Does anyone know what the difference is between the "buckets" which hold the glass headlight bulb in the assembly? I have seen cadmium plated ones with round holes in the back with two attachment points, and black painted ones with squarish type holes in the back with three attachment points. I have also noticed that T-3 Guide bulbs (without the lines) do not fit correctly in all of these. Any experts that can help? Thanks...Dave
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Re: C2 Headlamps
Dave-----
The PRODUCTION and SERVICE headlamp "buckets" were painted black and had 3 indentions for headlamp indexing in the bucket. I don't know what the plated buckets are that you are referring to. Perhaps, they're aftermarket.
Each of the 4 buckets originally used by GM were different and unique to their placement in the 4 headlamp arrangement. If you look closely on the black versions, you should see small stampings of "A", "B", "C", and "D". These refer to the positions which are as follows:
"A"= left outer= GM #5950507
"B"= right inner= GM #5950500
"C"= right outer= GM #5950513
"D"= left inner= GM #5950506
Part numbers are usually not found on the buckets, but the letter designation is. All of the above remain available in SERVICE from GM EXCEPT GM #5950513 which is GM discontinued.
The buckets were NOT unique to Corvette applications. They were used on most other GM 1958+ model year cars with 4 headlamp systems.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: C2 Headlamps
Joe... many thanks...I've figured out the answer to my second question about the T-3 lamps. The unpainted ones have a system of L1, L2, R1,and R2 on the attachment tabs which correspond to the bulb numbers and placement on the car. I found these unpainted buckets on Chevys of the '60 thru '67 era in a salvage yard. They will hold T-3 lamps. Regards...DaveComment
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Re: C2 Headlamps
Dave-----
Well, this one turned out to be an education for me. Upon further research, it seems that there were MANY versions of these headlamp buckets used over the years, not, as I thought, just the 4 that I described. The ones that I described date from the early 70s and SERVICE back to 1958, but they were not originally used on earlier cars. And, the earlier buckets were, indeed, marked differently with the L-1, L-2, R-1, R-2 nomenclature that you described, rather than the A, B, C, D used for the later buckets. From your observation, I presume that these earlier buckets were plated rather than painted like the later ones (and some of the "intermediate" versions that were used between the later and the earlier).
I was not aware that the T-3 headlamps required a different bucket than the "after T-3". I thought that headlamp fitment in the buckets was pretty universal for the 4 headlamp system buckets. Perhaps not, though. Are you referring to original T-3 lamps or the current reproductions? If you're referring to the originals, I wonder if the reproductions differ in this regard?
In any event, the passenger car versions of these early-style buckets are the same as Corvette. So, there are plenty of them out there if anyone needs them.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C2 Headlamps
Joe..I am honored to help out an expert on parts, etc. Yes these are original T-3 bulbs, found in the same salvage yard. I have been able to find six so far, and the cadmium buckets clean up nice with glass beading.Comment
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Re: C2 Headlamps
Joe - I am following this thread with interest....Dave was over yesterday and he and I discussed this at length. Now I want to pull the buckets on my 67 apart and check, the 66 had 3 of the square hole style and one round hole style, all were black, but I don't trust this car at all since the headlight buckets were restored back from a prior owners "buried plexiglass" light treatment.Comment
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