T3 Headlights

[Sammy4358]

I am trying to get new T3 headlights for my 1959 GMC 100, I found bulbs for a GM 1960 to 67 two light system but the three tabs on the back will not fit into the 59 light bucket. Does anyone know if the light buckets from a 60 to 67 will fit in the 59 light holder?

[Sammy4358]

Sorry, I mean 60 to 67 4 light system

[Sammy4358]

Thanks for all the help, the problem was, only one combination of locations for each bucket work and I had not tried them all yet. So the T3 bulbs that are on the market from Summit do fit the 58 & 59 GM trucks even though they do not list them on the vehicle list for those parts

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Sammy4358

Thanks for all the help, the problem was, only one combination of locations for each bucket work and I had not tried them all yet. So the T3 bulbs that are on the market from Summit do fit the 58 & 59 GM trucks even though they do not list them on the vehicle list for those parts

So the lights that are available DO fit your truck?

Brian

[MARTINSR]

I am sorry, I don't understand, those headlamps are available STILL at every parts store in town!

https://www.am-autoparts.com/1968/Ch...iABEgLPxvD_BwE

Brian

[Sammy4358]

The parts stores here have halogen bulbs but not T3's for the 58 & 59s, the only T3s I can find are from 60 and up and one supplier offers the repops for $189 for the set and they are not original specs. If your parts store does have them PLEASE send their contact info so I can call them
Thanks

[MARTINSR]

It looks like you are going to be teaching me something, I am confused as hell here. Non Halogen are still available for next to nothing at least for the two headlamp system. I just replaced one not a month ago on my Rambler.

Now, is "T3" an original like light? In other words the exact tire size and brand bias ply kinda thing? Because regular non halogen are available.

https://www.jpcycles.com/product/330...SABEgKl4_D_BwE

Ok I am getting what you are throwing, you ARE talking an original like bulb, they are more money, ok, wow didn't know that.

Here is a set for $100,
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-67-GM-...ke%3AChevrolet

Unless I am clueless here, the 58-59 are the same lights as every other four headlamp car or truck from the fifties through the seventies. So are you talking about a special light in how it LOOKS for your 58-59?

Sorry I am no help for you and only asking questions so I can get smarter.

Brian

[Fred n' Ethel]

Originally Posted by Sammy4358

I am trying to get new T3 headlights for my 1959 GMC 100, I found bulbs for a GM 1960 to 67 two light system but the three tabs on the back will not fit into the 59 light bucket. Does anyone know if the light buckets from a 60 to 67 will fit in the 59 light holder?

Found this interesting.
If you want the old school look, but superior modern lighting .......
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/1006r...rs-conversion/

A bit of work, but offers lighting options.
The 24 photos have excellent descriptions.
(I might be way off tho)
Cheers

[Sammy4358]

Sorry for confusing everyone, I am restoring a 1959 GMC 100 back to original so to answer some of the questions: the 58 & 59 truck had there own light bucket and no other years light bulbs will set in those buckets with the alignment tabs in the holes. So another words I am trying to get the horses to push the wagon instead of pulling. I am hoping I can change the light buckets in my 59 truck to a 1960 to 67 bucket to fit the only T3 bulbs that I can find on the market

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Sammy4358

Sorry for confusing everyone, I am restoring a 1959 GMC 100 back to original so to answer some of the questions: the 58 & 59 truck had there own light bucket and no other years light bulbs will set in those buckets with the alignment tabs in the holes. So another words I am trying to get the horses to push the wagon instead of pulling. I am hoping I can change the light buckets in my 59 truck to a 1960 to 67 bucket to fit the only T3 bulbs that I can find on the market

Wait a minute here, the sealed beams for a 58-59 Chevy pickup are different? The alignment tabs are in a different spot?

If that's the case, and the later bulb is the same outside of the tabs just modify the bucket so the tab location is different.


Brian

[Sammy4358]

That is plan C just need to check out some 60 to 67 buckets, would really hate to find out I could just replace the buckets after spending 3 hours cutting out 12 new holes!

[Fred n' Ethel]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

Wait a minute here, the sealed beams for a 58-59 Chevy pickup are different? The alignment tabs are in a different spot?
Brian

"Now that just don't make no sense." (tommy)
Looked through Rock Auto.
Their H5001 and H5006 sealed beams fit 59 GMC 100 as well as the Biscaynes through the 60's, 67 Chevelle and many others.
If the same bulbs fits all, how could the buckets be different ?

