The Ford Barn

drchip · 07-12-2011, 03:18 PM

Anyone got any good answers for dim halogen headlight conversion in my 35 ford tudor? I have new reflectors and new lenses and cant see 20 ft at night. There isnt really a line of light to try to aim - it just seems like the lens diffuses the light in all directions. The amber turn signals in them show great but I was stunned how bad this conversion is to illuminate the road.

40cpe · 07-12-2011, 04:49 PM

I'm not sure about a '35, but I can see pretty well with them in my '38.

Are your ground connectins good?

drchip · 07-12-2011, 05:14 PM

I have all new wiring, new switch, and a relay next to the radiator for high beam and another for low beam. I tried to be very careful in providing good grounds. All connections crimped, soldered, and shrink tubed.

Kurt in NJ · 07-12-2011, 05:19 PM

If the bulb filaments aren't located in the proper place tghere will be "light" but it won't project a beam, the bulb needs to be moved ---or a properly formed reflector is needed.
It could also be that the bulb is assembled wrong.

I have the direct fit bulbs in original reflectors, the bulb made by classicandvintagebulbs is good, some of the India, China bulbs have bad filament location, will not focus properly

Some of the plastic reflectors that have H4 bulbs are not shaped correct, can't be focused, they make a bright light that goes nowhere.

The original bulbs are "prefocused" and are lined up with the 3 pins

With my "A" I can see signs and poles for more than 1/3 mile with 35 watt direct fit in original reflectors

Jack E/NJ · 07-12-2011, 06:12 PM

Is it possible you got 12v bulbs by mistake?

Jack E/NJ

john stimac · 07-12-2011, 06:19 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Just retrofitted a 36 woody that had halogen in it for 15 years, and he always complained about not being able to see properly at night. Used Bob Drakes "NEW" reflectorand bulb assembly kit in it, and the customer is extremely happy now that he can see at night. Drakes reflectors are formed to move the bulb forward and away from the reflector which changes the performance of illumination.

38 coupe · 07-12-2011, 06:30 PM

What bulbs did you use? The bulbs and reflectors have to match. I have reproduction reflectors and correct (expensive) halogens in my 37 and they are an improvement over the incandescents I took out. The focal length of the halogens I have match the original bulb. I had to be very careful as my halogens did not like to rotate all the way to install. When I first put a bulb in I had a very dim bulb until the bulb rotated a little bit more.

drchip · 07-12-2011, 07:22 PM

I dont know the manufacturer but I purchased these from Midwest Early Ford. It is a quartzhalogen reflector kit with sockets installed #48-13027-qkts. I dont know what the bulb # was. The lens is 48-13060. Dont know if this helps. I do know it was a real pita to get everything assembled.

38 coupe · 07-12-2011, 07:32 PM

I assume your car is 12 volt then?

George/Maine · 07-12-2011, 07:43 PM

I rewired my head lights and I wire it wrong.If you look at back of blub the middle top one is Low Red wire,Left Black or Grd,Right green red. This could be your problem

deuce lover · 07-12-2011, 08:13 PM

Double check that your ground is good.I always run a separate ground from light socket or reflector (if its metal) to the frame .Soldering terminals is always better than crimping.

lee34 · 07-12-2011, 10:12 PM

I have DRAKES reflectors.No comparison to regular reflector.I have used h4 bulbs for about 20 years with conversion bulb and reflector kit.I purchased Drakes reflector and only changed reflector (used old bulbs h4).Huge difference.Very pleased
Only trouble was explaining to better half why my reflectors were worn out lee34

drchip · 07-13-2011, 09:31 AM

Yes its 12 volt. I have read mixed reviews on Drakes reflectors - some say work great but others say they are very poor quality??? Sounds like my only option is to try them. It isnt just the expense that annoys me but I hate the thought of reassembling them again. But they are no good the way they are so I guess I gotta bite the bullet. Thanks for the imput.

drchip · 07-13-2011, 03:26 PM

I took some pics but have to wait for the wife to get home to post cause I'm a dummy with this stuff.

drchip · 07-13-2011, 04:44 PM

Hard to get these to show much -

Charlie Stephens · 07-13-2011, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drchip

Hard to get these to show much -

From the color of the lights I would say you are not getting enough voltage across the lights. Probably a bad ground somewhere. How much voltage is your battery putting out, that could be a problem but I am betting on the grounds? Are your wires to the lights big enough (do they get hot)?

Charlie Stephens

George/Maine · 07-13-2011, 05:28 PM

I to think your not going full power.Some new wires are very small and should be larger wire.If you take a wire from battery and remove the blub and go direct and see if it gets brighter. Grd left side black wire.

38 coupe · 07-13-2011, 05:45 PM

Have you tried using a jumper wire and powering each bulb directly from the battery?

roundvalley · 07-13-2011, 05:50 PM

Bulbs are wrong and installed wrong. See the HAMB.

4dFord/SC · 07-13-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundvalley

Bulbs are wrong and installed wrong. See the HAMB.

Specifically, http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=607180

drchip · 07-14-2011, 09:25 PM

I reinstalled the bulbs from the rear and big improvement. Thanks guys

07-12-2011, 03:18 PM	#1
drchip Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Delevan, NY Posts: 79	dim halogen conversion. Anyone got any good answers for dim halogen headlight conversion in my 35 ford tudor? I have new reflectors and new lenses and cant see 20 ft at night. There isnt really a line of light to try to aim - it just seems like the lens diffuses the light in all directions. The amber turn signals in them show great but I was stunned how bad this conversion is to illuminate the road.

