C4 headlamps
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Harlington Bedfordshire
C4 headlamps
Couple of quick questions from the UK side of the pond....
1994 C4 appears to have headlamps with about 2 candlepower output and completely inconsistent with the car's road performance, so
a) What is the wattage limit for the headlamp bulbs before the stock wiring circuits get upset and what bulbs do you favour? Here we have 65watt main beam/55watt dipped beam and a trend towards blue light/xenon bulbs.
b) What mods can be done to improve the lighting? I have had 2 suggestions from this end. One is to fit additional spot lights either side of licence plate, the other is to replace the existing fog lights with spot lights if that is an easy and possible exchange.
Any comments or exxperiences will be appreciated. Thanks
1994 C4 appears to have headlamps with about 2 candlepower output and completely inconsistent with the car's road performance, so
a) What is the wattage limit for the headlamp bulbs before the stock wiring circuits get upset and what bulbs do you favour? Here we have 65watt main beam/55watt dipped beam and a trend towards blue light/xenon bulbs.
b) What mods can be done to improve the lighting? I have had 2 suggestions from this end. One is to fit additional spot lights either side of licence plate, the other is to replace the existing fog lights with spot lights if that is an easy and possible exchange.
Any comments or exxperiences will be appreciated. Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 51
From: Jacksonville, FL
St. Jude Donor '08 thru '26
Yes the lights are poor! Thanks to the federal regulations at the time.
There are several threads in this section about HID or some kind of conversion to the system just before HID's. I believe the wiring has to be tweeked a bit to handle the draw of the unsealed beam head light systems. Try "search" function using "head lights" or "HID"
I think on a 90 if you want to do anything with the "fog" lights other than change out a bulb the front bumper has to come off to change lenses & reflectors....not my idea of fun taking that stuff apart.
Some people have swapped out the stock 35(?) watt fog light bulb for 55(?) watt bulbs, if I remember right you may have to change the fuse for those lights to handle the extra draw.
Tom
There are several threads in this section about HID or some kind of conversion to the system just before HID's. I believe the wiring has to be tweeked a bit to handle the draw of the unsealed beam head light systems. Try "search" function using "head lights" or "HID"
I think on a 90 if you want to do anything with the "fog" lights other than change out a bulb the front bumper has to come off to change lenses & reflectors....not my idea of fun taking that stuff apart.
Some people have swapped out the stock 35(?) watt fog light bulb for 55(?) watt bulbs, if I remember right you may have to change the fuse for those lights to handle the extra draw.
Tom
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 13
From: Wallingford Vermont
I run 55/60W halogen H4 with the stock wiring. Not the best, maybe this winter I'll see if I can upgrade with an under hood relay to get a better wire size to the bulbs. It doesn't get real hot in New England so I've never had any issues with wiring heat.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 506
Likes: 12
From: Savannah GA
The best thing to do is replace the main lamps with some cibies that use H4 bulbs. If you add relays you can go up to 100/130w bulbs. I upgraded my 87 and it has light equal to any HID for about $200 total.
Daniel Sterns Lighting site has some good info. www.danielsternlighting.com
UK roads need different lights than US. If your vette doesn't have the right lamps it will make a big difference just to get the lefthand drive lamps. From driving in USVI the wrong sided lights are really bad.
JS
Daniel Sterns Lighting site has some good info. www.danielsternlighting.com
UK roads need different lights than US. If your vette doesn't have the right lamps it will make a big difference just to get the lefthand drive lamps. From driving in USVI the wrong sided lights are really bad.
JS
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 1
From: Weymouth Dorset
Originally Posted by grahamecooper
Couple of quick questions from the UK side of the pond....
1994 C4 appears to have headlamps with about 2 candlepower output and completely inconsistent with the car's road performance, so
a) What is the wattage limit for the headlamp bulbs before the stock wiring circuits get upset and what bulbs do you favour? Here we have 65watt main beam/55watt dipped beam and a trend towards blue light/xenon bulbs.
b) What mods can be done to improve the lighting? I have had 2 suggestions from this end. One is to fit additional spot lights either side of licence plate, the other is to replace the existing fog lights with spot lights if that is an easy and possible exchange.
