I bought a pair of SS headlight conduits for my '32, which has never had them before (well, it did, but just the rusted forlorn remnants of conduits past... ...)

I don't quite understand how they mount. First, how does the covering cap (if that might be a reasonable term) stay onto the attachment coming off the headlight bucket? Does that get cinched on? It doesn't cleanly snap on in any way (I thought that was going to be the case).

Second, how much does the conduit go into the headlight bar? Or, if I ask in a different way, what length of conduit stays on the outside? Is the other opening supposed to be clipped inside the engine compartment somewhere?

Signed,

Don't know quite how to con-do it.

On the original headlight conduits, the headlight end had a connector assembly that was part of the headlight conduit itself. It is a bayonet type of connector, so you install the connector in the grooves in the socket that is in the back of the headlight shell. Then turn the connector one-half turn and it will be locked into the headlight assembly. The other end of the conduit has a ferrule. The conduit goes from the headlight, via a sweeping bend, through the headlight support arm, then into the radiator shell and then down the inside of the radiator shell for six inches.

Thank you, Skipper. That's what I was looking for!

Just for follow up, then:

- I understand what you're saying about the bayonet connector (or what might be referred to in the electric industry as a "female" connector). I have that assembly already with the headlight bucket. However, the conduit I bought came with a cap that slides over the conduit casing, and it would appear to connect to the rest of the headlight assembly, but it's not a tight fit. Should that have some type of rubber flange or be cinched in order to stay in place?

- At the other business end of the conduit, that just feeds alongside the radiator, then? The last clips for that part of the wiring harness would be the ones that are down below the fan...?

Nope! Sounds like you have a universal type of conduit. The original type has a "male" connector that is shrunk onto the conduit and it has two little protrusions on the side that engage the grooves in the female connector that is part of the headlight shell. A half a turn on the male connector and it is locked in place. There is no rubber seal or anything else. This unit works the exact same way as putting in a light bulb in the healight.....push in, a half a turn and it locks in place.

The wiring harness attaches to the clips on the side of the frame crossmember under the radiator.

If you purchased the flexible conduit from one of the sources known to me, then it does not have the ferrules (or caps with holes in the end) staked onto the ends. It is one of these caps that holds the metal portion of the male end on the conduit. It is necessary to install one end after the metal part is slid on the conduit.

Oh...well, you live and learn. I got these from Pro Antique Parts in CT - right from thier Chevrolet catalog. But...these are "universal conduits"....? Ah, okay. Well, I have the male and female bayonet ends as you describe on the bucket now, so I thought I could merely thread the wires through the conduit, and attach one end of it to the male bayonet. It will work - it's just that I have to secure the little covering cap.

I can figure it out if I want to use it, but...are you saying there are "correct" conduits out there that have the male bayonet built into them...? And, soooo...they would come... pre-wired ...?

I was planning on using my existing male end as a sort of "pigtail" (if you will) to splice again onto the harness wire after I slip it thorugh the conduit, which would hide the splice work.

The only way that you are going to find the correct conduit with the correct male end is to find a nice used original pair. No one reproduces the conduit with the correct male end that I am aware of. Sounds like your idea of using your original male end is a good one if you can make it work with your "universal" conduits.

That's cool. I thought you were about to chide me that I should've bought them from Steve at Filling Station.

Just helping out the east coast economy over here - that's all. Thanks Skipper!

I have collected several headlight assemblies mainly to get parts rather than the bucket. The only way to get it right is to use an original male end. I have good luck with it. The other end will usually terminate just inside the shell a little way.

Hey Eddie! I don't think that the Filling Station has the conduits, so that's why I didn't mention it. However, I heard that they are trying to get them made with the correct male end connector as well.

If I remember correctly I got mine repro conduits from Rhode Island Wiring Service (http://www.riwire/). Look in the supplies section and you will find the conduit with brass ferrule ends. I suspect you can get the ends separately. I have several original parts including the correct ends but cleaning them up to be show quality is a daunting task. I have thought about what to use as a substitute for the cup like ends but so far have not found an off the shelf item. Maybe now I can get them from RIWS.

Rhode Island has the other conduit (galvanized) that goes to the tail light and on earlier models also.

That's a good idea, Chipper - thanks. I've forgotten all about the rear light conduit. I'll check them out.

I've searched all through the forum for old postings and found a lot of info, but I still can't find what finish belongs on my (late = larger) 1930 headlight conduits. Were they stainless, chrome plated, or painted black? My guess is painted black, but I can't seem to confirm that anywhere. And I assume that the male plugs that fit into the headlight buckets were also black?

