I bought Wagner halogens today for my black GP. I'm not surprised to see that even a company with such a good reputation for quality sells me seal beams that had a boat ride to Canada. Oh well, I guess it's to be expected. Anyway, I'm looking forward to some good lighting if they are like the ones I had years ago.
China? Weren't they just made in Canada not long go?
Add a set of relays Carl, then you'll be able to find your way home out there at night!
Sure they'll be whiter than old yellow T3's, but you'll get at least 25% better light out of them if you can give them the current they need. I know, I had the Halogens on both systems on my 67. And they are incredible now on both high and low beam. As good or better than a new car now.
It's a dead easy upgrade.
4SPEED427 said
Dec 13, 2013
Yeah, good point, I've read lots about doing that but never thought about it for this car. We'll see how it is stock but as you say, easy to do any time.
66 Grande guy said
Dec 13, 2013
I ran those on my 66 Grande when I did the big Winnipeg trip a while back . i was really happy with the night visibility but as I age I'd be happy to get even more. How do you do the relay installation or was it on a previous thread?
4SPEED427 said
Dec 13, 2013
I don't think there's been a thread here but I would think a guy would just use the feed wire from the dimmer switch for the respective beam to power a relay that has a live feed to it from the horn relay which is right there with the headlamp wiring, conveniently.
unclebernie said
Dec 13, 2013
I put the same ones in the Lemans when I put it together and they work great! I did have trouble fitting the plug on the back and had to make a small incision on the plastic so it stayed connected.....no relays in mine.
Pontiacanada said
Dec 13, 2013
cdnpont wrote:
China?
Either from the east or from across the Rio Grande.
beaumontguru said
Dec 13, 2013
Are these the chinese ones from Wagner that are now steel back with the lens glued on with white silicone?
i bought a new set resently and that is the crap they are producing now. Any GE ones are still the good glass blown one piece design.
4SPEED427 said
Dec 13, 2013
beaumontguru wrote:
Are these the chinese ones from Wagner that are now steel back with the lens glued on with white silicone?
i bought a new set resently and that is the crap they are producing now. Any GE ones are still the good glass blown one piece design.
Yes, steel back on these. I was wondering about that too.
I figured I'd give them a try. If they don't fit right or work well, it will be just another thing to blast the sales rep for when I see him at a trade show in the spring that I always attend.
It seems like every year there's another company or two that cheaps out on their product and I get to tell the reps at the show that there product is crap
Pontiacanada said
Dec 13, 2013
beaumontguru wrote:
Any GE ones are still the good glass blown one piece design.
Good to know ... the ones I want.
cdnpont said
Dec 13, 2013
Carl Stevenson wrote:
I don't think there's been a thread here but I would think a guy would just use the feed wire from the dimmer switch for the respective beam to power a relay that has a live feed to it from the horn relay which is right there with the headlamp wiring, conveniently.
Exactly Carl, Just pick out the 16 Gauge Tan (low beam) and Light Green (highbeam) wire from the forward harness.
Cut and add wires, routing from the feed (firewall) side of each cut Tan, Green, to the relay triggers (high/low beam).
From each relay output, run a wire to the lamp side of the original Tan/Green cut.
From each relay power supply point, run a heavy wire with inline fuse to the horn relay main Buss.
Run a heavy ground wire from each relay ground point to a good chassis ground pickup point.
The advantage to all of this is you are removing the light switch and dimmer from the higher current part of the lighting system. Both now just become trigger switches.
Also you remove at least 12' of old tired wire from that current loop. Essentially, you feed current to the lamps closer to the feed source (horn relay) and reduce the voltage drop.
There is a plenty of spots to conveniently mount or hide the relays up front, but closest to the horn relay is best.
Princess auto always has a good and cheap assortment of the Bosch Type relay available.
You'll be amazed at the difference.
The next best mod would be to go with a high output, internally regulated alternator, with voltage sensing at a new central PowerPoint. But that's for later!
427carl said
Dec 13, 2013
In the summer here, we are home in bed by 9:30 T-s's are on this cowboys Camaro lol
cdnpont said
Dec 13, 2013
Made up a little diagram. Please excuse the hijack Carl..
As above or.... you could also power all four headlights on High Beam (green lead to all bulbs)!
G
66 Grande guy said
Dec 13, 2013
Awesome help as usual guys! Up till now I've been quite happy to get the original wiring actually working but this will be the first mod I do.
-- Edited by 66 Grande guy on Friday 13th of December 2013 07:07:53 PM
4SPEED427 said
Dec 13, 2013
Fake68 wrote:
As above or.... you could also power all four headlights on High Beam (green lead to all bulbs)!
G
I have to look at my car but won't that already happen? From the factory, on high beam, there is already 4 lamps lit up. The high beam filament on the uppers, and the only filament present on the lowers?
I have to check my wiring harness but I thought that is how it would work.
4SPEED427 said
Dec 13, 2013
cdnpont wrote:
Please excuse the hijack Carl..>
Not a hijack at all Mark, it's a great addition to the thread.
Fake68 said
Dec 14, 2013
I didn't think the factory wiring has both "triggers" (green and tan) hot on high ??
