Rectangle headlight conversion ???
 

I am wanting to change the round headlights to rectangle headlights on my 81 Corvette. I don't want the fixed headlights, I want to keep the pop up headlights. Any info where to buy them or how to change them would be appreciated. Any pics of how the lights are mounted? Here is a pic of what I am looking for.

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/s...nsam/e8_3b.jpg

I like that look.

I've seen these back in the 80's and thought they looked better than the round lights (on 80, 81 and 82 cars).

Keep checking the C3 parts for sale section. There were a couple of sets for sale a few months ago. They pop up every now and then.

Corvette Central has them (at least the last time i browsed their catalog)

Eckler's used to make them.
:thumbs:

The head light kit was made by "The Vette Shop in Michigan", they are long gone, I have searched for the molds to the covers with no luck.

It was $130.00 for the kit. I do have the 2 page Hot Rod article from 1975 for the install if you want it, and lots of pics.

I have done 4 installs of the kit, "30 years ago" ,pretty straight forward. About a 4 hour job.
Surprised that some company hasn't come up with a kit for it.


http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...anman/0052.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...canman/017.jpg

i remember those. i wonder if someone has upgraded bulbs to replace the originals. anyone see if Corvette central still offers them?

7T9L82 Excellent point about updating the bulbs. My bulbs are the originals and are around 35 years old.
Lights still look bright to me, but will check into replacing them as we do drive at night. Maybe some halogen bulbs to see the wildlife better.

Just looked on the Corvette Central site, they have the bucket to replace the flip up lights

Might help if i put these up, not sure if there will be a conflict with the people that did the article? I am sure somebody will let me know.

This is 36 years old.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...man/light1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...man/light2.jpg

The rectangular bulb buckets, trim rings, adjusters, springs and screws can be had from an early 90's salvage yard Camaro, Firebird and.... on the cheap. The stock, round bulb cover can be modified for the rectangular bulbs with a little planning. If sufficiently motivated, this might be worth the effort.

I have the headlights, buckets and trim rings from a 77 Firebird I parted out a couple of years ago. The buckets are too deep and they are an inch away from the adjusters. The adjusters need to be moved but I'm not sure if both of them (for one headlight) need to be moved or just one. I contacted Ecklers and asked them if they still had the molds for the bezels and they replied that the kit is no longer available. I kinda figured that out...duh!...lol. Great pic of the instruction sheet, thanks.

My comment on the early Camaro buckets referred to the headlight tin bulb buckets only. There are four individual tin buckets, one for each rectangular headlight bulb. I stripped a complete set of four out of an early 90's salvage yard Camaro and paid $40 complete with rings. That generation Camaro used the same size rectangular headlight, the next generation used smaller rectangular bulbs. I used them to replace the rusted through tins on an old pair of Eckler's fiberglass fixed headlight buckets. These same tins can be used to convert your round bulb pop up system to rectangular, if you are so inclined. The tins, springs, adjusters and rings should be the same as what came in the kit pictured above. You will need to do fiberglass modifications to make the fiberglass cover work, however.

I started this conversion several months ago and changed my mind.
Beware that you have to cut off the metal "pads" that the headlight buckets rest against, photos 4 & 5 above. There is no going back on this unless you JB Weld them back on, OR replace the entire cast headlight assy. ALSO - you have to enlarge the headlight hole. In the photo'd above 7 & 8 they show using a file, GOOD LUCK, look at the amount of metal you have to remove, with that file it will take awhile. Also, all the adjusters have to be replaced.

Just an FYI, looks cool, I just decided I didn't want to do the mods. Unfortunately I decided after I started so I still am fixing a few things.

Frank

I wasn't really crazy about this mod at first , but the more I look at it the more it kind of grows on me. Nothing screams '80s more than those square headlights. GM could have easily made this change back then. :thumbs:

I agree with using a file to enlarge the hole, that would take a while. Thank goodness for modern tools! I like the look of the rectangle lights on the 80, 81 and 82 Corvettes, most GM cars in the 80's had them.

Cyclops,

I have a set of these on my 70, and I want to go back to the round ones. If someone confirms that these would work on your 80 I'd be happy to make a deal. They are Mulsanne Blue.

I want first dibs on them. Can you send some pics?

If you get them put in - send us some pictures ! :yesnod:

I have an old door that's not in the best shape that I am going to use to mock everything up with. If it works and fits good I plan on taking step by step pics, kind of like the instructions above, of the actual conversion.