L series headlights

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 3:48 pm

Does anybody have a good way of improving the headlights on an L series.
Excluding globes, as I have tried many, which have helped.
I have re-wired with 6mm wires as well.
Basically they are not very good, compared with other cars.
The low beam is the problem, high bean with driving lights is good.
Even tried a set of Narva 4 inch lights, but the low beam is still limited.
Do any lights from a modern car fit?
Any advise would help

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 4:11 pm

Those non ADR compliant fog lights are a thought in my head for the piddly poor L Series lows.

Can you give a run down on globes you have tried please?
I have a blue type, cheapo clearance from Kmart that are yes great in high beam with spotties, but low beam not better. Philips and Narva do 30% 50% and 100% ? improved globes yet to try. My local trusted autoparts guy tells me a customer tried his 60 dollar units and came back saying were excellent. Low beam, dunno.

Been tossing up just to fit in like the rest of the tossers with their fog lights. Somene linked a fella inm the US that ground down the headlight refraction bits and shoved in reflector globes

sublime · Post by **sublime** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 4:15 pm

Do L Series Subarus have relays for the headlights? This is one the reasons modern car headlights are brighter than those of old.

Older Leones have the wiring for the lights directly from the switch on the dash... Hence they can be rather dull.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 4:27 pm

I have Philips Xtreme vision +100's in our Forester and my Outback and they are much better than the standard globes.

Although HID conversions can double the amount of light, I tend to disagree to fitting H4 HID globes to non HID lights. Its illegal and also creates an awful lot of glare that will dazzle oncoming traffic because the halogen lenses arent designed for the different light pattern of HIDs

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 4:54 pm

I had a play with globes, anything from +50 to +130, yes they do make a major improvement.
I have wired them with relays and 6mm wire, this also improved them.
HID globes in non HID lights have major problems as I carefully investigated them as well.
They have a brighter light, but it is weaker, giving poor output on headlights with difused lens. Clear lens they are good.
The basic problem is the lens, it spreads the light to much, giving poor range.
I have aligned them, then lifted them slightly above where they should be.
This gave much more range, but is bright for oncoming traffic.
What I am realy after is a set of later model lights tha can be adapted to the L series.
My 2010 Navara has amazing low beam compared to the L series.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 8:53 pm

What is the reflector condition like?
Cheers
AP

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 8:58 pm

The headlights are in very good condition.
I had a few to choose from, they were all good, except some had alignment screws that had broken the internal plastic mount, limting adjustment.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 9:05 pm

When you think about it - who takes a new car for a test drive at night to check out the lighting ..... ?? BA Falcon could win hands down for night lights.

Those fog lights becoming an attractive option but to wire them up through wiper circuit so not to work when wipers on indicating wet road - wet road and foggies biggest no no

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 6:18 pm

Maybe time to make up something like this with a set of aftermarket lights:

Or this (probably factory though, but you get the idea)

Could be the best way to go

Hrmm, they all seem to be fords... Odd.

Cheers

Bennie

Rodeo4jake · Post by **Rodeo4jake** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 6:27 pm

I've seen a dual headlight setup done a bit like that. Instead of fibreglass they just used a flat sheet of aluminium. Sounds ugly I know but it did turn out quite good. Was done on a Kenworth truck, not a car.
There was a company making those Ford style set ups for different cars in the late 90s. Remember seeing them advertised in street machine mag.

Cheers Jake

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 6:27 pm

I made up frames and covers to fit dual 4inch headlights.
I have used Narva "standards approved" headlights and they were better than standard lights. More range, but limited spread.
I gues I will continue down the path of dual 4 inch.
I had a set of brilliant (excuse the pun) 4 inch aftermarket lights I had in my Statesman, years ago. Koito lights or something like that, still looking for a set.

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:03 pm

I meant 5 3/4 headlights.
I was looking at 4 inch HIDs, but the legalities and look were to hard.
I will continue with the Narva's as they are the best so far.
Just got to paint the back of the cover and make up some tubes to fill the gap between the lights and the cover.
[ATTACH]3725[/ATTACH]

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 8:24 pm

I see where you are heading with this ! I once scored a twin headlight mounting assy from an old 1970? Toyota Corona and grafted them into an old 1970 Mazda that had same headlights as our single headlight Brumbys and they were awesome (woulda been better if I'd used relays though especially for out on a dark and stormy night on Chrissie tree treasure hunt - got home on the hazard lights

)
The old aircraft landing light inserts for highbeam ? Or just both with hi lo inside ....

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 8:42 pm

Yep 1970? Corona mounts. $20 for the set from CRW.
It will be done with relays.
Ah, aircraft landing lights, memories.........
Ive stepped up to the new ADR approved clear lens lights, which are better??

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 7:27 am

ADR approved for sure. Hey, really, same source, an old Corona?

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 8:38 pm

tambox wrote:Yep 1970? Corona mounts. $20 for the set from CRW.
It will be done with relays.

So Corona mount plates for the dual lights and a set of aftermarket lights correct?

Might have to steal your hard work... maybe, if I could be bothered!

Cheers

Bennie

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 9:39 pm

Huh

Just try and find a 70 Corona anything now, that was 1991 and even then on the Sims pile at the tip. I guess anything with twin rounds will have a removable cradle ......

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 4:54 pm

I went for long walk around centre road wreckers looking at dual headlight frames. The main problem was they were mostly on bigger cars, so they were spaced far appart. They also had stepped or complicated rad support panel mounts.
The corona ones were flat mount, close together and I was sick of walking, the three main reasons I chose them. (sorry Bennie, they were the only set)

Welded some mounts, bent out of 20 x 3 flat with 6mm bolts welded on the ends, to fit straight into existing mounting holes.
A few other "customisations" and bent up some perspex offcuts.

Got the lights, second hand, still in boxes, never used, on ebay.
Never seen these Narva lights listed anywhere.

Will finish it off soon, but the A/C has suddenly become more important.

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 4:04 pm

Ok, I evaced and gased the A/C, nothing like cool air when you drive into the sun. Hy Chill -30 is a very viable system, sorry to those who dont like it, but I do.

I am after some film to stick on the back of my clear headlight covers, to fill in the area around the lights.
I am using foam strip to fill between the headlights and cover, but I need film of some sort for the inside of the perspex covers.
I was going to use "sign writers" film, any other more heat proof ideas for film would be appreciated.