Can someone confirm?
4SPEED427 said
Dec 14, 2013
Wouldn't it have to be that way? Otherwise there would be no purpose in the low beam seal beams having 3 prongs.
I'm sure all those old 4 lamp round headlamp systems have 4 lights lit on high beam?
(lol) Maybe not the headlamps Mark, but you forgot one/three thing(s)... Tail, dash and park from '69 on lamps... I've done this many times on my old cars plus my '98 pickups, my '97-'03 Grand Prixs and the newer '99-'07 style trucks.. Works great..
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Saturday 14th of December 2013 02:48:42 PM
racer6929 said
Dec 14, 2013
hhMMM..3 1972/3 Vintage Cibie quartz lights with one T-3 that came with the car..somehow, parked in the pits at Eagle Motorplex an even harder to replace cibie was broken overnight....(the other three are in the Cibie boxes, resting..)
cdnpont said
Dec 14, 2013
67Poncho wrote:
cdnpont wrote:
(lol) Maybe not the headlamps Mark, but you forgot one/three thing(s)... Tail, dash and park from '69 on lamps... I've done this many times on my old cars plus my '98 pickups, my '97-'03 Grand Prixs and the newer '99-'07 style trucks.. Works great..
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Saturday 14th of December 2013 02:48:42 PM
Very true!
I suppose you'd have to run a wire from the output of the third relay to the headlamp switch, cut the original feed, and connect the new?
We haven't talked about T3's forever, so........
I bought Wagner halogens today for my black GP. I'm not surprised to see that even a company with such a good reputation for quality sells me seal beams that had a boat ride to Canada. Oh well, I guess it's to be expected. Anyway, I'm looking forward to some good lighting if they are like the ones I had years ago.
China? Weren't they just made in Canada not long go?
Add a set of relays Carl, then you'll be able to find your way home out there at night!
Sure they'll be whiter than old yellow T3's, but you'll get at least 25% better light out of them if you can give them the current they need. I know, I had the Halogens on both systems on my 67. And they are incredible now on both high and low beam. As good or better than a new car now.
It's a dead easy upgrade.
I ran those on my 66 Grande when I did the big Winnipeg trip a while back . i was really happy with the night visibility but as I age I'd be happy to get even more. How do you do the relay installation or was it on a previous thread?
Either from the east or from across the Rio Grande.
Are these the chinese ones from Wagner that are now steel back with the lens glued on with white silicone?
i bought a new set resently and that is the crap they are producing now. Any GE ones are still the good glass blown one piece design.
Yes, steel back on these. I was wondering about that too.
I figured I'd give them a try. If they don't fit right or work well, it will be just another thing to blast the sales rep for when I see him at a trade show in the spring that I always attend.
It seems like every year there's another company or two that cheaps out on their product and I get to tell the reps at the show that there product is crap
Good to know ... the ones I want.
Exactly Carl, Just pick out the 16 Gauge Tan (low beam) and Light Green (highbeam) wire from the forward harness.
Cut and add wires, routing from the feed (firewall) side of each cut Tan, Green, to the relay triggers (high/low beam).
From each relay output, run a wire to the lamp side of the original Tan/Green cut.
From each relay power supply point, run a heavy wire with inline fuse to the horn relay main Buss.
Run a heavy ground wire from each relay ground point to a good chassis ground pickup point.
The advantage to all of this is you are removing the light switch and dimmer from the higher current part of the lighting system. Both now just become trigger switches.
Also you remove at least 12' of old tired wire from that current loop. Essentially, you feed current to the lamps closer to the feed source (horn relay) and reduce the voltage drop.
There is a plenty of spots to conveniently mount or hide the relays up front, but closest to the horn relay is best.
Princess auto always has a good and cheap assortment of the Bosch Type relay available.
You'll be amazed at the difference.
The next best mod would be to go with a high output, internally regulated alternator, with voltage sensing at a new central PowerPoint. But that's for later!
In the summer here, we are home in bed by 9:30 T-s's are on this cowboys Camaro lol
Made up a little diagram. Please excuse the hijack Carl..
G
Awesome help as usual guys! Up till now I've been quite happy to get the original wiring actually working but this will be the first mod I do.
-- Edited by 66 Grande guy on Friday 13th of December 2013 07:07:53 PM
I have to look at my car but won't that already happen? From the factory, on high beam, there is already 4 lamps lit up. The high beam filament on the uppers, and the only filament present on the lowers?
I have to check my wiring harness but I thought that is how it would work.
Not a hijack at all Mark, it's a great addition to the thread.
Can someone confirm?
I'm sure all those old 4 lamp round headlamp systems have 4 lights lit on high beam?
yes..4 lights on high
1967 B
(lol) Maybe not the headlamps Mark, but you forgot one/three thing(s)... Tail, dash and park from '69 on lamps... I've done this many times on my old cars plus my '98 pickups, my '97-'03 Grand Prixs and the newer '99-'07 style trucks.. Works great..
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Saturday 14th of December 2013 02:48:42 PM
Very true!
I suppose you'd have to run a wire from the output of the third relay to the headlamp switch, cut the original feed, and connect the new?
Too much work lol!