<VV> Headlight Upgrade
jvhroberts at aol.com
jvhroberts at aol.com
Mon Aug 23 08:23:03 EDT 2010
Back then, DOT headlight standards were atrocious. In large part, due to blatant protectionism. E code headlights were a vastly superior standard, but the Fed DOT decided we needed a different standard, meaning imports needed to be retrofitted with our lousy headlights.
Fortunately, we're past that, and today's DOT headlight standards are sufficiently close to E code that they'll pass muster. It also means standard headlights here have come a LOOONG way since the 80s. There are still some cars out there with poor headlights, but 30 years ago nearly every car had poor headlights.
If someone is flashing you on low beam, your headlights may not be aimed properly. Lower them a tad, and this should solve that problem. I had the same issue with my Corvair with Cibie E codes, and a tweak with a screwdriver fixed that.
So, put in them there 'retina rapers' and SEE!
John Roberts
-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Norris <ricknorris at suddenlink.net>
To: gojoe283 at yahoo.com; virtualvairs at corvair.org; jvhroberts at aol.com
Sent: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 7:29 am
Subject: Re: <VV> Headlight Upgrade
Way back when I was between wives and owned a 79 Plymouth Horizon TC3 I
replaced the lights with a set of Cibie's. I also opted for the 100 watt
bulbs, which were not legal here at the time. I was amazed at the
improvement. Low beam was a very flat topped right angled beam which lit up
the side of the road very well but was out of the rear view mirrior of the
car in front. Even on low beam other drivers would flash thier lights mostly
because the whiter color temperature looked like I had the high beams on.
Once I flicked on the highs they didn't do it again! I referred to them as
"retina rapers".
As a side note, my wife has a PT Cruiser. The lights on it are some of the
best I have ever used.
Rick Norris
#36 Sunoco Corvair
www.corvairalley.com
>
> FYI, there are ZERO HID units that'll fit in place of Corvair headlights
> that are worth a damn. They have lousy optics, even worse beam pattern,
> and have been withdrawn from the market a couple of times because of their
> shortcomings. So, save your money.
>
> The best are still the Cibie E code headlights, H4 low beam, H1 high beam.
>
>
>
> John Roberts
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill H. <gojoe283 at yahoo.com>
> To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
> Sent: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 12:58 am
> Subject: <VV> Headlight Upgrade
>
>
>
>
> B"H
>
>
>
> Dave: I upgraded the T-3s on my '69 Monza almost as soon as I got it.
> Those
>
> old sealed beams just don't cut it (literally, the darkness) any more than
> the
>
> old bias tires do for today's driving conditions.
>
>
>
> I haven't had any problems from the 500x halogens I installed, and they
> are
>
> considerable brighter and better for nighttime driving. In fact, I've
> seen the
>
> cost of genuine HID headlights go from around $600. down to around $150,
> and
>
> they make HIDs that are supposedly compatible with cars that run H5006
> units.
>
>
>
> None of these are orginal stock, but most people can't tell the
> difference. I
>
> can't really tell a halogen from a T-3 unless they're lit and it's
> nighttime,
>
> that's when the halogens really "shine."
>
>
>
> Sorry for the puns! But I'd recommend halogens if you're driving your car
> at
>
> night. One other thing, as you upgrade a car with more modern
> accessories, make
>
>
>
> sure your wiring and charging system (alternator) can handle the load.
> When I
>
> added A/C to my '69, I upgraded the alternator to a high-amp unit with
> internal
>
> electronic regulator. Clark's catalogue says the unit puts out around 65
> amps
>
> (versus 35 stock), but the tech at Clark's told me it's more like
> 80-100...Bill
>
> Hershkowitz 69 Monza Coupe 110 PG
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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