LED head light conversion

[coolmgcma]

Anybody have any experience converting from 7 inch seal beam to LED?  If so what light kit did you use and how does it work?

[robert1839]

i haven't had any luck trying to find any LED lights that would look original and make more light. it you wanted to make a light like the modern day bulbs i have thought about rewiring the car a bit to take the modern bulbs and just cut the end of the old bulb off and put the modern bulb in side the glass of the old one but i have not seen this done yet. hope that makes sense. and if anyone has done that it would be interested to see how it worked.

[74ls1tr6]

This Led headlight is being used by Jon Cooks Ls1 GT6! I may even get a pair for my TR6.

http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/headlights/model-8700-evolution-7-round-par-56-led-headlight

Video below on installation.

http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/headlights/#product=500249  Click on video to the right >

[DiDueColpi]

It would be good to hear from Jon about the performance of the LED lights.
By the numbers, their light output is roughly the same as a halogen headlight @ 760 lumens with a very similar beam pattern.
In contrast an HID projector set up is around 2800 lumens@ 4300k with a much wider and longer beam.
No mention of the color range is given but anything above 5000k becomes hard to see with.
I know all the kids like the higher ranges because they look cool.
But the 6-7 and 8000k lights are absolutely useless.
For a real kick ass light setup go for a 50w ballst and enjoy somewhere around 5200 lumens @ 4300k.
I use products from The Retrofit Source and have been very happy with them for years now. (no affiliation, just really happy with the products.)
Cheers
Fred

[Jim Stabe]

How expensive are they? I couldn't find a price on the website.

[mgb260]

Tristan, There are halogen replacement 7" headlights that look pretty good. In Moss,Victoria British and JC Whitney. Not that expensive either. I use Sylvania Silver Star for bulbs. Lots in EBay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=diamond+headlights+intrepid&_osacat=0&_from=R8&_armrs=1&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.Xhalogen+7%22+diamond+headlights+&_nkw=halogen+7%22+diamond+headlights+&_sacat=0

[pspeaks]

My GT has had halogen headlights for years, just bought them at the Navy Exchange and stuck them in.  I don't remember what they cost, never had a problem and wouldn't consider changing them.  Do they work better than the old seal beam, I'm sure they do but I don't remember what it was like before.  Come to think of it, I'm so old I don't remember much anyway.


Paul

[avbates]

http://www.amazon.com/Truck-Lite-27270C-Round-Headlamp-price/dp/B007K8AA7I/ref=sr_1_12?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1389925341&sr=1-12&keywords=led+headlight

http://www.amazon.com/GE-69821-Nighthawk-Round-Headlamp/dp/B00BQX2BT8/ref=sr_1_4?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1389925414&sr=1-4&keywords=led+headlamp

[robert1839]

Jim, thanks thats more what i wanted a more original look

[nwbaxter66]

I just installed the GE versions, easy install, but they do push out.
I will pm a photo to you. It didn't matter to me, because I have covers on.
N

[BlownMGB-V8]

Could you post a photo on here Nick?

Jim

[nwbaxter66]

Will do, got sidetracked at work today, so will put it up after the rugby in the morning.
Nick

[nwbaxter66]

Here are a few more

[nwbaxter66]

Apologies for the photos and the fact that the car is dirty !  It's Winter in Nebraska and I haven't cleaned up since the last nice day.

I don't think that I would use these IF I wasn't using the covers, they just pop out too much.
However, the light is better than the Lucas with Halogen bulbs - well it appears to be to my old eyes, I like the coverage better.
Hope this helps out.

[rficalora]

Maybe modifying the headlight buckets would let them set back in like OEM ones.

[BlownMGB-V8]

They look pretty good. How's the light color? We used some LED strip lights in the house and switched from the cool white to warm white because the yellowish color was better. I don't know the K numbers but those can reference the color. I like yellowish light better as I seem to be able to see more details.

Do you know the comparable wattage rating? I've got some pretty hefty halogens in the B, somewhere around 150-200 watts (yeah, I know, not legal, ask me if I give a rat's ass) and with the sharp cut off they work very well without blinding other drivers. On low beam they have a horizontal cut off that's like a razor blade and setting that to hit a level road surface a couple hundred yards out keeps the hot zone below hood level. So I wonder especially what the beam pattern of those looks like, and how intense the light output is, as well as the question of whether any higher wattage bulbs might be available.

We used HID bulbs in the Roadmaster and they work well. I'm curious how these new LED bulbs compare to the best of the Halogens. I'd say those HIDs are upper-mid range perhaps though I think they would be better with a little more yellow and a little less blue.

Jim

[nwbaxter66]

if we get a day without snow tomorrow (we had some today and more is planned for Sunday) i will drag it outside and take some pictures.

i think it might be difficult to set them further back in the bucket without cutting bodywork ... not sure it is worth it ..they were very tight in the mounting rings
n

[DiDueColpi]

Your right Jim
The HIDs in the Roadmaster are 6000k which is starting to get into the blue range.
4300k would have been a wiser choice but I opted for more bling factor than function.
For us older....sorry.... more experienced folk, the higher contrast of the lower K ratings is much more usefull.
Interestingly if we swap out the ballasts for some 50 watt units the power output goes way up and the K rating drops to 4800.
Almost a home run I think, but it might melt the housings and it cuts the bulb life in half.
on second thought maybe better left alone.
Cheers
Fred

[BlownMGB-V8]

Yes, I think they do quite well as is Fred, considerably nicer than plain sealed beam halogens I think.

Jim