What’s the Latest on LED Headlight Conversion? Options

[saigon71]

One of my winter items is to install LED lights in place of my old sealed beams.

These are a little pricier than other options, but I like the look.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JZYAP0M/ref=au...Type=automotive

Installed these today. They are truly plug & play. I like the look and they don't protrude further than stock. I was still using sealed beams...

[Root_Werks]

Anyone have trouble with LED headlights icing up? Put a set on my wife's Jeep thinking I'd do the same to my 914. But, first day we had some snow a few weeks ago the snow piled up and blocked the headlights. This made them pretty much useless.

I ordered and installed a set of Hella H4's. Only warm to the touch, but is that the key to stopping ice or snow from building up on headlights? Just that little bit of warmth?

[yellowporky]

Makes sense since the led does not put out much heat

[FRUNKenstein]

Anyone have trouble with LED headlights icing up? Put a set on my wife's Jeep thinking I'd do the same to my 914. But, first day we had some snow a few weeks ago the snow piled up and blocked the headlights. This made them pretty much useless.

I ordered and installed a set of Hella H4's. Only warm to the touch, but is that the key to stopping ice or snow from building up on headlights? Just that little bit of warmth?

It looks like they sell heated LED headlights, if that is a concern. They aren't cheap. I doubt I will ever drive my 914 in the snow at night, though, so I'll pass on the heated versions.


https://www.4statetrucks.com/lighting/semi-...-xoC1yMQAvD_BwE

[mepstein]

One of my winter items is to install LED lights in place of my old sealed beams.

These are a little pricier than other options, but I like the look.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JZYAP0M/ref=au...Type=automotive

Installed these today. They are truly plug & play. I like the look and they don't protrude further than stock. I was still using sealed beams...

Bob - I think you will be blown away at the difference. Especially since you use your car more than just a sunny day driver.

[stevend914]

I've been looking to install LED headlights in my 1970 but when I go to the Vintage Car led website they show fitment for 1972-1976.

Any suggestions on led installation for a 1970

[bdstone914]

I've been looking to install LED headlights in my 1970 but when I go to the Vintage Car led website they show fitment for 1972-1976.

Any suggestions on led installation for a 1970

they will fit all years. No differences on 70-72 cars that affect the headlights.

@stevend914

[ClayPerrine]

Betty and I have 3 914s between us. All of them run spoke's LED external lighting and 914Rubber's LED headlight bulbs in the Hella H4 housings. Those products are great, and they make a significant difference in visibility from both inside and outside the car.

We even did the factory six, as both products are easily reversible and require no drilling or modifying in any way.

I just wish I had a good third brake light solution.


Clay

[iankarr]

Some installation tips and brightness comparisons...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkTa0JSenk0

[mmichalik]

Some installation tips and brightness comparisons...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkTa0JSenk0

This is exactly what I've been looking for. Thanks for posting it!

[stevend914]

I've been looking to install LED headlights in my 1970 but when I go to the Vintage Car led website they show fitment for 1972-1976.

Any suggestions on led installation for a 1970

they will fit all years. No differences on 70-72 cars that affect the headlights.

@stevend914

OK, thanks for that info

[FRUNKenstein]

Some installation tips and brightness comparisons...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkTa0JSenk0

Nice video, Ian! I've watched several of your other ones. Love the Ravenna Green, which was my first choice. Anyhow, I've got to finish installing the headlights I got tonight and post on the final results.

A few notes: I did remove the turn signal lenses to get to the screw on the outside of the headlight trim. It only takes a minute to remove the lenses, and it kept me from stripping the head of the screw (mine was a little tight). Secondly, I wish I had viewed the video before because removing the relay would have saved me from having the headlights close when I had them apart (due to my own fault!). Third, when I removed the headlight trim, the painted headlight covers came off as well. I'm not sure if I'm missing a screw there, or if you simply didn't bother to take them off. But, it gave me a chance to clean and inspect those pieces. Fourth, you don't need to leave off the headlight trim to reach the adjustment screws when aiming as there are holes in the trim. But, since you already had them off, it makes sense to wait to re-install the trim until after aiming as I'm sure having the trim off makes it easier to access the adjusting screws.

Thanks again for the info and the great videos!

[iankarr]

...Third, when I removed the headlight trim, the painted headlight covers came off as well. I'm not sure if I'm missing a screw there, or if you simply didn't bother to take them off.
Thanks again for the info and the great videos!

Thanks, Frunk! Please don't take this the wrong way, but I think you're missing a screw...on the headlight cover (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif). lol.

The painted part should stay with the bucket. But you're right...always good to get in there to clean and inspect. Also great point about the holes in the surrounds allowing you to adjust while they're installed. I didn't want to go fishin' for the somewhat rusty philips heads, so I chose to leave the surrounds off until I was done.

I just read your signature...nice stable! My very first car was a 77 X 1/9. It broke down on my way to the prom and I fixed it in my tuxedo. But I loved that car.

