Hi, I've been working on a 38 Chevy Coupe for 6+ years. Over that time I've made several attempts to enhance the headlights on the car.

1st Try...purchased a halogen retrofit kit for the original reflectors. I was going to purchase new headlight lenses from I&I reproductions when the car was close to completion.
2nd Try...Saw an article in a street rod magazine that added turn signal lights to a sealed beam so I added amber LED lights to the reflector. I liked the idea of not having to cut holes in my sheet metal to add turn signals.

After I showed my lights to someone they thought that the reflectors were too tarnished to work well. I also did not like how the turn signals worked out so I thought I would try another approach.

3rd Try...I liked the idea of using the Twofer light that can be purchased at Yogi's so bought a 7" sealed beam from the local NAPA store to see how the 7" would work. It didn't so the Twofer is probably out. The 38 headlight has a flat spot at the bottom so the 7" was shoved upward when the trim ring was put on.

I also really liked the way the flatter lens looked in my car so I do not think that I will go back to the original 38 lenses.

4th Try...Purchased a 6.5" lens from the local bike shop. I thought if I could get this to work I could put a 5.75" sealed beam behind it. I would then bite the bullet and put turn signals in the fenders. The 6.5" lens was too small without having to modify the trim rings.

I know that Hagan has french kits for 38's but I personally do not like them so this would be one of my last options.

Any 38 owners have ideas?

Thanks in advance

Beeb,

Re: "After I showed my lights to someone they thought that the reflectors were too tarnished to work well."... I realize you're preference is the flat lense but the fact that "the reflectors were tarnished" should not be a show-stopper. Mine were too. I just had them re-plated.

Re: " Flat lense"... If I read your post right you still don't have a flat lense that will work, right?

In my case, I prefer the original lense so I modified the lenses to accept halogen bulbs and mounted my turn signals on what they call the "horns" (Not the beep-beep type, but the kind that cover the front leaf spring mounts on a '36 Standard.). I found some that have the same basic shape of the headlights at a motorcylce shop. I have seen other cars from this era that have signals simply mounted to the bumper brackets (No sheet metal mods).

Another turn signal option I considered was "The Filling Stations" GR-60 Light assembly. Familiar? It mounts to the top of your fenders. I think it looks pretty neat but I decided I did not want to break up the look of those big fat front fenders.

Hi 36scsc,

Thanks for the response.

I haven't found a flatter lens solution yet. Hopefully something will present itself.

I agree with your statement GR-60 turn signals. I've looked at them as an option but did not want to add them to the fender.

Was replating very expensive? This was suggested to me by the I&I salesperson.

Another thought I had was to mount the biker style turn signals directly underneath the headlight (and slightly back) or tucked in towards the radiator housing. Haven't decided if would look dumb or not.

Thanks

Beeb,

Don't remember the cost of having my reflectors plated... took everything to the plater's in a big box a long time ago.

Sounds like you and I have gone through the almost exact same mental drill on this one... thought about doing just what you describe. Here is why I tossed any idea's about mounting 'em under the bucket or the side of the grill shell. Function is every bit as important as form here and any indicator mounted in those area's will have less visibility to the opposite side than indicators mounted way up front. I would consider choosing a light that has illumination to the side as well as the front also.

You can see what I ended up doing here...
My 2 cents.

36scsc, Thanks for the info. I still haven't decided on the blinkers but I did some work on the headlights. Please check out http://hotrodders.com/gallery/showg...6&ppuser=&catp= . I made an adapter out of clear plexiglass. I then glued a 6.5" motorcycle lens to it. I used a clear 2 part epoxy glue. I still need to make a gasket but I like the way it turned out. Let me know your thoughts.

(fyi...If I could find a 6.75" lens it would fit the ring perfectly.)

Thanks,
beeb

Beeb,

Nice work on the ring but now I am a bit confused... thought all this was about a flat lense?

36scsc,

sorry for giving the impression of wanting a completely flat lens but I like the look of the "flatter" lens (still rounded) versus the OEM lens. I've uploaded a picture for a side by side comparison. The OEM looked too rounded on the car.

http://hotrodders.com/gallery/showg...6&ppuser=&catp=

...anyway.

Thanks for your input.
beeb