Hot Rods Deuce coupe... Can't decide 7" or 9" Headlights

I am looking to purchase headlights and can't find proper photos of Deuce front ends to make me decide what looks best.
Your thoughts on you choices and photos are appreciated... Please share.

 

Surely you jest?

 

Hiboy or fendered? HRP

 

I don't think anyone has ever complained about having an extra couple of inches....

 

highboy

 

Stock headlights or 33/34 commercial look the best in my opinion.

 

Surprise us.

 

Oh, boy...this topic has been discussed several times here. Some guys feel very strongly both ways. I had a pair of 34 commercials on my 34 coupe but after reading about the problems some guys have with light diffusing with the stock lenses and reflectors I changed mine to a pair of Guide 682J's with halogen sealed beams. It's really important to me to be able to see down the road.
Discuss

 

If you really want to be traditional then go with the 7" headlights. Once seal beams came out in 1940, they became pretty mainstream on hot rods. The big stockers became popular with the resto rods in the 70's & 80's. In fact the first fenderless 32 with big headlights that I seen was at the 1983 Nats north in Detroit. If you don't care about a traditional time frame then run what ever you like.

 

or you could just do 1 of each.

 

I view the lights on these like B(.)(.)B's....)

 

I’m digging the 9” love your car!


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I like the 7 inch. Guide 682

 

If you're going for the "Nuevo Traditional" look run the big ones, or E&J. When I was growing up in the 60's & 70's only stockers had large O.E. lamps. That is until the RestoRods began hitting the seen and you'd need fenders to carry that look off.

Small seal beams will always look best.
-Dave

 

Guides.



Guide's



Model A headlights. HRP

 

I vote for 7", either King Bee, Dietz, or 682 Guide. Nobody but stockers ran the big lens lights. The cheapskates put in the adapter kits that used a surround ring setup to reduce the front down to sealed beam size, and the bucks up guys used the King Bee or Dietz.
In 1957 I bought a '32 3wdw, East Coast style, channeled, not chopped and fenderless, from a man who had it built for his son, who subsequently got killed in another car in an accident.
It had small headlights that I liked, but had a helluva time finding replacement sealed beam bulbs for till a savvy parts clerk figgered out they were the smaller ones for WWII jeeps, a little smaller than 7" but I forget actual size. I liked the look myself.

 

Since yer askin' I vote for sealed beams.

 

I've always been partial to the commercial headlights.

 

I guess to be accurate. Or at least close to accurate.
Building a pre-1940 era rod would require the large commercial lights and after that it would be the 7” seal beams. In 1940 fed law dictated seal beams on all cars.
New millennial tastes have mixed it up although I too like the commercial lights but it just depends on the style of car in my mind.

 

I've heard that size matters.

 

The bigger the better and keep them low

 

went with 7's and then sold the car...new guy put on 9's...great improvement...on a highboy it sure looks "right"...get them down low and you are there

 

1929 model a lights

 

Stick with the originals or 34 commercial, down low.
Plenty of threads on deuces here.
Maybe look up the thread about being a member of deuce club. Plenty of pictures.
Others may be able to post links.

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/32-ford-5w-picture-thread.437955/

Here’s a start.

 

I struggled with this, looked at 10,000,000 pictures. finally decided in Dietz. Like the bigger ones but I always think of buggy eyes when I look at them head on. Had to stay small.

SPark

 

Small is better

 

I think the 7" are more tradition.

 

If you look at vintage photos, you will not see big lights, especially on highboys. I just removed the 34 commercial lights from my highboy. Replaced them with 35 - 37 commercial. Larger than 7 inch for sure, but I was able to get the turn signals inside.
Both sets of lights have the Bob Drake reflectors. They do make a difference.
Phil

 

You have to post a photo of your Deuce and tell us what build style you're after, otherwise it's a complete stab in the dark. It's like asking what you should wear out to dinner. Roadster? Coupe? Chopped? Hiboy or full fendered? Hot Rod? Resto Rod? Mild or wild?

For the most part traditional Hot Rods had 7" aftermarket lights. Running stocker's would've been goofy, unless it was a full fendered, stock height "Gentleman's" cruiser.
Large/stock style lights started to come into Street Rods in the late 70's or so with the commercial 34 lights, etc.