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Post Info TOPIC: T3 headlights


Poncho Master!

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T3 headlights


I think I've mentioned that the Catalina I just parted out was a bit of a time machine with nothing really wrong with it.  Part of that was that it still had 3 working T3 headlights, so I grabbed those.  Just need one low beam to make a set.

But does anyone know how to date code them?  All I can find on them are a two digit alpha-numeric on the glass near the top, like M3.

 

This guy knows a lot about them if you've never seen it (like T3 just means tilt 3 degrees):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEmltAXO0cY&ab_channel=SteveHotRod

 

IMG_6625.JPG



-- Edited by davepl on Wednesday 25th of April 2018 09:59:08 AM

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Guru

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I use this chart , which is useful :

 



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1960 GMC Short Fleet side 455 T400

1969 Chevelle Wagon 3 row #'s  LM1 M20 ( project) 

 

 



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The earlier repros looked really nice but the current crop looks off, sort of a milky grey tinge to the glass.

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John

Montreal 

26 1969 American Pontiacs

and a 1969 Canadian 2+2 Hardtop



Poncho Master!

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According to Howmac's handy chart, mine are definitely all 68-71s, so likely original to the car. Guess I'll need to find a fourth to complete the set!



-- Edited by davepl on Wednesday 25th of April 2018 05:15:04 PM

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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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T3's have been hotly debated on this site before, and I have no problem with them. High beams are very easy to find, low beams are a little tougher. Unfortunately even if you find a good used one, it may not last very long, or may last a while. I've got them on both my 2+2's, but have likely gone through 3 or 4 low beams with them either failing or getting hit by a rock.

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70 2+2 convertible
70 2+2 hardtop
70 Parisienne hardtop
72 GMC Sierra

 

 



Poncho Master!

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I have one working T3 but I'll have to check if Hi or Low beam.

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'68 Parisienne 2+2 Convertible Matador Red (Resale Red but not for sale).



A Poncho Legend!

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seventy2plus2 wrote:

T3's have been hotly debated on this site before, and I have no problem with them. High beams are very easy to find, low beams are a little tougher. Unfortunately even if you find a good used one, it may not last very long, or may last a while. I've got them on both my 2+2's, but have likely gone through 3 or 4 low beams with them either failing or getting hit by a rock.


Ah yes, the Canadian Poncho T-3 period ...biggrin 



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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.



Poncho Master!

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Must have been before my time, what the was the debate? Did some cars come with Canadian Tire headlights or something?

Hard to know how long they'll last, but they're 50 years old now so they don't owe me anything. If the repros were nicer might make sense to run repro low beams for reliability.

Still can't imagine what the "hot debate" over T3s would be!

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Guru

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I threw a repro set on my 2+2, correct markings etc but as I mentioned not great looking from a color point of view.  my 2+2 had a really nice birght set of Cibie lamps from the 70's, twice as bright but not compatible with the light monitoring system.   I don't have a close up pic so you may or may not see that the coloration is off.  For comparison here are 4 originals on my Ventura wagon.  If you don't compare them directly the repops look fine.

 

2018-01-19 050.JPG

2017-07-19 089.JPG



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John

Montreal 

26 1969 American Pontiacs

and a 1969 Canadian 2+2 Hardtop



A Poncho Legend!

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davepl wrote:

Must have been before my time, what the was the debate? Did some cars come with Canadian Tire headlights or something?





We had a member who doesn't seem to post here any more (although maybe he still reads here, I don't know) who basically stated that running any modern headlights in a restored car was pretty much blasphemy. People were chastised for wanting to run a good halogen or better headlight for night driving on deer infested highways. It got pretty heated. And then it snowballed into other stuff....

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars



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I am not here to offend any one........... i hope, but T-3's are for cars that belong in a museum and a museum only. Personally i prefer to see  in the dark.



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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six

1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8



Poncho Master!

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Ah. Well, there are the HIDs I put in my GMC because I live on a two-lane highway in the rain... he'd hate those! If I ever really planned on driving this 2+2 at night, it'd have modern lights as a concession to safety too, likely.

IMG_2316.JPG



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Guru

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My 2+2 had a nice set of vintage Cibie that were easily double the candlepower of T-3's but I pulled them because I like the stock look and because my car has the optional light sentinel system and after market lights aren't compatible. However if I drove my car a lot at night outside the city (I don't-won't) I'd have good headlights in a flash.

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John

Montreal 

26 1969 American Pontiacs

and a 1969 Canadian 2+2 Hardtop



Poncho Master!

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The Catalina had 3 T3 headlights, missing one low beam. The 2+2 only had one T3, a low beam! But its cracked... so close.

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Guru

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Used ones turn up regularly on eBay, sets or just highbeams, hard to buy just low beams

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John

Montreal 

26 1969 American Pontiacs

and a 1969 Canadian 2+2 Hardtop



Poncho Master!

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I see that, they want $60 per light for a used T3 of unknown provenance. I might grab a pair of repros so they're matched, as long as they don't look out of place next to original high beams.


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Poncho Master!

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$500!

www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-VINTAGE-NOS-1969-Z-28-CAMARO-71-72-CHEVELLE-LS-6-T-3-HEADLIGHTS-AC-6012-GM/323225524413~RZqHUx&vxp=mtr


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Guru

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Yoiks! Thats a lot of coin.

I wouldn't mix repro and original. The repro's look fine until you put them side to side, then you'll see that greyish tinge that the original T3's don't have.

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John

Montreal 

26 1969 American Pontiacs

and a 1969 Canadian 2+2 Hardtop



A Poncho Legend!

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biggrin



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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.



Poncho Master!

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No warranty on those NOS either. Could you imagine you spend $500, install one, and it's burned out?

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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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In the early 2000's I could pick up used low beam T3's for $10 each. Those days are gone. I've got a couple good ones that have a terminal that's come loose, I've been trying to figure a good way to solder it back on.

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70 2+2 convertible
70 2+2 hardtop
70 Parisienne hardtop
72 GMC Sierra

 

 



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Are you still looking? Found a small box of T3 in my crawl space. Can pull out and check them if needed.

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Poncho Master!

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Sure, I still need a good low beam and would always take a spare for the trunk!

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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Found 3 in the box, but still need to test. One T-3 centre low beam,one T-3 centre high beam and a T3 lower insig high beam. Mine are the t3 with no lines in the triangle.Not sure if those are the ones your looking for?

DSC08616.JPG DSC08615.JPG

 

DSC08622.JPG

 



-- Edited by hawkeye5766 on Monday 4th of June 2018 12:42:56 AM

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A Poncho Legend!

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They are the expen$ive one$ for 427, 4 speed Corvette's only!wink



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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.

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