectly.
I am embarrassed to say that I cannot find the receipts for these bulbs right now so I can't identify the suspect brand, but I'm pretty sure the sealed beams I bought from AZ/O'Reilly's were Sylvania.
Like there aren't enough stupid things to second guess with these cars already!
Greg
This will really add to your frustration. Don't be too quick to condemn the buckets.
I recently purchased 4 new sealed beams for my '73 from my local Autozone and suddenly had a problem getting the lugs to match with the buckets on the high beams. After much consternation I realized the LUGS WERE IN THE WRONG LOCATION!
I took the high beams back to AZ and they said Yes, they had a bad batch (off shore made, of course) with the lugs in the wrong spot. I went next door to O'Reilly's Auto Parts with bucket in hand, and tried theirs. Same issue. But they were not yet aware of the mold/lug problem. Went down to NAPA and tried a completely different brand, fit perfectly.
I am embarrassed to say that I cannot find the receipts for these bulbs right now so I can't identify the suspect brand, but I'm pretty sure the sealed beams I bought from AZ/O'Reilly's were Sylvania.
Like there aren't enough stupid things to second guess with these cars already!
Greg
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Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
Problem solved. I went to NAPA and bought a set of NAPA (Wagners were out of stock) headlights H5001 and they fit. Greg hit the nail on the head. Thanks for everyone that had input. Over the last week or so I've talked to several people not only in the Corvette world but in the Lighting industry also and the problem was solved here. I've taken the Sylvania bulbs back and they looked at me like I was crazy. That's OK because I finally got to the bottom of it and now know why. China motors struck again.
