Letter regarding Headlights (long)

Iain · Post by **Iain** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:57 pm

waynehoc wrote:A final thought - to get an approx 30% increase in headlight output without any headlight conversion, you can just go out and buy a pair of GE NightHawk bulbs or sealed beams, which will eventually burn out and have to be replaced. The wiring harness upgrade does the same or better, and doesn't 'burn out' ...

A very good way of putting it. I'd combine the two for the best of both worlds!

Gasoline Fumes · Post by **Gasoline Fumes** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 1:24 am

Mac wrote:my 80/100W lights are like regular H4's i bet there is a ton of resistance in my 20 year old wiring harness.

I noticed the same thing on an '83 GMC. I put E-code H4s on it and then upgraded to 80/100 bulbs. The bulbs made no difference until I installed relays. I'd get some relays in there before you melt some old, corroded connector hidden under the dash.

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 2:16 pm

yeah, i'm going to take them out today probably.

waynehoc · Post by **waynehoc** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 10:12 pm

A big thanks to Typrus, whose post got me started on this 'headlight journey'!

After having recently installed an upgrade wiring harness with relays, this weekend I swapped my original '87 composite headlights for sealed beam units from an '84 Tercel hatchback.

The headlight buckets and trim pieces, and side/corner marker lights were a perfect bolt-in, and matched up 100% with my '87 grill. The only glitch I ran into was the different plastic twist in connectors for the corner/side lights and the headlamp connectors. A little soldering and a pair of new H4/H6054 headlight connectors and glitch resolved.

Installed a Hella 72200 kit (readily available and less expensive than Cibie) which included two e-code housings, two H4 55/60 Watt bulbs and two silicone seals for the back of the housings (e-codes are legal in Canada).

Went out on a nice deserted, straight, pitch black road tonite and got the headlights adjustment tweaked (fine-tuned after gettting them fairly close aginst my garage wall).

What a difference! The (original) '87 composites had one good side (passenger) and one bad (drivers side). The drivers side reflector was badly tarnished/corroded, and was only putting out about 1/3 to 50% of what the (90% good) passenger side was.

It's amazing that I've been driving this wagon for so many years with such bad headlights - it's almost like being partly blind and then having corrective surgery and being able to see again. I'm sure the Cibie headlights may be even better, and higher wattage bulbs better again, but I'm really pleased with the results.

Thanks again, Typrus, for bringing this whole lighting issue to everyone's attention!

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:07 am

You're quite welcome.
I really would like to have E-code's in the shape of the American composites (they had them in Germany for some time) for the sake of a smoother front end AND the better lighting. Oh well. If I can't find them then our 87 will be getting some sealed-style conversions put in.

Glad it went so well! I'm still considering wiring with 10 gauge, but at the same time dunno if I want to do it. I'm feeling lazy >.< That and anything less than maybe 100watters is really not justified with 10 gauge.

hornett22 · Post by **hornett22** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:26 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/200mm-H6 ... dZViewItem

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:15 pm

Nope. A) Those are not the genuine thing B) Those are the standard sealed beam style. >.< Thanks though.

hornett22 · Post by **hornett22** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:51 pm

my buddy has the Hellas and they work just as good.i don't think hella makes theirs anyway.

Tercel4WD.com

Letter regarding Headlights (long)

i like these.great price.

maybe not but they work just as good for a lot less money.