Date:         Mon, 28 Aug 2000 22:57:12 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Subject:      Re: E-code lights/SA grille
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>This is another reason I don't like the SA grille: you can't use the E-code
>lights on them...


What's so great about these "E-code" lights? My Caravelle has 7" round
nonsealed H4s, and they are brilliant...throw a good long wide white beam
with no hot spots or holes. Not all H4 units are born equal, and most I've
used aren't much better than the old nonQH sealed beams.

The best lights I've used were my 88 Nissan Skyline's. Amazing, and
factory-standard 65/55W. Good lights don't have to be round or
high-wattage. I put 100/80W H4 bulbs into my Bay and got no improvement
over the old 65/55 H4s.

It's not the bulb that gives a good light, but the lens and reflector. You
can't tell just by looking at it, either.

H4 is a quartz-halogen (or you can call them QI or quartz-iodide) bulbs are
dual-filament, that is, high/low. H3s are also, if i remember rightly, but
have a subtly different base, and are used on many Japanese-market cars.

The thing to watch for is the low-beam cutoff pattern in the glass: This is
the diagonal pattern from the center to one side or the other. Having it on
the wrong side will cause blinding of oncoming drivers and is of course
illegal (I once bought an H4 for my Honda CBX and found that somehow an LHD
unit had been imported). The RSA H4 has the wrong cutoff for the US market.

I'll be ordering RSA grills next month. An immigrant will bring them here
as excess luggage. Cheap rate!

The RSA upper grill has wide bars (about 5) instead of the olf Golf-style
one with this bars. It has normal 7" light openings that fit right over any
round-light T3's lights, plus a pair of smaller-diameter high beams
inboard. Gives it a Golf GTi look, really transforms it. The RSA grills
come exRSA as a kit, with the inner lights and their mounting buckets. RSA
lower seal grill is full-width, and the indicators screw onto the ends. I
believe any T3 indicators will fit, you don't need new ones to match the
grill. again, this grill looks heaps better than the narrow one. Cost in
RSA: upper grill kit 577Rand, lower grill R434 (total ~$180US) plus
freight.

The side step will be a step attached under the sliding door, to help
feebler folk step up.

Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
VW & mollusc nut
1969 Kombi with Corvair 2.4 & Powerglide
1975 Kombi derelict ex 3.6 Toyota V8
1984 Caravelle 3.8 Holden V6
1984 Mitsubishi Galant Sigma 2.0 (FWD)
1986 CE80 Toyota Corolla 1.8DX diesel
1989 CT170 Toyota Corona Select 2.0 diesel