07-12-2011, 04:49 PM	#2
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,024	Re: dim halogen conversion. I'm not sure about a '35, but I can see pretty well with them in my '38. Are your ground connectins good?

07-12-2011, 05:14 PM	#3
drchip Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Delevan, NY Posts: 79	Re: dim halogen conversion. I have all new wiring, new switch, and a relay next to the radiator for high beam and another for low beam. I tried to be very careful in providing good grounds. All connections crimped, soldered, and shrink tubed.

07-12-2011, 06:12 PM	#5
Jack E/NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,173	Re: dim halogen conversion. Is it possible you got 12v bulbs by mistake? Jack E/NJ

07-12-2011, 06:19 PM	#6
john stimac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lake Havasu City Posts: 100	Re: dim halogen conversion. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Just retrofitted a 36 woody that had halogen in it for 15 years, and he always complained about not being able to see properly at night. Used Bob Drakes "NEW" reflectorand bulb assembly kit in it, and the customer is extremely happy now that he can see at night. Drakes reflectors are formed to move the bulb forward and away from the reflector which changes the performance of illumination.

07-12-2011, 05:19 PM	#4
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,159	Re: dim halogen conversion. If the bulb filaments aren't located in the proper place tghere will be "light" but it won't project a beam, the bulb needs to be moved ---or a properly formed reflector is needed. It could also be that the bulb is assembled wrong. I have the direct fit bulbs in original reflectors, the bulb made by classicandvintagebulbs is good, some of the India, China bulbs have bad filament location, will not focus properly Some of the plastic reflectors that have H4 bulbs are not shaped correct, can't be focused, they make a bright light that goes nowhere. The original bulbs are "prefocused" and are lined up with the 3 pins With my "A" I can see signs and poles for more than 1/3 mile with 35 watt direct fit in original reflectors

07-12-2011, 06:30 PM	#7
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 1,631	Re: dim halogen conversion. What bulbs did you use? The bulbs and reflectors have to match. I have reproduction reflectors and correct (expensive) halogens in my 37 and they are an improvement over the incandescents I took out. The focal length of the halogens I have match the original bulb. I had to be very careful as my halogens did not like to rotate all the way to install. When I first put a bulb in I had a very dim bulb until the bulb rotated a little bit more.

07-12-2011, 07:22 PM	#8
drchip Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Delevan, NY Posts: 79	Re: dim halogen conversion. I dont know the manufacturer but I purchased these from Midwest Early Ford. It is a quartzhalogen reflector kit with sockets installed #48-13027-qkts. I dont know what the bulb # was. The lens is 48-13060. Dont know if this helps. I do know it was a real pita to get everything assembled.

07-12-2011, 07:32 PM	#9
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 1,631	Re: dim halogen conversion. I assume your car is 12 volt then?

07-12-2011, 07:43 PM	#10
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: dim halogen conversion. I rewired my head lights and I wire it wrong.If you look at back of blub the middle top one is Low Red wire,Left Black or Grd,Right green red. This could be your problem

07-12-2011, 08:13 PM	#11
deuce lover Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern France Posts: 5,307	Re: dim halogen conversion. Double check that your ground is good.I always run a separate ground from light socket or reflector (if its metal) to the frame .Soldering terminals is always better than crimping.

07-12-2011, 10:12 PM	#12
lee34 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 127	Re: dim halogen conversion. I have DRAKES reflectors.No comparison to regular reflector.I have used h4 bulbs for about 20 years with conversion bulb and reflector kit.I purchased Drakes reflector and only changed reflector (used old bulbs h4).Huge difference.Very pleased Only trouble was explaining to better half why my reflectors were worn out lee34

07-13-2011, 09:31 AM	#13
drchip Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Delevan, NY Posts: 79	Re: dim halogen conversion. Yes its 12 volt. I have read mixed reviews on Drakes reflectors - some say work great but others say they are very poor quality??? Sounds like my only option is to try them. It isnt just the expense that annoys me but I hate the thought of reassembling them again. But they are no good the way they are so I guess I gotta bite the bullet. Thanks for the imput.

07-13-2011, 03:26 PM	#14
drchip Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Delevan, NY Posts: 79	Re: dim halogen conversion. I took some pics but have to wait for the wife to get home to post cause I'm a dummy with this stuff.

07-13-2011, 04:44 PM	#15
drchip Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Delevan, NY Posts: 79	Re: dim halogen conversion. Hard to get these to show much -

07-13-2011, 05:28 PM	#17
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: dim halogen conversion. I to think your not going full power.Some new wires are very small and should be larger wire.If you take a wire from battery and remove the blub and go direct and see if it gets brighter. Grd left side black wire.

07-13-2011, 05:45 PM	#18
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 1,631	Re: dim halogen conversion. Have you tried using a jumper wire and powering each bulb directly from the battery?

07-13-2011, 05:50 PM	#19
roundvalley Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Idaho Posts: 150	Re: dim halogen conversion. Bulbs are wrong and installed wrong. See the HAMB.

07-14-2011, 09:25 PM	#21
drchip Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Delevan, NY Posts: 79	Re: dim halogen conversion. I reinstalled the bulbs from the rear and big improvement. Thanks guys