Thanks, Chip.

Most are stainless and chrome plated. The conduit is stainless (I also have some examples of plated brass) with plated brass ends. Some ends have been found that are plated steel. Apparently the different suppliers did not make their parts exactly the same even though they look the same to the typical observer. Connectors also mainly stainless but plate brass also found.

It is similar to the stainless, plated brass and aluminum running board trim used in the 1931-32 model years. All three were used.

Actually, the original tail light flexible conduit (which is the same style of conduit used on the headlights in late 1930) on my '30 coupe is steel, not stainless. And, both the flexible conduit and the connector were painted black since a lot of the original black paint still remains.

My '30 coupe has the small headlight conduits (early) and they are also plain old steel, but the headlight connectors appear to be plated.

OK -- so anything but candy-striped is OK?



Mine are magnetic, so I'm going with painted I think. I can see no evidence of initial plating despite having removed several coats of paint.

Any other opinions?

Thanks, Chip.

Some of the original photos that I have and the Chevrolet filmstrips indicate that the late 1930 headlight conduits were plated, not painted.

I e-mailed Steve at The Filling Station some time back about conduits of the correct dia., and he was waiting for his supplier to mmake a run. I found some 3/8 " conduit in nbulk by searching the web (ST/ST) but a ferrule that goes with it or a conn. as DAWG pointed out would have to be fouind.
So I decided to use the larger conduit, but have not put them in yet.

If you check with Rhode Island Wiring Services I think you will find they have both the conduit and ends in several sizes. You will have to assemble and stake the ends in place.

Hi but does anybody know if some of the Fords conduits and sockets would fit on our lamps, thanks

Chipper is this the conduit you where talking

As far as I know there are a few suppliers of conduits around, but I cannot tell if they match the originals exact, or if they all get the stuff from the same source.

The Snyders (F**D) delivered a suitable one for my 490. It works good and looks near to the original.

You also may check by these:
Harnesses Unlimited, P.O.Box 435, Wayne, PA 19087'
http://www.ronfrancis.com/
http://www.car-nection.com/yesteryear/
http://www.ynzyesterdaysparts.com

This Australian has conduits etc. in two sizes: http://www.vinwire.com.au

I wonder which of the Ford sockets on the Snyders page would fit on our Chevys http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/search.php?q=socket

Get the one that is for the 1930 - 1931 Horn. It is smaller than the one for the headlights.

The connector pictured sure looks like the one used for the horn wire.

Hi Ed-
If you will contact Don Rossi at mrrchevwmwmconnect, he has the correct stainless steel conduits for both headlights and taillights. They have the fittings you're looking for and are beautiful. He is also a longtime member of the VCCA. -The Ol' Coach

hi guys I was out of town but came back with a question on the conduits, I went to the riwire site and my question is what size are the conduits for our cars or do somebody has a spare of conduits they would sell I bought sometime ago a set of conduits on ebay for Ford cars but the diameter was bigger than ours

I am hoping these pics might help some:





If the pics are too dark, I'll take others. I cannot show you the female connector in the headlight bucket that the conduit goes into right now, packed the buckets away when I pulled the engine in November.

...I think both conduits are supposed to run inside the headlight bar.

Actually, both conduits run inside of the headlight support, not the headlight bar.

the ferrule is not like the original ones that i have to long hope this helps

32confederation is that the original conduit, its in very good condition, I found at my grandpa's home the 2 male shells like the one in the last picture but they dont have the insulator or the cables. I would like to know where can I find the correct conduit because I bought a set for Fords but the diameter is bigger than ours

The conduit is 5/16" ID and available from Rhode Island Wiring Service. They also have ferrules that go on each end. The mail plugs are not reproduced so need to find originals. Just make sure that you put the plugs on before staking the last ferrule.

Thanks for the response Chipper but im in luck because I found the original male plugs of my headlamps all I need to buy is the conduitand my last question how long does the conduit has to be thanks

The conduits and ferrules are reproduction. The male connector is original.

I tried running both conduits inside the headlight stabilizer bar but I wasn't able to get them to fit.

If the conduits are the same size as the originals, then they will fit inside of the headlight support.

By the way, another source for headlight conduits is Bob Drake's Reproduction Inc. in Grants Pass, Oregon. Here is his web site: http://www.bobdrake.com/