C1 head light question

[IH2LOSE]

What bulb is on the inbord side of the headlamp bucket high beam or low beam ?

 

[ßill]

The inbord bulb is the high beam. The same for all cars with 4 headlamps

 

[SebringBill]

The high beam usually has a "1" on the top and two (as opposed to three for the low ["2"] beam) prongs to plug in the wiring harness.

 

[wallyknoch]

4001, two prong bulb, or a 4537 aircraft landing light for unlimited visibility that you cannot out drive at any speed.

 

[IH2LOSE]

Wally

Are you running a seperate relay for the air plane lights? or just from the regular harness?

 

[wallyknoch]

Wally

Are you running a seperate relay for the air plane lights? or just from the regular harness?

The stock 62 Vette headlight switch is adequate to handle the landing lights, nothing else was required.

 

[SebringBill]

I put those landing light bulbs as high beams for a 67 Olds F-85 some years ago.
Whenever I turned 'em on it was absolute daylight in front of me...and I also heard the alternator cry!:cry

The F-85 is gone but the bulbs remain in the attic.

 

[IH2LOSE]

Wally where do I find them and what type of a conection do they need

 

[iron cross]

4537`s

It`s not exactly a drop in situation but has two fairly simple problems to make it look and work correct. The 4537`s have two brass screw connectors instead of two spade contacts. Two short lengths of wire between the screw connectors and the original headlight socket in the harness can solve this. Or the way I did it was to unsolder the two prongs from the original 4001 and carefully resoldered them to the 4537 in a position to fit the original plug. See, that was simple. The other problem is that a 4001 has three alignment ears on the back side of the bulb to fit in the headlight bucket. The 4537 only has only one and it`s in the wrong position to match up without looking crooked. Therefore slot the headlight bucket using a hacksaw after identifying the proper position {filliment in the bulb will then be straight up and down with the curve of it on the outside} with two cuts and then just bend them in. Repeat on the other side and your done. This last problems solution is often omitted except by crazy fools like me that want everything cosmetically correct. Now that wasn`t hard was it.

The result for under 40 bucks is instant daylight!

 

[JohnZ]

I remember installing a pair of Lucas "Flamethrowers" in the high beam locations in my brand-new 1962 Corvair Monza in 1962. Moved to Texas shortly thereafter and had to have the car inspected before putting Texas plates on it, and the inspector wouldn't pass it because of the Flamethrowers; had to go to an auto parts store, buy sealed beams, install them, passed the inspection, then swapped the Flamethrowers back in that night. And there was LIGHT!....

 

[Tom Bryant]

I used the short wire method. You could buy these for $5. when I got them. I ran them in my '67 and loved them. I'll need to get a clear lens light for the high/low before I take this out in public. Those old T3s look pretty bad next to the landing lights.

Tom

 

[wallyknoch]

I used the short wire method. You could buy these for $5. when I got them. I ran them in my '67 and loved them. I'll need to get a clear lens light for the high/low before I take this out in public. Those old T3s look pretty bad next to the landing lights.

Tom

Like candles Tom, when the landing lights are lit. :L

 

[Tom Bryant]

Yes. Just a pale yellow.

BTW Nice legs Santy Bill.:L I like the sleigh too.

 

[IH2LOSE]

Thanks every one.My landing lights are on order.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Aircraft landing lights are a common DIY technique to get more light on the road for high-speed driving at night, however aircraft lights have some significant deficiencies when used in automobies.

1) They draw a lot of current becuase, while they are brighter, they still are incadescent lights. To make incadescents really bright, they use a lot of current. Some aircraft landing light set-ups on old cars will tax the generator or AC generator such that if you try and run at night for any length of time with the lights on high-beam, the heater and other accessories going, you may discharge the battery. Pre-70 cars may have 36-amp or 42-amp systems and they will have trouble.

2) If you mistakenly install 28v aircraft lamps in a 12v system the lights won't be near a bright as you expect. If you're going to use aircraft lights, make sure they're for a 12v system.

3) Some aircraft lights are short-lived in automotive applications becuase the speed at which cars move through the air is to slow to adequately cool the bulb assy.

A better choice is a conversion to quartz-halogen, European-spec lighting. It's got more brilliant light. The reflectors are shaped to put maximum light on the road and they draw less current.

Some of the best quartz-halogen lighting for high-speed road use comes from Cibie in France. Now Cibie has no U.S. distribution but Daniel Stern Lighitng in Ann Arbor MI, imports Cibie products. I use Cibie on my 95 ZR1, my 71 BB Cpe and I have a killer Cibie light system on my 65 Malibu, left over from when I used to run sports car rallys with that car. All put out a lot of light and are significant improvements over the stock lighting. I have no problems with wiring or AC generators and the lights bolt right in and connect to the stock harnesses.

Daniel Stern Lighting is on the web at http://www.danielsternlighting.com/
The site has a lot of really good and accurate information about high-performance, automotive lighting.

 

[SebringBill]

BTW Nice legs Santy Bill.:L I like the sleigh too.

Whaddaya expect for a North Pole resident taking a rest in Florida?

Rudolph gets time off, too - gotta keep it red!

Oh yeah, I found the lamps in a junkyard some years ago for $1 each.

 

[wallyknoch]

Thanks every one.My landing lights are on order.

You wont be disappointed, I have sold many sets of 4537`s that are 13 volt without any problems to cars with the 4 round headlights and most of those were 60-70`s autos and Vettes with either generators or alternators. In fact all of my 4 light round pieces have them. Just be careful of the usage, other drivers dont appreciate coming at them. Another neat feature is that they are definately a bit out of the ordinary causing questions as "what are they". Very few can accurately identify them. :L