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
-- Edited by davepl on Wednesday 25th of April 2018 09:59:08 AM
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
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.
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 ...
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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.
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!
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
In the early 2000's I could pick up used low beam T3's for $10 each. Those days are gone. I've got a couple good ones that have a terminal that's come loose, I've been trying to figure a good way to solder it back on.
Found 3 in the box, but still need to test. One T-3 centre low beam,one T-3 centre high beam and a T3 lower insig high beam. Mine are the t3 with no lines in the triangle.Not sure if those are the ones your looking for?
-- Edited by hawkeye5766 on Monday 4th of June 2018 12:42:56 AM
They are the expen$ive one$ for 427, 4 speed Corvette's only!
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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.