If I ever drove it in the dark I'd look at doing the same thing.
Led headlight install
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 266
Likes: 52
Led headlight install
Bought one of each of the best rated Led headlights from Amazon. I think the left (passenger side ) one looks better. Both seem to have good light output. Both bulb products were about fifty bucks.
The stock headlight mounts were not compatible. I set aside the stock hardware and fabricated a bracket to hold the big square backed leds. The main market for 5-3/4” leds is for motorcycles. Led bulbs that fit the dished mounting surface of c3 corvette seem too expensive. Ill drive around for a week or so then order 3 more of the bulb that seems better.
making the brakets was more fun than expected. I enjoyed fabricating the small steel parts. The final product is nothing pretty but it does the job of holding the new lights and is not visible once the headlight covers go on.
Last edited by Greengear; Mar 11, 2019 at 06:45 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,876
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Nice job working around the stock buckets.
I have a BMW headlight 'ring' that I'll cut up and do something similar.
Creative with the threaded rod!!
If you do the electric headlight conversion- I have a harness that'll open the lights then when you turn off the lights and leave on the parking lights on-they'll stay up and run the DRLs. Turn off- and they go down.
Richard
I have a BMW headlight 'ring' that I'll cut up and do something similar.
Creative with the threaded rod!!
If you do the electric headlight conversion- I have a harness that'll open the lights then when you turn off the lights and leave on the parking lights on-they'll stay up and run the DRLs. Turn off- and they go down.
Richard
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 212
Likes: 18
From: Bucks County, PA
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,876
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,367
Likes: 1,061
From: Virginia USA
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 266
Likes: 52
Drove at night for the first time. The led head lights exceeded my expectations. They really work well to light the road. I also noticed a defined end to the light beam so they probably dont blind oncoming drivers.
Final step is to fix a broken part of the headlight braket assembly under the front bumper. The broken corner causes the headlight to vibrate when I drive over bumps.
Richard,
I did miata headlight motor conversion a few weeks ago. I wired in a relay so the motors get power at ignition on and open when side marker light goes on.
Final step is to fix a broken part of the headlight braket assembly under the front bumper. The broken corner causes the headlight to vibrate when I drive over bumps.
Richard,
I did miata headlight motor conversion a few weeks ago. I wired in a relay so the motors get power at ignition on and open when side marker light goes on.
Last edited by Greengear; Mar 12, 2019 at 10:41 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 266
Likes: 52
I think I will just do the outboard lights. They function as high and low beams. If I could find some cheap brackets I would do the inboard lights too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,208
Likes: 64
From: Bocabec, New Brunswick
Thanks for the picture shining on the door, I wanted to see how the pattern cut off and it looks good. I definitely don't want to blind oncoming drivers! Almost looks like they could be a bit higher; do you have a way to adjust the aim with the mounts you made?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
That beam pattern looks pretty good but the right beam seems to have a "hot" spot. The level to me looks good especially with bright white lights. SUV's and pick ups with yellowish halogens are blinding since the lights should be set much lower than the Feds are allowing..they blind oncoming traffic using cheap plastic lenses, not to mention HID's and LEDs....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 266
Likes: 52
was adjusted to raise most of the way then stop making it impossible to remove the painted headlight surround trim piece. I fixed the raise lower travel
issue with the miata motor install. So before the rebuild I had both lights mostly but not all the way open and one broken adjuster making the drivers light point straight at the ground. Also dirty connectors made the lights extra yellow and dim.
I had a few Uber drivers almost run into my black vette at night I presume because the lights didnt catch their attention.
Last edited by Greengear; Mar 15, 2019 at 07:32 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,208
Likes: 64
From: Bocabec, New Brunswick
Good info, thanks. If I understand the issue with the lamps you are using it is that they are too deep to fit in the standard metal buckets so you made your own mounts. You mentioned that lamps you found that do fit in the stock housing seemed expensive, what lamps were they? I ask because the details given in the ads are lacking to say the least.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 266
Likes: 52
Good info, thanks. If I understand the issue with the lamps you are using it is that they are too deep to fit in the standard metal buckets so you made your own mounts. You mentioned that lamps you found that do fit in the stock housing seemed expensive, what lamps were they? I ask because the details given in the ads are lacking to say the least.
dapperlights.com or similar light specialty websites. They are glass housings with led halos that can accept halogen or led bulbs in the center. Probably an excellent choice. I considered these but didnt like the price (almost $600 with led high and low beams) and I like the new led light assemblies better than bulbs in separate housings that seem more like a conversion. I was also concerned about spending extra to get a direct fit only to find I needed to cut up and modify the enclosures anyways.
Last edited by Greengear; Mar 15, 2019 at 10:22 AM.