C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Rectangular Headlight Conversion

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 4, 2019 | 11:38 PM
  #1  
Picasso451's Avatar
Picasso451
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 80
Likes: 41
From: Oneida, N.Y.
Default Rectangular Headlight Conversion

Just wanted to show off how it went, many thanks to Go Vette Go for the bezels, I did the rest.




Last edited by Picasso451; May 4, 2019 at 11:42 PM. Reason: spelled Go Vette Go wrong, want to give proper credit.
Old May 4, 2019 | 11:53 PM
  #2  
orourke's Avatar
orourke
Drifting
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 91
From: Skiatook. Oklahoma.
Default

Always did like the quad headlight look on the C3 Corvettes.
Old May 5, 2019 | 12:28 AM
  #3  
qwank's Avatar
qwank
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
Default

I want these
Old May 5, 2019 | 01:01 AM
  #4  
Picasso451's Avatar
Picasso451
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 80
Likes: 41
From: Oneida, N.Y.
Default

They were originally sold by The Vette Shop, but they're no longer in business. I understand they're the same people who make the AstroTops now,
possibly they may know if they're being made still. I was lucky to find these!
Old May 5, 2019 | 07:09 PM
  #5  
Mod75's Avatar
Mod75
Race Director
15 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 695
From: Danville Illinois
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
2021 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Default


The head light cost about $135 about 40 years ago, installation was pretty easy, have been on the car close to 40 years now.
These two pages from a magazine explains how its done.


Last edited by Mod75; May 5, 2019 at 07:20 PM.
Old May 5, 2019 | 07:30 PM
  #6  
How Are You's Avatar
How Are You
Drifting
 
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 405
From: Brampton, Ontario Canada
Default

I always thought those were cool!
Old May 5, 2019 | 07:45 PM
  #7  
Picasso451's Avatar
Picasso451
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 80
Likes: 41
From: Oneida, N.Y.
Default

Yeah, I have those instructions, along with the original ones from the manufacturer - Thompson and Slatton,Inc. - but they're on a .pdf, don't know if it'll post here.
I had to buy the headlight buckets and cut the backs off, and then make the little tabs for the adjusters.
In the magazine instructions it only tells you to switch the tan and green wires, but the originals say to remove green and replace with black, remove tan and replace with green, and the tan where black was - in outer headlights only. This is the correct way, if you don't switch the black your lights will be dim. (It said brown, but mine are tan)
Old May 5, 2019 | 09:28 PM
  #8  
Mod75's Avatar
Mod75
Race Director
15 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 695
From: Danville Illinois
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
2021 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Default

Originally Posted by Picasso451
Yeah, I have those instructions, along with the original ones from the manufacturer - Thompson and Slatton,Inc. - but they're on a .pdf, don't know if it'll post here.
I had to buy the headlight buckets and cut the backs off, and then make the little tabs for the adjusters.
In the magazine instructions it only tells you to switch the tan and green wires, but the originals say to remove green and replace with black, remove tan and replace with green, and the tan where black was - in outer headlights only. This is the correct way, if you don't switch the black your lights will be dim. (It said brown, but mine are tan)
Would like to see your original instructions if possible, lost mine, haven't had any problems with the brightness but its been close to 42 years since i did this mod.
Last year at the Indy corvette show one of the vendors had two set of the square bezels but no mounting hardware.

Last edited by Mod75; May 5, 2019 at 09:29 PM.
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old May 5, 2019 | 10:11 PM
  #9  
Picasso451's Avatar
Picasso451
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 80
Likes: 41
From: Oneida, N.Y.
Default Headlight instructions

let's see if this works.....
Attached Images

Last edited by Picasso451; May 5, 2019 at 10:12 PM. Reason: added too many attachments
Old May 5, 2019 | 11:00 PM
  #10  
Mod75's Avatar
Mod75
Race Director
15 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 695
From: Danville Illinois
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
2021 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Default

Originally Posted by Picasso451
let's see if this works.....
Thank you for the PDF, will check out my wiring.

Later
Old May 6, 2019 | 12:07 AM
  #11  
Picasso451's Avatar
Picasso451
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 80
Likes: 41
From: Oneida, N.Y.
Default

Originally Posted by Mod75
Thank you for the PDF, will check out my wiring.

Later
You're welcome! I first tried switching just the green and tan, and 3 lights were glowing orange-ish, 1 was fine - so then I tried the 3 wire setup and they worked perfectly.
They seem to be fairly desirable, makes me want to make a mold and run off about 30 in fiberglass to see if they'd sell. Or someone should,
with more fiberglass skills than me.
Old May 18, 2019 | 01:11 PM
  #12  
Picasso451's Avatar
Picasso451
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 80
Likes: 41
From: Oneida, N.Y.
Default

UPDATE: painted the bezels to match the car, for a more factory type look - I like it better than the black.


Old May 18, 2019 | 07:58 PM
  #13  
bazza77's Avatar
bazza77
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 633
From: perth western australia
Default

I always liked the square light upgrade , lucky me scored a complete set ( minus the actual lights) right here in the c3 parts for sale section. Looking forward to the stage where I can put them in.

Yours look so good in body colour as well , your whole car looks beautiful too.
Old May 18, 2019 | 09:59 PM
  #14  
beige79's Avatar
beige79
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 233
Likes: 6
From: Lake Charles LA
Default

Great looking car!
Old May 19, 2019 | 05:12 PM
  #15  
Mod75's Avatar
Mod75
Race Director
15 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 695
From: Danville Illinois
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
2021 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Default

Looks good with the bezels on
Old May 19, 2019 | 05:56 PM
  #16  
CraigH's Avatar
CraigH
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 1,192
From: Canberra Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Default

I remember seeing the square light kits on cars in magazines when i was young(er). They had a nice fresh look at the time and still do.
Old May 20, 2019 | 12:34 PM
  #17  
jim-81's Avatar
jim-81
Drifting
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,743
Likes: 289
From: Chardon Ohio
Default

That actually looks pretty cool. I didn't think I would like it when I clicked on the thread but yeah those are cool. Nice job.

Get notified of new replies

To Rectangular Headlight Conversion

Old May 20, 2019 | 01:07 PM
  #18  
mrvette's Avatar
mrvette
Team Owner
Active Streak: 120 Days
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Default

Many years ago, due to getting my bumper backed into, I finally killed the large openings, and filled them in 50% and changed the bulbs to glass lo profile rectangular bulbs like on a later F body....

see pix below....
Old May 20, 2019 | 03:49 PM
  #19  
Picasso451's Avatar
Picasso451
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 80
Likes: 41
From: Oneida, N.Y.
Default

Originally Posted by mrvette
Many years ago, due to getting my bumper backed into, I finally killed the large openings, and filled them in 50% and changed the bulbs to glass lo profile rectangular bulbs like on a later F body....

see pix below....
Yeah - we talked on Facebook. I'm thinking yours may have came from something like a 94-97 Olds Cutlass, like these, possibly? I haven't looked up their dimensions yet....


Old May 20, 2019 | 04:56 PM
  #20  
kanvasman's Avatar
kanvasman
Safety Car
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,789
Likes: 1,695
From: Summerville SC
Default

Mr Picasso, you did a fine job with the vision of putting these in your car, and I am sure you could do a fine job with making fiberglass copies. I would be interested in buying a set if you ever find your self with lots of spare time. Nice work. And painting the bezels, let me say that Picasso is a true artist!!!



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:09 PM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE