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Brightest headlights on a 1970 Cutlass?

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Old Apr 1, 2015 | 04:44 PM
  #1  
Darkalley's Avatar
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Brightest headlights on a 1970 Cutlass?

Hi guys first post! I am picking up my cutlass tonight, it's a 1970 convertible and I actually will drive it more than most so I wanted some headlights that were much brighter than stock. Can someone point me in the right direction for replacement lights?
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 05:34 PM
  #2  
Mr Nick's Avatar
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From: Tinley Park, IL
These:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hla-002425811
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hla-002850811

and this:

http://www.ceautoelectricsupply.com/...relaykits.html
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 06:23 PM
  #3  
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From: Bailey, Colorado
One of the best resources for anything to do with automotive lighting ;

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 07:52 PM
  #4  
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Welcome to the site, it really depends on how much money and effort you want to put into changing them out.
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 08:27 PM
  #5  
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Any good halogen should work ok with the stock harness in good condition. My 72 has GE halogens my granddad put on it in 75 or so and they light up the night.
Old Apr 2, 2015 | 02:36 AM
  #6  
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From: West Hartford, CT
Halogen sealed beams are a good upgrade or you can take it to the upper level w/ "E Code" Lights.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-hella-h1.html

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...onversion.html

Do some searches "E Code", "Cibie", "Hella", "5.75", "LED", "HID". Lotsa info on this stuff.

Last edited by bccan; Apr 2, 2015 at 02:40 AM.
Old Apr 2, 2015 | 05:34 AM
  #7  
MDchanic's Avatar
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From: The Hudson Valley
Originally Posted by CreepyOldGuy
One of the best resources for anything to do with automotive lighting ;

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/
+1.

I have a pair of Hella flat-front H1 high beams on my Chevelle, that I got around 1985, with 130W bulbs, and I'd say they are bright.

Welcome to ClassicOlds.

- Eric
Old Apr 2, 2015 | 04:23 PM
  #8  
Fun71's Avatar
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Originally Posted by Koda
Any good halogen should work ok with the stock harness in good condition.
Agreed. I put some in my car back in the early '90s and they have been bright enough for all of my night time driving, even out in the boonie farm and marsh lands of SE Texas and now the deserts of Arizona.
Old Apr 3, 2015 | 05:10 AM
  #9  
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Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Great Southern Taxland...
I changed the sealed halogens out for H4's and H1's. Low beam worked fine but when switched to high with the H1's the headlight switch breaker trips out.
To get around that you might need to install upgraded wiring, relays and ceramic bulb plugs to handle the additional heat, all covered here, search is your friend.
My solution was a ready made upgrade headlight loom, that uses the original headlight circuit to trigger new relays, easy as.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231100473466...witem=&vxp=mtr

Last edited by 73aussie455; Apr 3, 2015 at 05:12 AM.
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 05:34 PM
  #10  
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
I've had good results with just halogen sealed beamed bulbs on the Cutlass.

On my Delta I did the H4 conversion on the low beams and they work great at night, but a bit of wire rearranging was required.

And don't forget to check the alignment of your headlights. I had my '72 Cutlass at an old school mechanic's place to do some quadrajet tuning and while we were talking I mentioned that I needed to find a location to align my headlights myself. He walks into another room and comes back with a sealed beam headlight alignment kit. The alignment alone made a big difference.
Old Apr 6, 2015 | 06:02 AM
  #11  
Darkalley's Avatar
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Thanks guys super helpful info!
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