Ridetech C3 headlights?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Upgrading the wiring harness isn't strictly required, but going to a headlight relay system will offer a VAST improvement, especially if the wiring and headlight switch are stock.
I did a relay upgrade on my 83 F-250, with off the shelf Sylvania halogens, and the difference was massive.
I did a relay upgrade on my 83 F-250, with off the shelf Sylvania halogens, and the difference was massive.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 114
From: Lawrenceburg, KY
I'm planning to re-wire a lot of the vehicle. The previous owner stored the car for 3+ years (got sick and eventually died). While it was sitting, rats got into the dash and built themselves a nice little home. I fully expect to find chewed up wires when I pull the dash out. At the same time, I'm converting the fuel injection and trying to get rid of all of the vacuum systems, so I might as well go through and check/redo the whole car since it will also allow me to clean up and hide a lot of under hood wires.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
I'm planning to re-wire a lot of the vehicle. The previous owner stored the car for 3+ years (got sick and eventually died). While it was sitting, rats got into the dash and built themselves a nice little home. I fully expect to find chewed up wires when I pull the dash out. At the same time, I'm converting the fuel injection and trying to get rid of all of the vacuum systems, so I might as well go through and check/redo the whole car since it will also allow me to clean up and hide a lot of under hood wires.
In the stock system, the full power of the headlights goes through the headlight switch and out to the headlights. With a relay upgrade, the output of the headlight switch is used to trigger relays and you can use a larger, more direct power supply, getting you way less voltage drop at the lights.
I bought an out of the box kit for my F-250 (cheap enough to be worth it vs rolling your own), and the car went from "ok" lighting to "as good as any modern vehicle". Honestly, I currently own HID and LED lighting systems, and I don't find them to be that much better, if at all, vs a well-powered halogen setup. They are certainly more power efficient, but I rarely drive my C3 at night (or at all...) so that's not a huge deal for me.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 198
Likes: 90
From: Murphy, Tx.
When I upgraded the lights on my 71, I purchased Octane headlight lenses on Amazon that have removable bulbs like a modern car. The kit came with 4 headlights, 4 bulbs, and a heavy duty wiring harness with relays and ceramic plugs for the bulbs.
P.S. I replied to your PM about the Ridetech suspension in case you didn't see it.
P.S. I replied to your PM about the Ridetech suspension in case you didn't see it.
Last edited by txfatboy1; Sep 14, 2020 at 11:35 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,025
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
Last edited by augiedoggy; Sep 16, 2020 at 10:35 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,404
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From: Redondo Beach, California
Friend on mine just spent ~$600 for four headlights for his 70 Chevelle. They are brighter than stock. They must be LED's since they are only 17 watts each. (I think he said the lens's look like T3's for a stock appearance.) A few years ago, there was a thread about people replacing their bright headlight bulbs with aircraft landing lights.