PV experts, step in

[Chris E.]

I'm starting to think about my PV items for the Ohio Regional in September. I was told this last weekend that if my "LIGHTS" warning light on my 67 flashes at the wrong speed, that will fail my car during a PV check.

So, I took a video. Is this too fast or too slow?

http://yfrog.us/6fmvi0108z

[Stephen L.]

Re: PV experts, step in

Looks fast to me but I'd ask a PV judge the on/off time and tolerance so that you can be prepared. Then time your lite to see if you meet the spec. The flashing timing is a function of the bulb. There is probably reasonable differences between bulbs.

[Chris E.]

Re: PV experts, step in

Looks fast to me but I'd ask a PV judge the on/off time and tolerance so that you can be prepared. Then time your lite to see if you meet the spec. The flashing timing is a function of the bulb. There is probably reasonable differences between bulbs.

One vote for "too fast". Thanks Steve.

[Dan H.]

Re: PV experts, step in

Try a NOS 257 bulb, I find them on Ebay, American Made of course!
Dan

[Jack H.]

Re: PV experts, step in

The good and the bad...

There are two aspects of originality: (1) lamp warm-up time and (2) blink rate.

In the first category, your warm-up time looks normal to me. It depends to some degree on ambient temperature, but a warm-up of time of ROUGHLY 5-10 seconds is what I'm used to seeing and your warning lamp is right on with the low end of the range.

As far as the blink rate goes, approximately 2 Hz (cycles/second) is my recollection of what's correct/original. Your car appears to blink a tad faster...

Original GE/Westinghouse #257 lamps are pretty hard to find today as almost all incadescent lamp manufacturing has moved off shore. Almost all of the lamps we see from abroad have a silver vs. brass base (cost reduction), but not all of these lamps are 'junk'.

Some are made in the former Soviet block (e.g. Romania/Hungry) and I've found them to be pretty decent. But, it's a matter of testing the target lamp before you install it.

If you're persistent, you CAN find the older/original lamps as Corvette wasn't the only vehicle to use them. Some Chevy passenger cars also had a brake warning system and they too used the #257 blinker lamp. Also, these lamps were popular for pin ball machine useage (flag a scoring 'special' condition)...

[David S.]

Re: PV experts, step in

Chris,



-Dave

[William C.]

Re: PV experts, step in

Too long to start, and waaay to fast. Get a real GE US made 257 bulb and you will be amazed at the difference.

[Jack H.]

Re: PV experts, step in

Tain't rocket science... The #257 lamp blinks because the filament contains a bi-metal segment that heats/open circuits, cools and closes again. You've seen the equivalent on Christmas trees eh?

[Jack H.]

Re: PV experts, step in

I disagree, Clup. I've got maybe 20 GE and Westinghouse 257 lamps squirreled away (originals with brass base). The startup time is what I said based on bench tests with a stop watch.

BUT, the standard deviation/variance is rather wide/sloppy. It doesn't appear these lamps were 'precision' manufactured to control that aspect of their illumination profile.

The good thing about 'mining' old passenger cars for originals (not ALL were equipped with the e-brake warning feature) is they tended to see little/no burn time... So, used ones are actually pretty fresh!

[Loren L.]

Re: PV "experts"

I apologize in advance.
Am I really hearing that in 1967 someone sat with a stopwatch and timed the start and frequency of this bulb's "flash"? And, of course, we KNOW that all of these bulbs were EXACTLY the same 43 years ago? Too bad they couldn't do engines to that standard.....
A hundred years ago, when I segregated the ALL MODELS PV test forms into the classes that were more appropriate and allowed additions to the classes, the issue was "Did it work"; if it did, it =d Pass; Now, I'm hearing about evaluations that say Oil Pressure should = between 43 - 45 lbs psi two minutes after startup, etc. Somehow that sounds too much like "I've got My Duntov" and it's going to be harder for you to get yours.
Please understand - I have no problem with a standard that someone can come up with based on Chevrolet test results AT THE TIME that would be used AT THAT TIME to pass/fail cars on the line.
It's simple - if I had an early '57 FI PG car that had been sealed in a vaccuum on February 27, 1957, the best I could hope for from "Trailer Queen" judges MIGHT BE A SECOND FLIGHT.

[Mike M.]

Re: PV "experts"

I apologize in advance.
Am I really hearing that in 1967 someone sat with a stopwatch and timed the start and frequency of this bulb's "flash"? And, of course, we KNOW that all of these bulbs were EXACTLY the same 43 years ago? Too bad they couldn't do engines to that standard.....
A hundred years ago, when I segregated the ALL MODELS PV test forms into the classes that were more appropriate and allowed additions to the classes, the issue was "Did it work"; if it did, it =d Pass; Now, I'm hearing about evaluations that say Oil Pressure should = between 43 - 45 lbs psi two minutes after startup, etc. Somehow that sounds too much like "I've got My Duntov" and it's going to be harder for you to get yours.
Please understand - I have no problem with a standard that someone can come up with based on Chevrolet test results AT THE TIME that would be used AT THAT TIME to pass/fail cars on the line.
It's simple - if I had an early '57 FI PG car that had been sealed in a vaccuum on February 27, 1957, the best I could hope for from "Trailer Queen" judges MIGHT BE A SECOND FLIGHT.

dearest old buddy loren: i just happen to have an early 57 250 PG that will be in Charolette NC for its Duntov.my ole 57 was wrapped in an ole douch bag after going 250K miles before i bought it in 1970 for 450 bucks.i removed it from its Massengill bag about 3 years ago, tossed a lot of $ at the old turd, and have really enjoyed resurrecdting this once POS from the junk yard. if you make it to Charolette, i promise you a ride in a "bone stock" 250 HP FI that will get yer attention. and don't forget, i owe ya a steak dinner for the Chettah deal. regards,mike

[Steven B.]

Re: PV experts, step in

What cars and what years was the 257 used in? If I go to a junk yard I want to know which ones to crawl around in.

Thanks!

Steve

[Chris E.]

Re: PV experts, step in

Sounds like I need an original 257 bulb.

Thanks for confirming guys. That was what I was expecting you to say. Thankfully, I have until September to fix this.

[Stephen L.]

Re: PV experts, step in

Flash rate and warmup time for the #257 bulb are also dependent on the voltage level present and the condition of the wiring and connectors, if the engine is running and the alternator is producing 14.2 vdc, etc. Lots of varibles!!! If the light flashes the darn thing ought to pass....

[Loren L.]

Re: PV "experts"

dearest old buddy loren: i just happen to have an early 57 250 PG that will be in Charolette NC for its Duntov.my ole 57 was wrapped in an ole douch bag after going 250K miles before i bought it in 1970 for 450 bucks.i removed it from its Massengill bag about 3 years ago, tossed a lot of $ at the old turd, and have really enjoyed resurrecdting this once POS from the junk yard. if you make it to Charolette, i promise you a ride in a "bone stock" 250 HP FI that will get yer attention. and don't forget, i owe ya a steak dinner for the Chettah deal. regards,mike

Mike:
No worries on the qualifications for a car from the McCagh stable - as long as it's not claiming to be #1! And it might be more fun to go for a ride in the "farm vehicle".....say hello to the rest of the folks in wheelchairs at Charlotte..
LL