Hi, I suspect that some of the headlights in 1970 442 are original, is there
any way to distinguish repop from the originals, such as part numbers or markings ? The reproductions I have are manufactured by Wagner and say so on the back side of the lamp, there is nothing like that on the one I
suspect is original, just an ink stamp.

Thanks
Bill

 

not sure if they would have had t3 bulbs or not in 70

 

T-3 headlights came in GM cars made in 1970. The headlamps for 1970 and 1971 were Guide T-3 with vertical bars surrounding the T-3 in the center triangle logo. I pulled out one of my spare T-3 bulbs for 70-71 and the only markings on the back are in a red ink. There are 4 short lines at the top center. On mine, the first line is simply an "L". The second line isn't readable. The third line says "D39". And the bottom line reads "12V" with a red dot on each side of it. Also, just below the prongs (a 2-pronger in this case), there is a number/letter sequence stamped into the backing - in this case it is 46G. Hope this helps!

Randy C.

 

Here ya go.

t3001.jpg?t=1278644595

 

All I see in Allan's post is a red X, so maybe he already covered this.

I can't vouch for the accuracy, but the March 2007 issue of Musclecar Enthusiast stated:

General Electric Headlights have a paint stamp on the back of the form

12V
GE xxxx
SAE H 69
M - Y

The top line is obviously 12 Volts.
Second line is the model number.
Third line is the SAE spec.
and the fourth line is the date code: the month and year of manufacturer. Examples: 10-9 is October of 1969. 5-7 is May of 1967.

 

Sorry bout dat!! I reattached the image. Here's a link to another pdf guide
http://www.lectriclimited.com/images...bulb_chart.pdf for these lights

 

Is the original meaning of the question is if there are any obvious physical differences between the reproduction and original bulbs as seen on the car? If the repos say Wagner on the back and originals don't that's one obvious difference but hard to see installed.
I don't have any repo bulbs but have heard rumors that there is a required DOT marking of some sort on the face?
I guess you would have to compare the two and see.
Anybody have a pic of a repo?
I know at judged points shows you get a small point deduction for each reproduction bulb so there must be some way to tell looking at them. Non working originals or period/new replacements are a major point deduction.
I love the look on their faces when the unaware empty case "show battery" guys are asked to test the horn, brake lights, directionals and headlights at those shows.
I need a set, had to borrow a T-3 from my GTO for the CCCA show.

 

I bought a set of original T3's for my car last November. Will be installing them sometime next week as the car comes out for the summer. I'll see if I can get some good pics to post of the front and back of the bulbs for you. Hopefully all the bulbs I got will work.

 

The fact of a a point deduction comes as news/a surprise to me. Lectric-Limited specifically advertises no point deduct with their product. So which is correct?

I do have a set of period correct T3 repos from Lectric-Limited. They do in fact read Wagner on the back. I see no markings of any kind on the front that would distinguish them from the original.

The reason I have them is my original T3 lamps, while still working, are so dim that I need to light a match to see if they were on!

 

T-3 Headlight Date codes?

I am trying to figure out the date codes on my T-3 headlights from my Cutlass. My car has three headlights from the 1968-1971 range (the T3 with vertical stripes). Since the car only has 19k miles on the car, I am assuming these are the original factory lights.

The numbers (22-1-20) may be the date-code. The rumor is the first pair (22) contains a Month and shift number and a Month? Possible February during shift 2?
The center value is the year, 1971 and the last two digits the day of manufacture.
My guess is Saturday February 20, 1971. My car was built in May 1971. So I think these are the original headlights.

Does anyone have an good details on how to decode this information?
The other two lights are 24-1-8 Thursday April 8, 1971 and 23-1-20 Saturday March 20, 1971.