NSW Corvettes
Technical Tips => Pre 84 => Topic started by: Lefty on January 14, 2018, 07:33:11 PM
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Hi,
Has anyone done a LED conversions of C3 headlights.
I'm looking to increase brightness and distance and thought the LED may be able to do this.
Is it just a case of swapping globes, or is it more involved?
Cheers,
Lefty
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Sounds like your car has already been modified for h4 use, they are normally 4 x sealed beam.
If they have been changed to suit H4 use, then you just buy the led replacement set up and remove H4 globe and plug and play.
5 maybe 10mins..
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H4 was my assumption, seems incorrectly.
So does it mean the whole sealed unit needs replacing..
Would that be a costly exercise?
Lefty
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There are a few options in the USA, including this one which they say has a 60 day wait time on back orders:
https://www.dapperlighting.com/collections/projector-headlights/products/575-black?variant=25176256712
and:
https://www.octanelighting.com/products?car=47-1194-1974&keyword=CORVETTE%20LED&mainc=
Some require cutting the housing. Upgrading the wiring can also be involved.
However, aiming the beams so that they don't blind oncoming drivers is a big issue with these light upgrades. Low beam needs to dip to the left. US lenses will dip to the right, unless they can be rotated 180 degrees for Oz.
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Not really sure what you have in there now sealed beams or H4 conversion.
If you want the H4 conversion just go down to Rare Spares and pick up the HQ-HZ twin headlight H4 conversion kit, bolts straight up. Heaps better.
Rosco
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^^ This plus a decent wiring harness and relays will give you what you want. LED's are great for spread, but not distance.
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I fitted a set of H4 holden replacement lights had to enlarge the hole in diecast for the rubber boot to fit from memory also fitted relays for high & low beams. Also ran a wire from relays to R/hand headlight in parallel with existing to double the cross sectional area of wire . Bit of fiddling but can be done
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Do the wiring and relay upgrade before anything else. LED or halogen are usually higher wattage (standard is 60W, halogen common size is 100W and off road LED 180W). Any upgrade in globes will overload you light and dip switch. I prefer HID but they're not practical for C3.
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You're likely to find relays will give you the results you want without the expense of 4 H4 compatible reflectors. Expect to pay $50+ each plus globes.