Lights

-AS

Just wonder whats the best solution for getting modern performance from headlights on a classic ?

Is it just bulb replacement or is there more involved ?

thanks

Hoagy

When I bought my TR it had sealed beam headlight units which were frighteningly bad.
I replaced them with normal removable bulb type units and fitted halogen bulbs which are perfectly adequate.
It's a bit marginal with the dynamo.
If I was going to do a lot of night driving I would have to change to an alternator.

ds20prefecture

The biggest contributor to poor lighting on a classic is corroded reflectors. You can have the originals resilvered at great expense or go hunting for people selling replacement new ones.

A common mistake is to stick a higher wattage bulb in, say 100W halogen. This is a mistake as it burns away the remaining reflectors and puts a lot more heat through your wiring loom, possibly a fire risk. My DS had bad reflectors, and the difference new replacements made was phenomenal. They're better than my wife's 2000 Skoda now. The GS has 45W halogens in it's original reflectors and they are absolutely superb. So it's not always the reflector, but its the most likely.

If it's not corroded or pitted, then try to clean it with a soft cloth.

Poor voltage regulation from your alternator will cause flicker and fade. This is solvable by swapping older mechanical resistor types with electronic types.

3ps

i saw an ad in the recent copy of Classic And Sportcars for this purpose but don't have it on me at the mo...

-AS

thanks guys

ds20prefecture

Are the lights for the mexico? If so, I'm sure there's lots of places doing replacement lights for Mk1 Escorts.

dubtom

I got replacment units for the Mustang at my local motorfactor, halogin with replacable bulbs, strangly enough I think they are the same as a mini headlight. I'm sure the mexico probably accepts the same ones.I think they cost around 20 quid or so each, a vast improvement.

mustang68

dubtom wrote:

I got replacment units for the Mustang at my local motorfactor, halogin with replacable bulbs, strangly enough I think they are the same as a mini headlight.

Yep, you'd be right, they are just seven inch Mini lights.

MercMad

Yeah Novembers Classic & Sportcar mag has an add for "Xenon's for your classic" !

I used new reflectors and halogen bulbs with the proper base for my application and the lights are fantastic ! I think they are a P45t base but I would need to check !

Anyway just ensure you have the proper fitment as sometimes, in my case, to fit standard modern bulbs meant that the bulb had to be rotated in the lamp unit, scattering the beam somewhat and blinding other drivers !

mustang68

MercMad wrote:

Anyway just ensure you have the proper fitment as sometimes, in my case, to fit standard modern bulbs meant that the bulb had to be rotated in the lamp unit, scattering the beam somewhat and blinding other drivers !

The screws holding in mine are quite bad, one of my lights only seems to light up those giant tall signs with "This project has been part financed by the EU".

Eric318

argh... on the subject of lights... we are entering "fog lights season"

Is it an offense yet in Ireland to drive with fog lights on when there is no... fog?

I have lived here over one year now and I have seen fog once so far and not the type that required special lights...

Gentlemen, please lets spread the good word, particularly to our "significant others": use fog lights only when there is fog.... please...

dubtom

Gentlemen, please lets spread the good word, particularly to our "significant others": use fog lights only when there is fog.... please...

I think this should be forwarded to the boyracer forum,using foglights are a sign of coolness now apartently,even in the height of summer.:rolleyes: