VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1955-1957 '57 T-3 headlights

I think I remember reading somewhere how to tell which T-3 headlights are correct for 1957, but I can't remember where I read it.

I found some T-3 and I don't know if they are correct for '57 or not.

Can anyone tell me what features and etc. to look for in the correct headlights for a '57?

Thanks

The T-3 is correct for a 1957 but not all T-3's are the same. I will try to find my info.

if you have the 56-7 NCRS Judging manual, there are illustrations of the correct headlites for a 57 vette (and a 57 pass car). the t-3's that Chicago Corvettes sell(repos) have a small "DOT" designation at about 7 oclock on the bulbs face and they take a hit in NCRS judging. i doubt they'd be detected in VCCA or classic chevy judging but not sure about the latter. mike

Here's some information from the Buick Bugle, magazine from the Buick Club of America (BCA). Hope it helps:

Thank you Gene and thank you Mike, I don't have a NCRS manual...

These T-3s are ones I found are in some early '30s Furd headlight housings that someone changed to sealed beams many years ago. I bought these headlights about 30 years ago and just re-discovered them in my un-organized shop the other day. Maybe I got lucky…

I wish I could remember where I read about the differences in T-3s…brain cramps are getting more common I’m afraid.

Thanks again and have a great day guys.

Bob, you posted while I was doing the reply so we crossed each other...so this is edited.

Bob, thanks for the Buick/GM sheet, I copied and pasted it and enlarged it. The information is great; since mine are full size lamps and they have the 3 aiming guides I am feeling like they have to be correct for my '57. Now to go to the shop and see if they match...cross fingers.

Thanks again Bob for the posting....now the last hurdle is to make sure Buick and Chevy are the same...cross toes too...lol

Mike, thanks for the vendor information, also at the bottom of the Buick sheet it gives the name of another vendor who is suppose to be making exact repros of T-3s for '56-'67. So that is great information for a lot of people. The sheet is dated 2001 so I hope they are still in business.

According to an article by Joe Whitaker in the July '92 issue of Classic Chevy World, the only difference between the '56 and '57 T3 is the size of the letters at the bottom. The '57 being smaller - 3/16 high and 2 1/4 in length. Both have the "pebbly" surface in the T3 logo and the 3 aimers..I've seen later T3's which have vertical lines in the logo...The T3's are announced in the July '55 issue of the Service News. My '55 came with metal backed, Guides with no aimers. They had 12V in the center of the glass. It's an April '55 car. And I've seen glass backed non T3 Guides which don't have aimers, but do have the 12V in the center...

All of the above pretty covers the info. that I have.

Joe, The early 1955's had a Guide metal back sealed beam. The late 1955's had an all glass Guide sealed beam but did not have the T-3 because they did not have the aiming lugs. The metal back were also used on the 1953-54 12 V GM cars. The all glass on all the late 1955 GM cars. They had a very short life as the T-3 replaced them for the 1956 models which went into production in Sept. If I remember correctly the all glass had the little shield over the filament.
I had run old T-s's in my 1957 for several years. They were getting dimmer each year. I finally replaced them with Halogen and what a difference. Really don't get into the judging that much and would rather see where I am going. My '50 has the original metal backs but I removed them for fear they would get stone chips. They were still nice and bright.
The real joke is the 6 Volt T-3's vendor sell for big money. They were never factory installed in any new cars.

Thanks a lot guys that is great information.

It must have been that article in the CCW that I remembered bits and pieces of...the size of the letters rings a bell too.

Thanks again guys, don't know if I will put them in the car or not, Gene makes a good point and I don't want to burn them out either. Maybe if I show the car in a VCCA meet I will put them in for a couple of days.

You guys are the best.