OEM headlight?

[Peter M.]

Can anyone tell he where I can purchase an OEM Guide Halogen headlight for an 86 Vette? Any help will be appreciated.

[Kurt B.]

Re: OEM headlight?

I found OEM headlights for my 68 on E-bay of all places.
You might have osme luck there for your 86.
I assume you already tried the usual sources such as Eckler's and MidAmerica ?
Kurt

[Peter M.]

Re: OEM headlight?

I found OEM headlights for my 68 on E-bay of all places.
You might have osme luck there for your 86.
I assume you already tried the usual sources such as Eckler's and MidAmerica ?
Kurt

Thanks Kurt. Yes, I have checked eBay and the major vendors. Seems that there are several available at GM, eBay and numerous vendors, but non of the offerings are the original OEM Guide Halogen lights. If I don't get a contact here, I'll start at the salvage yards and see what I can find.

[Kurt B.]

Re: OEM headlight?

Peter,
Try Paragon Reproductions as they also carry a lot of orignal and used stuff.
I found my valve covers for my restoration there.
Paragon isn't cheap but sometimes they have things no one else does.
Just a thought,
Kurt

[George D.]

Re: OEM headlight?

Peter,

These are diffiicult to find. I don't think anyone is reproing these yet. I have found some in salvage yards. I think some of the other GM models used the same headlights. You could also thry Contemporary Corvettes in Bristol, PA.

[John D.]

Re: OEM headlight?

Peter, Those early C4 bulbs are really tough to find. Some say they are readily available in junk yards. Yeah right. Took me a long time to find the correct bulb for my 84. Jim Capozzi of CA took one from an old Pontiac Fiero for me. It was identical.
H6054 bulbs are readily available on ebay and everywhere else except they typically are NOT available NOS for our early C4's. Here's what I used to ask for when calling the dealers.
Big rectange bulb, three prong, combination hi-lo beam, Guide 2B1 in the left top corner, sealed beam on the right top corner, and halogen in the center.
Our judging manual says it easier. Says the bulb (lamp) has halogen printed internally in the center. Stop there. Most the new and used bulbs you find have GE and other logos in the center. Internally means the letters are flush with the bulb. The sealed beam letters are raised.
The bulb was used across the industry in the early 80's only. Highly unlikely you will ever find a NOS one. You can find a NOs T3 three prong bulb much easier.
By the way don't just look at GM cars when scouting the yards. Look at everything. Jeep, Ford, etc. Very common bulb in the old days but not now.
I think the bulb was used from 83 to 89. The 90 Corvette bulb is different.
Good luck, JD

P.S. If you reallly cannot locate one let me know. I will be parting with my May 83 car shortly and somewhere I have a spare correct bulb for it. I do believe though that is had its share of pitting. My friend Shelby Jett gave it to me as he looked extensively in MI for one.
You C4 owners better start looking for a spare original healight(lamp in case Corelli is looking) as they are definitely rare.

[Peter M.]

Re: OEM headlight?

Thank you, guys. The search goes on....

[Joe L.]

Re: OEM headlight?

Thank you, guys. The search goes on....

Peter-----


For NOS sealed beams you can't go by part number. The GM part number was the same over the entire 84-96 period and, in fact, it's still the same today. However, "nuances" have changed over the years. Even when Guide was still making these sealed beams, the configuration of the lens and script thereon changed at least once and, possibly, several times in more minor ways.

I believe that beginning about 1993 or 1994, Guide exited this business and the sealed beams were supplied by Wagner, Sylvania and, possibly, others. However, as I say, the GM part number remained the same all along.