Any comments or exxperiences will be appreciated. Thanks
1994 C4 appears to have headlamps with about 2 candlepower output and completely inconsistent with the car's road performance, so
a) What is the wattage limit for the headlamp bulbs before the stock wiring circuits get upset and what bulbs do you favour? Here we have 65watt main beam/55watt dipped beam and a trend towards blue light/xenon bulbs.
b) What mods can be done to improve the lighting? I have had 2 suggestions from this end. One is to fit additional spot lights either side of licence plate, the other is to replace the existing fog lights with spot lights if that is an easy and possible exchange.
Any comments or exxperiences will be appreciated. Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
I would like to improve the lighting on my vette too, but I absolutely cant stand those blue xenon headlights they put on newer cars. I think they're too bright and blind other drivers. It would be nice if they could make those more directional towards the road to fix that problem.
Last edited by Demonic85; Nov 30, 2006 at 11:15 AM.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3
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I am looking at doing an HID install in my 92 but I am concerned about not having a horizontal cut-off or projector lenses. The ballasts might add some weight to the housing but I can probably figure somehting out. I am also considering putting HID's in the fog lamps but I would need to do some retro work to get the bumbs in there...if the fogs are deep enough for an HID bulb.
ANy suggestions?
ANy suggestions?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 1
From: Weymouth Dorset
Originally Posted by cl998
I am looking at doing an HID install in my 92 but I am concerned about not having a horizontal cut-off or projector lenses. The ballasts might add some weight to the housing but I can probably figure somehting out. I am also considering putting HID's in the fog lamps but I would need to do some retro work to get the bumbs in there...if the fogs are deep enough for an HID bulb.
ANy suggestions?
ANy suggestions?
The actual HID bulb is smaller than the ordinary bulb....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Harlington Bedfordshire
C4 headlamps
Many thanks for the range of advice, some of which corresponds to what I have been hearing from my local guy. Initial move will be to put in some Cibie units (which is what we did to my Z28 1991 Camaro) which from experience turn in a good result. I might go with some of the +50% bulbs as well since they are still 60w/55w and will save a wholesale revision of the circuits.
The suggested website for Daniel Stern was also very helpful
Grateful Thanks
Graham
The suggested website for Daniel Stern was also very helpful
Grateful Thanks
Graham
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,665
Likes: 749
From: NEwhere Ohio
Originally Posted by jsinga
The best thing to do is replace the main lamps with some cibies that use H4 bulbs. If you add relays you can go up to 100/130w bulbs. I upgraded my 87 and it has light equal to any HID for about $200 total.
Daniel Sterns Lighting site has some good info. www.danielsternlighting.com
UK roads need different lights than US. If your vette doesn't have the right lamps it will make a big difference just to get the lefthand drive lamps. From driving in USVI the wrong sided lights are really bad.
JS
Daniel Sterns Lighting site has some good info. www.danielsternlighting.com
UK roads need different lights than US. If your vette doesn't have the right lamps it will make a big difference just to get the lefthand drive lamps. From driving in USVI the wrong sided lights are really bad.
JS
I went with this exact setup and it works amazingly well. Talk to daniel stern lighting. He will hook you up. Expect to spend about $180. well worth it.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,665
Likes: 749
From: NEwhere Ohio
Originally Posted by cl998
I am looking at doing an HID install in my 92 but I am concerned about not having a horizontal cut-off or projector lenses. The ballasts might add some weight to the housing but I can probably figure somehting out. I am also considering putting HID's in the fog lamps but I would need to do some retro work to get the bumbs in there...if the fogs are deep enough for an HID bulb.
ANy suggestions?
ANy suggestions?
HID's are NOT the way to go. Why? Well nobody makes a good enough reflector for them.
Sylvania tried with the Xenarc. They put an OEM quality light source in a cheap taiwanese reflector. The result was they needed so much shielding (and did such a poor job doing so) that you didnt get much downroad lighting. Xenarc is now discontinued.
