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

Led headlight install

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 4, 2019 | 10:23 AM
  #1  
titanle's Avatar
titanle
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 963
Likes: 57
From: Vancouver, BC
Default Led headlight install

Hi guys, for those of you that have installed the newer led headlight bulbs, was there any modifications beyond drilling out the headlight holder piece to accommodate the rear of the bulb? The piece below, would I just buy a set of those or drill out my existing ones and I am assuming I would need a harness as well?





Reply
Old Oct 4, 2019 | 11:39 AM
  #2  
Douglas Mariani's Avatar
Douglas Mariani
GM Cert Corvette Tech
15 Year Member
Pro Mechanic
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,559
Likes: 585
From: Anaheim Hills California
Default

Buy a set and just keep your originals in case you want to change back. Many of them just plug into your original harness.

Last edited by Douglas Mariani; Oct 4, 2019 at 11:40 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 4, 2019 | 11:57 AM
  #3  
titanle's Avatar
titanle
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 963
Likes: 57
From: Vancouver, BC
Default

Originally Posted by Douglas Mariani
Buy a set and just keep your originals in case you want to change back. Many of them just plug into your original harness.
I was planning on just getting oem replacement bulbs but since I got the electric headlights that work flawlessly, I figure I should put some nice led light in there and paint the shrouds too.
Reply
Old Oct 4, 2019 | 12:35 PM
  #4  
scottjamison's Avatar
scottjamison
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 774
Likes: 375
From: Seattle WA
Default

Originally Posted by titanle
I was planning on just getting oem replacement bulbs but since I got the electric headlights that work flawlessly, I figure I should put some nice led light in there and paint the shrouds too.
Do you have a link to the bulbs you went with? I want to make that switch this winter.
Reply
Old Oct 4, 2019 | 01:34 PM
  #5  
titanle's Avatar
titanle
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 963
Likes: 57
From: Vancouver, BC
Default

Originally Posted by scottjamison
Do you have a link to the bulbs you went with? I want to make that switch this winter.
Hey I haven't bought them yet, if I go the oem route then i'll just source the sealed beams from one of the vendors. Otherwise Im just going to search for 5.75 led projector units similar to the black car in my first post, theres tons of them online.
Reply
Old Oct 4, 2019 | 02:41 PM
  #6  
C3 Stroker's Avatar
C3 Stroker
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 740
From: Youngstown Ohio
Default

[QUOTE=titanle;1600261599]Hi guys, for those of you that have installed the newer led headlight bulbs, was there any modifications beyond drilling out the headlight holder piece to accommodate the rear of the bulb? The piece below, would I just buy a set of those or drill out my existing ones and I am assuming I would need a harness as well?
/QUOTE]

Don't buy any new holders until you get the bulbs you want. Most will fit in your stock holders, and will wire into your existing harness. My install thread...https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...installed.html
Reply
Old Oct 4, 2019 | 02:57 PM
  #7  
titanle's Avatar
titanle
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 963
Likes: 57
From: Vancouver, BC
Default

[QUOTE=C3 Stroker;1600263179]
Originally Posted by titanle
Hi guys, for those of you that have installed the newer led headlight bulbs, was there any modifications beyond drilling out the headlight holder piece to accommodate the rear of the bulb? The piece below, would I just buy a set of those or drill out my existing ones and I am assuming I would need a harness as well?
/QUOTE]

Don't buy any new holders until you get the bulbs you want. Most will fit in your stock holders, and will wire into your existing harness. My install thread...https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...installed.html
Oh okay, I thought almost every aftermarket led bulb housing was too large in the rear and the holder had to be drilled out to accommodate the rear portion.
Where did you mount the fan?

Last edited by titanle; Oct 4, 2019 at 02:59 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 4, 2019 | 04:52 PM
  #8  
C3 Stroker's Avatar
C3 Stroker
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 740
From: Youngstown Ohio
Default

[QUOTE=titanle;1600263272]
Originally Posted by C3 Stroker

Oh okay, I thought almost every aftermarket led bulb housing was too large in the rear and the holder had to be drilled out to accommodate the rear portion.
Where did you mount the fan?
The fan stays on the bulb and protrudes out the back.....plenty of room behind the reamed out hole (post #1 in thread, see pic.)
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
Old Oct 5, 2019 | 04:04 AM
  #9  
Dazaa Rafae Aman's Avatar
Dazaa Rafae Aman
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 870
Likes: 204
From: London UK
Default

I fitted H1 and H4 led bulbs and didnt have any problems getting them to fit, no need to cut anything
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2019 | 12:58 PM
  #10  
titanle's Avatar
titanle
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 963
Likes: 57
From: Vancouver, BC
Default

Originally Posted by Dazaa Rafae Aman
I fitted H1 and H4 led bulbs and didnt have any problems getting them to fit, no need to cut anything
which ones did you go with?
Reply
Old Oct 6, 2019 | 09:53 PM
  #11  
redcruz1120's Avatar
redcruz1120
Drifting
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 206
From: Pearland Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
Default Octane

No issues with fitment . Plug and play from Octane!







Reply
Old Oct 6, 2019 | 10:55 PM
  #12  
BLUE1972's Avatar
BLUE1972
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,295
Likes: 1,681
From: Long Island
Default

they look nice
Reply
Old Oct 23, 2019 | 04:51 PM
  #13  
ivanh3's Avatar
ivanh3
Advanced
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 94
Likes: 55
Default

Did you use a relay at all for these?
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2019 | 03:50 PM
  #14  
ivanh3's Avatar
ivanh3
Advanced
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 94
Likes: 55
Default

Just installed these from Octane Lighting:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5-3-4-Stock...sAAOSwbD5bpSVJ

Didn't have to modify the brackets or anything on my '72. The only weirdness I had was that while on low beams my driver side low beam bulb would be on "high" while the passenger side would be on low. I had to switch the plug blades around on the passenger side low beam bulb which was real easy. The problem was not with the bulb. I have installed electric motors for the headlamp assembly and something must have been switched around in the harness.

Very bright. Way better than stock and required no relay.

Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Led headlight install





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:00 AM.

story-0
10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: 10 Corvettes to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:31:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

Slideshow: Corvette and Porsche 911, how two icons conquered the last 25 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:18:33


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-4
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-7
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE