The Ford Barn

Jersey Suede · 10-17-2011, 08:21 PM

Tom,

I had similar issues in my wife's '32 Vicky. Tried Francis Bright bulbs, stockers and Halogens, and I just had yellow lights at night. I finally replaced the reflectors with Drakes re-designed reflectors/halogen kit and the difference was dramatic. We can now drive the car at night!!! They work!!

Tim Ayers · 10-17-2011, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deuce lover

Is your car converted to 12V? Did you try bypassing the relays ? Are your grounds for the lights grounded to the frame?

I was thinking the same. Sounds like a ground issue.

TagMan · 10-17-2011, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

I was thinking the same. Sounds like a ground issue.

Easy enough to check. Just run a 10 or 12 awg wire from the bulb housing directly to the battery ground terminal and see if it makes a difference.

coupe5w36 · 10-18-2011, 04:20 AM

Hi Tom, I see you wish to keep your "bug-eyes". I've been a bit naughty with my coupe & fitted headlamps from a 164 Volvo sedan. They are larger than a typical 7" round lamp & fit the '36 headlamp rims perfectly. The downside is they are somewhat "flat" compared to original, the upside is that they provide exceptional visibility for night driving. I'm using 60/55 W globes with relays. Be careful running super-high wattage globes as the current draw can cause repercussions to switches or relays if all is not in really good shape. Does anyone have any experience with Xenon globes???

toddle321 · 10-18-2011, 10:11 AM

Tom - please keep updating us on how it goes with the new bulbs, I have the same issue.

railroad · 10-18-2011, 02:40 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I had the same problems with my T bucket and asked the guys on the Bucketeer site. Just like stated here the problem was with the 3 prong headlight plug was not wired correctly. The ground terminal was riveted to the housing from the factory, but it was not the ground terminal on the sealed beam light. I cut the wires, swapped, spliced and bingo, bright lights. Since the plug was factory installed in the buckets, it never dawned on me, it was wired wrong. The previous owner had run extra ground wires to the buckets and heavy wires to the lights and dimmer switch, but never foound the problem.
As I did, I am sure some of you are not verifying the terminal match up from the plug to the lamp. I hope this helps someone, as it did me. Made my day.

BILLF/TRF · 10-18-2011, 03:19 PM

Another alternative is to use Halogen bulbs from the Little British Car Co. Ltd., Farmington Hills, MI. They are 12 V and 65/55 Watt (fit cars from 1935 to 1938) and can be used with stock reflector and sockets. They are super bright but a little diffused--maybe due to the original lens? The problem is the price. They want $43 each! So with two bulbs you are about at the same price as Macs and Drakes bulb/reflector/socket and wiring.

jimTN · 10-18-2011, 04:12 PM

Railroad, are you saying the kits that are furnished for conveting to halogen bulbs and using std sealed beam headlight harness have the ground in the harness on the wrong prong? If that is the case, it would explain the dim situation. Hope someone chimes in here that has a kit not installed that can check this out.

railroad · 10-18-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimTN

Railroad, are you saying the kits that are furnished for conveting to halogen bulbs and using std sealed beam headlight harness have the ground in the harness on the wrong prong? If that is the case, it would explain the dim situation. Hope someone chimes in here that has a kit not installed that can check this out.

I cannot speak for the kits you mentioned, just the lightbuckets that were on my T. Most people like myself, figure if the plug is a match to the bulb, it was made to fit and the polarity is right. But it was not. I would have blamed the person that built the T, but the gound had the eye rivited to the housing.

Fe26 · 10-19-2011, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

There are available, quartz halogen bulbs that are a direct replacement for the original bulbs; they fit directly into the stock Ford reflectors, and work properly. No need to fit aftermarket reflectors to take different style bulbs with the wrong focal points and have crap lights! Brian

X2 do it the easy way

Tom Morookian · 10-22-2011, 07:19 AM

Update: got the 100/90 watt halogens bulbs and intalled one as a test. Low beam is still too dim but high beam is really BRIGHT.

I remember little of my high school years but, (Heck I can't even remember if I had lunch yesterday) I think geometry class taught me something about parabolas and focal points.

My guess is that the H4 halogen low beam filament is to far forward and gets difused by the reflector. The hi beam filament, being about 3/4" behind the low beam one puts it close to the focal point so it "works" OK.

I think going to the 140/100 bulbs would not do anything for the low beam problem. But, I could blind folks with the 140 watt high beam.

I searched the threads but could not find the reference to retro converting back to standard sockets and finding a extra-bright 12 standard incandescent bulb.

I'm giving up on halogens.

Anybody done this and where do you get the higher watt bulbs.

deuce lover · 10-22-2011, 11:38 AM

Tom, I used a Drake halogen kit in my 35 roadster (used 36 rings and lenses) They functioned just fine.I now have a 36 5W and decided to stay with the bulbs.Speedway has 50-32 candle power 12 bulbs and they work great.

deuce lover · 10-22-2011, 11:42 AM

Here is a pic of the lights on the 35 roadster I built.These have the Drake kits.On that bulb plug one of the wires is the ground wire and I went directly to the frame with it.The Drake reflector is plastic so cannot ground.I sold the car a couple years ago.

George/Maine · 10-22-2011, 03:24 PM

Sounds like you have the wires mixed.I think low beam is one filment and high uses 2.I have mine mixed and have to fix it.

George/Maine · 10-23-2011, 12:00 PM

Looking at back of the blub.
The vertical on left is Ground,the horz top is LowBeam ,and right vert is high beam .Got this from Speedway

G.M. · 10-23-2011, 12:54 PM

A lot of halogen bulbs use the 3 prong sealed beam sockets. If high amperage along with the heat generated by the halogen bulb is present the plastic socket melts. These don't hold up under the heat. I found it nessesary to find ceramic sockets used on older cars and had no problems after installing them. G.M.

10-17-2011, 08:21 PM	#21
Jersey Suede Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 29	Re: 36 halogen 12 volts still dim Tom, I had similar issues in my wife's '32 Vicky. Tried Francis Bright bulbs, stockers and Halogens, and I just had yellow lights at night. I finally replaced the reflectors with Drakes re-designed reflectors/halogen kit and the difference was dramatic. We can now drive the car at night!!! They work!!

10-18-2011, 04:20 AM	#24
coupe5w36 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Bayswater Australia Posts: 163	Re: 36 halogen 12 volts still dim Hi Tom, I see you wish to keep your "bug-eyes". I've been a bit naughty with my coupe & fitted headlamps from a 164 Volvo sedan. They are larger than a typical 7" round lamp & fit the '36 headlamp rims perfectly. The downside is they are somewhat "flat" compared to original, the upside is that they provide exceptional visibility for night driving. I'm using 60/55 W globes with relays. Be careful running super-high wattage globes as the current draw can cause repercussions to switches or relays if all is not in really good shape. Does anyone have any experience with Xenon globes???

10-18-2011, 10:11 AM	#25
toddle321 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 152	Re: 36 halogen 12 volts still dim Tom - please keep updating us on how it goes with the new bulbs, I have the same issue.

10-18-2011, 02:40 PM	#26
railroad Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 11	Re: 36 halogen 12 volts still dim Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I had the same problems with my T bucket and asked the guys on the Bucketeer site. Just like stated here the problem was with the 3 prong headlight plug was not wired correctly. The ground terminal was riveted to the housing from the factory, but it was not the ground terminal on the sealed beam light. I cut the wires, swapped, spliced and bingo, bright lights. Since the plug was factory installed in the buckets, it never dawned on me, it was wired wrong. The previous owner had run extra ground wires to the buckets and heavy wires to the lights and dimmer switch, but never foound the problem. As I did, I am sure some of you are not verifying the terminal match up from the plug to the lamp. I hope this helps someone, as it did me. Made my day.

10-18-2011, 03:19 PM	#27
BILLF/TRF Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Thief River Falls, MN Posts: 155	Re: 36 halogen 12 volts still dim Another alternative is to use Halogen bulbs from the Little British Car Co. Ltd., Farmington Hills, MI. They are 12 V and 65/55 Watt (fit cars from 1935 to 1938) and can be used with stock reflector and sockets. They are super bright but a little diffused--maybe due to the original lens? The problem is the price. They want $43 each! So with two bulbs you are about at the same price as Macs and Drakes bulb/reflector/socket and wiring.

10-18-2011, 04:12 PM	#28
jimTN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Powell, TN Posts: 2,509	Re: 36 halogen 12 volts still dim Railroad, are you saying the kits that are furnished for conveting to halogen bulbs and using std sealed beam headlight harness have the ground in the harness on the wrong prong? If that is the case, it would explain the dim situation. Hope someone chimes in here that has a kit not installed that can check this out.

10-22-2011, 07:19 AM	#31
Tom Morookian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: N. Ft. Myers, Fl. Posts: 502	Re: 36 halogen 12 volts still dim Update: got the 100/90 watt halogens bulbs and intalled one as a test. Low beam is still too dim but high beam is really BRIGHT. I remember little of my high school years but, (Heck I can't even remember if I had lunch yesterday) I think geometry class taught me something about parabolas and focal points. My guess is that the H4 halogen low beam filament is to far forward and gets difused by the reflector. The hi beam filament, being about 3/4" behind the low beam one puts it close to the focal point so it "works" OK. I think going to the 140/100 bulbs would not do anything for the low beam problem. But, I could blind folks with the 140 watt high beam. I searched the threads but could not find the reference to retro converting back to standard sockets and finding a extra-bright 12 standard incandescent bulb. I'm giving up on halogens. Anybody done this and where do you get the higher watt bulbs.

10-22-2011, 11:38 AM	#32
deuce lover Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern France Posts: 5,307	Re: 36 halogen 12 volts still dim Tom, I used a Drake halogen kit in my 35 roadster (used 36 rings and lenses) They functioned just fine.I now have a 36 5W and decided to stay with the bulbs.Speedway has 50-32 candle power 12 bulbs and they work great.

10-22-2011, 03:24 PM	#34
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: 36 halogen 12 volts still dim Sounds like you have the wires mixed.I think low beam is one filment and high uses 2.I have mine mixed and have to fix it.

10-23-2011, 12:00 PM	#35
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: 36 halogen 12 volts still dim Looking at back of the blub. The vertical on left is Ground,the horz top is LowBeam ,and right vert is high beam .Got this from Speedway

10-23-2011, 12:54 PM	#36
G.M. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida and Penna. Posts: 4,471	Re: 36 halogen 12 volts still dim A lot of halogen bulbs use the 3 prong sealed beam sockets. If high amperage along with the heat generated by the halogen bulb is present the plastic socket melts. These don't hold up under the heat. I found it nessesary to find ceramic sockets used on older cars and had no problems after installing them. G.M. __________________ www.fordcollector.com