T-3s Not Bright Enough

[Tony H.]

Re: T-3s Not Bright Enough

The fiber optics don't require T-3s to work. The halogen bulbs I bought several years ago have the glass nipple in the back (between the electrical connector prongs) that allow the fiber optics to plug in. My halogens were origially blacked out in this area. I simply cleaned them up with some acetone and plugged the fiber optic connector in place and voila, my fiber optics work,probably brighter than original.

[Howell Jaynes]

Re: T-3s Not Bright Enough

An Australian C3 owner reported on corvetteforum that his halogen headlights melted the plastic headlight connectors and damaged (destroyed?)his fiber optics. Since halogens have a reputation for being hot, this'd be a good thing to be cautious about. I was pleased to read above that the Lectric Limited repro T'3s are brighter.

[mike cobine]

Re: Try Cibies - Z-beam only in 7"

Cibies and other H4-type lights are good, but they have a drawback. The cutoff pattern tends to leave a very black area up above at night unless you have the brights on.

It is also tempting to go "if 55 watts are good, then 65 watts are better, and 100 watts are great!" However, unless you have a lamp that was designed for the higher wattage H4s, you can burn up the lamp itself.

My favorite was the Cibie Z-beam, a very effective pattern that didn't upset other drivers on the multilane highways. Most European patterns go high at a 30 or 45 degree angle to the right and blind drivers you pass. That makes many mad, who then flash their brights at you, and can attract cops when you really don't want to.

Forgot who said that all these were not legal, and technically at the time, that was true as the only legal DOT approved were sealed beams. The H4 lights were not sealed beams.

Since the Z-beams were so white, unlike yellow old lights, I did get stopped and check, but the lense pattern and such look like regular lights to cops looking for aircraft landing lights.

Unfortunately, Z-beams were only in 7" round design. They were also $65 a pair in 1977.

For the money and the use most of us need today, mass produced GE and other sealed halogen lamps give all the light most can use.

[Jeff M.]

Re: Try Cibies - Z-beam only in 7"

I just bought a pair of halogen bulbs from rbsauto.com that are h-4 bulbs. My street rod buddies have used them and love em. In the c3, you can only see them when on, and i could not see good with the halogens that i had in it. They were expensive at $39.25 each. They have diamond reflectors for ultimate brightness it says part number 390-000111. Sylvania does not make the silverstar for the vette, I looked for a weekend

[Gregory G.]

Re: Try Cibies - Z-beam only in 7"

I don't remember the model I had, but they angled up on the right side to illuminate street sighs. I loved them. They had not only 5 1/4" and 7" but also retcangular quads and dual. I had the retangular quads. There was also another good brand, can't remember the name but I think it began with a M.

[Donald M.]

What's this about Halogen being HOT?

Now, just as I have finished converting my repro T-3's to Halogen, someone says they run hot and could possibly melt the connectors! What's up with that? Can anyone shed more light (sorry for the pun) on this problem?

[Edward Boyd]

Re: What's this about Halogen being HOT?

Discussion has to do with filament temperature - to produce a whiter light the filament must operate at a higher temperature.

[Donald M.]

Re: What's this about Halogen being HOT?

Yes, a standard incandescent sealed beam burns at 2800 Deg. K and a Halogen burns at 3200 deg. K. The question is will that 400 deg. difference melt connectors?

[Howell Jaynes]

Re: What's this about Halogen being HOT?

Hey guys, please re-read my original posting. I didn't say that halogen bulbs will damage the connectors/fiber obptics, etc. I just reported that there was a corvetteforum.com member from Australia who said that his halogen lamps damaged/destroyed his fiber optics. I have no knowledge as to the credibility of this posting or the circumstances, etc. I forwarded this comment only to be helpful. I think its a good heads up, that if you put hotter headlights in your car, you should be a little bit weary about increases in temperatures. This is just a common sense kind of cautionary commnt. Just trying to be helpful.

[Donald M.]

Re: What's this about Halogen being HOT?

Howell, You are correct in not vouching for a reported incident where the facts/circumstances are not known. Your post was taken as a helpful statement that got me to thnking. I have since emailed the manufacturer of the Halogens to get an answer. Personally, I don't think there is anything to worry about as there are at least three different NCRS members on this thread that now use them and no problems have been reported. Thanks again for your contribution.
Don

[John H.]

Re: Try Cibies - Z-beam only in 7"

That was probably Marchal.

[Gregory G.]

Re: Try Cibies - Z-beam only in 7"

Yes that is the ones I was thinking about. They ware also suppose to be very good.