[FRUNKenstein]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I think you're missing a screw...

For some reason, I get that a lot. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[FRUNKenstein]

I ended up buying a set of Grote (grow-tee) LED headlights from Advance Auto Parts. They keep them in stock at the stores, so I put in an order for pickup and had them in hand 30 minutes later. They are $130 each, but Advance Auto always has promo codes out there. With tax, I paid $219 for the pair. They fit perfectly and look good. The difference in light output is tremendous. Easy upgrade with significant improvement for not a lot of money! Thanks for all of the advice!

[Mikey914]

I will be finishing my evaluation of the new sets we just got in later this week and if we are happy they will be listed up. I only have a few sets but can have mor in about 10 days pending the lighting being checked for high / low and QC.

Mark

[preach]

Anyone have trouble with LED headlights icing up? Put a set on my wife's Jeep thinking I'd do the same to my 914. But, first day we had some snow a few weeks ago the snow piled up and blocked the headlights. This made them pretty much useless.

I ordered and installed a set of Hella H4's. Only warm to the touch, but is that the key to stopping ice or snow from building up on headlights? Just that little bit of warmth?

It looks like they sell heated LED headlights, if that is a concern. They aren't cheap. I doubt I will ever drive my 914 in the snow at night, though, so I'll pass on the heated versions.


https://www.4statetrucks.com/lighting/semi-...-xoC1yMQAvD_BwE

You want to run these in the winter you will want heated.

I did my 2003 Tacoma with new globes and LEDs they freeze. A wet sloppy snow and driving mph will ice over. So nice though when not frozen. I think I am going to put LED aux lights and run the normal H4 bulb.

For 7" round on 4 of my other cars I am planning on pick n pull Jeep lights since they should be heated.

[ctc911ctc]

I bought a pair of hawks prior to Christmas - found a guy that was selling two for 220.

When the box arrived I wrapped it for my son as a Christmas gift. When he opened it there was only ONE light. Embarrassing.

But being fast on my feet I told him the other is back-ordered.......... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/santa_smiley.gif)

Sooo, I went back to the vendor - not too good with the American - and he responded that his advertisement said he had two to sell, to his credit he said he would take it back. However, I think I will keep it since it works very well. Oh and he sold the other one.....grrrrrrr

BTW - you need to disconnect both headlamps from the circuit prior to putting the LED into the circuit - ask me how I know! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

So now I have a one-eyed LED monster - need to find another Hawk!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/type.gif)

[horizontally-opposed]

For those of you who have installed LED bulbs (not complete LED units)—and particularly those of you who have driven significant miles at night with them—do any of you have regrets? It doesn't seem like it, but trying to square the comments below vs. the almost universal praise…

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c4-tec...-code-lens.html

"I've personally witnessed 2 single car accidents where the LED headlights probably contributed significantly to the accident. One was a vehicle that struck a fallen tree that was across the road after the storm. I rode the passenger seat into that one and it wasn't fun at all. Neither the driver nor I saw the tree in time, and his "LED retrofit" lights were a definite contributor to our distance blindness which caused the wreck. The vehicle was totaled. The other was a vehicle I let pass me because his lights annoyed me, and about a mile further down the road, he struck a parked trailer (home made landscaping trailer with no reflectors). I definitely saw the obstacle before he did, and he was a hundred yards or more in front of me.

"The problem with those lights is that they throw out too much light, and too much of the light that they generate is too close to your car. Your pupils constrict and you have very little distance vision with them, so you hit stuff you would see with lights that are less bright and less glaring."

[FRUNKenstein]

For those of you who have installed LED bulbs (not complete LED units)—and particularly those of you who have driven significant miles at night with them—do any of you have regrets? It doesn't seem like it, but trying to square the comments below vs. the almost universal praise…

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c4-tec...-code-lens.html

"I've personally witnessed 2 single car accidents where the LED headlights probably contributed significantly to the accident. One was a vehicle that struck a fallen tree that was across the road after the storm. I rode the passenger seat into that one and it wasn't fun at all. Neither the driver nor I saw the tree in time, and his "LED retrofit" lights were a definite contributor to our distance blindness which caused the wreck. The vehicle was totaled. The other was a vehicle I let pass me because his lights annoyed me, and about a mile further down the road, he struck a parked trailer (home made landscaping trailer with no reflectors). I definitely saw the obstacle before he did, and he was a hundred yards or more in front of me.

"The problem with those lights is that they throw out too much light, and too much of the light that they generate is too close to your car. Your pupils constrict and you have very little distance vision with them, so you hit stuff you would see with lights that are less bright and less glaring."

That's a good topic to discuss. I would think that, given the wide availability of complete replacement units at a very reasonable cost (under $250 for the set), it would be best to replace the entire headlight unit rather than just installing an LED bulb in the existing housing/lens. I'm no expert, but it would avoid the problem that the Corvette guys are discussing in that thread.