After all, this is GM .... not JD.

[Sammy4358]

A lot of suppliers say there parts fit 58 & 59 GMC & Chevy but they don't, I have about 15 parts purchased for this GMC that are not for this truck
Walt

[Sammy4358]

If you check for a 58 or 59 Chevy or GMC truck you wont see the head lights available in T3 but they are in regular lights and it does say they fit the trucks, but they don't. Someone may have changed out my buckets in this trucks 60 years of life.

[Sammy4358]

That looks like a good fix but this truck has the original drive train and even a bill of sale to the original owner, had to restore back to factory specs
Thanks
Walt

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Sammy4358

That looks like a good fix but this truck has the original drive train and even a bill of sale to the original owner, had to restore back to factory specs
Thanks
Walt

I love everything from radical customs to stockers, a truck in that condition, it would be a crime in my opinion to not leave it stock. You will have a treasure there for sure.

Brian

[MARTINSR]

They really do use a different light? What other cars used that light? Do you have a part number for the light?


Brian

[Sammy4358]

The only info I can find is in my shop manual, it has a bulb # 5400 with a 50-40 watt candle power. I don't know if the 58 Impala used the same bulb but all 58 & 59 GMC and Chevy pickups with the 4 light system used these bulbs and when they changed the body style in 1960 they changed the tab location on the bulbs.
I guess to sell more parts or to laugh at some old guy trying to restore one 60 years later.
Walt

[Fred n' Ethel]

One other possibility ..... possible ?
Is there any chance that through repair, or replacement that the buckets/back plates could be assembled wrongly ? in the wrong positions ? flipped, inverted, transposed ? ?
Just lookin' for something odd.
I'll go for a while now, good luck to ya my friend.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Fred n' Ethel

One other possibility ..... possible ?
Is there any chance that through repair, or replacement that the buckets/back plates could be assembled wrongly ? in the wrong positions ? flipped, inverted, transposed ? ?
Just lookin' for something odd.
I'll go for a while now, good luck to ya my friend.

Ahhhhhhh, that's something to think about!

Brian

[mongocanfly]

sounds like you need the help of Dr.Ogre...where he at when you need him?

[Henry50]

Headlights were standardized by law and all headlights, either 7" or 5 3/4" were interchangeable.

[Sammy4358]

I think that law took effect in 1960, that's probably why they changed the bulbs in 1960

[MARTINSR]

I do know that today it's so crazy how different every friggin car is when it comes to lights. It's EVIL I say! No joke, I think it's evil, they make every damn thing different. When I think that I have a 59 Rambler, a 65 Buick, a 55 Ford F-100 trailer, a 48 Chevy pickup, a 63 Ford Falcon on my property and EVERY ONE OF THEM uses the same tail lamp bulbs and outside of the Gran Sport that has four headlights, all the cars use the same headlights! 48-59-63 all use the same!


Now, we have to have drawers full of bulbs to fit all the cars we work on.

Brian

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

I do know that today it's so crazy how different every friggin car is when it comes to lights. It's EVIL I say! No joke, I think it's evil, they make every damn thing different. When I think that I have a 59 Rambler, a 65 Buick, a 55 Ford F-100 trailer, a 48 Chevy pickup, a 63 Ford Falcon on my property and EVERY ONE OF THEM uses the same tail lamp bulbs and outside of the Gran Sport that has four headlights, all the cars use the same headlights! 48-59-63 all use the same!


Now, we have to have drawers full of bulbs to fit all the cars we work on.

Brian

With the "fleet" I have I have to go online and check every time I need a bulb. I used to buy the bulk packs of 1157 and 194 bulbs up into the mid 80's that fit every rig I had on the place and the trailers to boot. The "lights out " indicator is on on my BMW and yesterday I finally figured out that the license plate light bulbs are out so now I have to look that up.

When I worked at Ryder Truck Rental in Waco in the early 70's we only had about 3 headlights to fit all of the trucks we serviced, bulk boxes of 1157, 194 and a couple of other sizes of small bulbs that worked on all of those trucks depending on the light. Bulk boxes there meant boxes of 100 or more.