The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Headlight conversion

Anyone use those H-4, reflector, headlight conversion kits that they are selling on ebay? I would just cut the h-4 sockets into my current reflectors, but the plating is beat. I thinking of doing it on my 36 GMC.

I'll be using H4's but was planning to use units intended for a British spec Austin Mini.(They are tight though as I'll need to use ones with parking lights built-in)and i'll need to modify the buckets slightly.
I am using my original parking lights as turn signals with orange bulbs.
We have to have them separate.
I've also got the LH dip beam to consider,seeing as I drive on the wrong side of the road!

I've got H4 headlights fitted with parking lamps in my 1950 truck too, they work very well. Mine dip to the "wrong" side of the road as well.

Stuart.

I am doing a 50 3100 and was wondering how and what to use for turn signals in the front? What headlights are you going to use and where do you get the wiring connections?
What have you used for the rear turn signals, parking lights and brake lights? Mine is more of a street rod that a restoration.
Thanks,
Jeff

jkane,
The kit I'm looking at has a small blub socket in the reflector for a parking light. I intend on using that spot to put in a amber led bulb for the front turn signals. My headlight buckets and lenses will be the ones GMC bolted on the truck back in 1936. I will make up my own harness. Out back I'm planing on getting some repop 36 tail lights and wireing them to accept turn signals. I also have the option of some period accessory turn signal lights(the ones that look like cans with arrows on both ends) as I bought a milk crate full of them and old glass reflectors. I am unfamiliar with the stock 50 3100, but it should have a spot for parking lamps. Just upgrade the socket and use what ever tail lights make you happy with the look. There are many Wiring Kits out there if you are not comfortable DIY.
Jockbolter, When you are speaking of the low beams dipping, if you are using British spec lights, shouldn't they dip to the correct side of the road?

KC,Yes the British spec lights will dip to the left(correct) side for us the UK.
As we drive on the left it needs to be able to pick out the verge while not blinding oncoming traffic on the right.
This is also a legal requirement for our MOT (yearly inspection)
My old units apart from being U.S. spec dip beams,were also 6V.
I had to change them anyway....
I was just poking fun at us 'Brits' driving on the wrong side!

You don't need to do that, we can handle it for you!

Well I bought the kit http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/chiefbobber/Parts%20and%20pieces/lightkit.jpg
Just hope it is worth the dough. I have a way of doing the smaller lights, but these 8 1/2 inch reflectors are hard to come by.

Oh HA-HA.....!

KC, I forgot you needed the larger lights,the kit looks good,keep us posted on your progress.

Jockbolter,

How can anyone poke fun at a country that has Jaffa cookies? My neighbor's daughter lives in Liverpool and every year at Christmas she brings me a box. YUMMY!! Oh yeah I'll do a picture series on the conversion.

I think you will find using halogen bulbs with your stock 36 glass lenses will produce a very bright, unfocused light.
Stock glass lenses are cut-glass made to properly focus the light of a horizontal filament...i.e. a conventional bulb.
To oncoming drivers, it will appear that you have your high beams on all the time with the halogens.

Humm interesting. Well, time will tell. If it doesn't pan out I can always put the bulb sockets into the new reflectors and run some 12V aftermarket bulbs. Thanks for giving me a heads up on this. It will soften the blow later.

Thats exactly what I ended up doing on my 37. Its not the best lighting by todays standards, but allowed me to keep the cool stock glass lenses. I went as far as re-working a bucket to accept a sealed beam, but it just did'nt look right(to me anyway)

I'm with you on that one wahoo. I have never liked the look of sealed beams "worked" into a bigger light buckets. According to the write up that went with the kit, the reflectors were designed to work with the orig. lenses. In thinking about what you had to say, I feel I'm inclined to agree with you. However, the Scottish part of me that spent the money, is bound and determined to try them out.

I hear you, about the money. It's worth a try. Hopefully they will work good for you. Let me know how it goes, I'm always willing to learn new things. If they work good for you, I may even change mine over too.

I see you 'suffer' from the Scottish affliction of deep pockets and short arms!