So I tried taking my HID light source from the Xenarc and putting it into an adaptor and into a Hella E-Spec housing (designed for H4 halogen bulbs).
It looked like it provided great lighting, but it was up close lighting. The lighting was so bright up close that my pupils closed up. This did not allow me to see far downroad and recognize dangerous conditions down the road that required an immediate reaction from me.
Also, other drivers were so blinded by that setup that they not only flashed high-beams, they honked continuously as I drove by them. ha ha.
The only setup that I found works is the daniel stern e-spec setup. He uses either Bosch or CIBIE reflectors with 100/130 watt clear (not stupid blue HID simulator tint bulbs - those hurt lighting) bulbs. I also used relay kits with 10 gauge wiring to ensure the max power got to the bulbs.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
I've had excellent results with the Hella reflectors and 80/100W standard H4 bulbs. Highly recommended.
I've also had good luck with the Cibie reflectors in several other cars and would recommend them as well. (the only caveat is that the Cibie's reflectors seem to corrode in a few years...haven't had the Hella's long enough to form a verdict)
I tried the trendy 80/100W "Blue" bulbs and was not pleased with the results.
Larry
code5coupe
I've also had good luck with the Cibie reflectors in several other cars and would recommend them as well. (the only caveat is that the Cibie's reflectors seem to corrode in a few years...haven't had the Hella's long enough to form a verdict)
I tried the trendy 80/100W "Blue" bulbs and was not pleased with the results.
Larry
code5coupe
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
Originally Posted by grahamecooper
Here we have 65watt main beam/55watt dipped beam
UK-spec H4 housings and 65/55 bulbs will make a world of difference.
Safety Car
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 5
From: Atlantis
Cruise-In I Veteran
Originally Posted by 4Ever21
I would like to improve the lighting on my vette too, but I absolutely cant stand those blue xenon headlights they put on newer cars. I think they're too bright and blind other drivers. It would be nice if they could make those more directional towards the road to fix that problem.
I agree, those blue lights absolutely BLIND me. Apparently my eyes are very sensitive to the wavelength light the blue HID lights emit.
They don't bother my wife's eyes at all but they burn my eyes up even when they are on dim.
I HATE them.
Even when someone pulls up behind me with them the effect is devastating to my vision.
Makes me want to take a hammer and 'fix' them for folks.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Harlington Bedfordshire
I agree. What makes it bad overall, is that the Corvette is so low compared with some other cars, vans and trucks over here that those who take great delight in coming up close behind you even on 'dip' beam, have the effect of flooding you with light. So you deflect the interior mirror, but they still get you through the wing mirrors.
Meanwhile, whilst your eyes are having to deal with an excess of light coming from the rear and from mirrors, those same eyes are also trying to see the road ahead under, what by anyone's standards for a 150mph car, are inadequate headlights.
I do not like the blue lights also. It is my bigotry that they are frequently on 'main' beam rather than 'dip' when coming the other way, or they have very poor cut-off/ adjustment, or theyare operated that way by a driver with a particularly poor attitude to other road users.
Thanks for your postings they really are a help to decide before lashing out with a load of money.
Graham
Meanwhile, whilst your eyes are having to deal with an excess of light coming from the rear and from mirrors, those same eyes are also trying to see the road ahead under, what by anyone's standards for a 150mph car, are inadequate headlights.
I do not like the blue lights also. It is my bigotry that they are frequently on 'main' beam rather than 'dip' when coming the other way, or they have very poor cut-off/ adjustment, or theyare operated that way by a driver with a particularly poor attitude to other road users.
Thanks for your postings they really are a help to decide before lashing out with a load of money.
Graham
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,726
Likes: 46
From: Waukesha WI
St. Jude Donor '15
I upgraded my 90 to Hella H4 reflectors with 90/130 bulbs and re-did all the wiring (10/12ga wire, 2 relays and a 30amp breaker). The results are amazing. Unfortunatly, the bulbs burned out and I had to go back to 55/65s but they are still much better than the stock sealed beam.
