Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:37:22 -0800
Reply-To: Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Subject: '82 Westy comprehensive head/tail light upgrade.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Hi,
I started testing different parts for an upgrade of both
front and rear lights.
Tail lights was easy:
Old bulbs go away in favor of new LED bulbs.
I first tested the Princess Auto house brand "Power First"
LED's. They have 9 LED's aimed backward. A problem with this
was the beam pattern. It shines bright straight back, but is
less visble at an angle.
Luckily I found some overstock of what is likely an OEM
LED bulb for a newer vehicle in the surplus section of the
store. This bulb has 9 LED aimed backwards, but also a ring of
LED's aimed at an angle. This solved the problem of a too focussed
beam pattern. New LED taillights have a clearer red light than old
bulb, uses 1/10th of the power and lasts 10+times longer.
For the front flashers I didn't find the OEM type bulb
in yellow. I'm stuck with the Princess Auto "Power First"
ones. I might try to install the LED bulb as a marker light,
but stick woth the conventional bulb for flashers. Will need
some custom cutting in the flasher housing. Got to go to the junk
yard to look for spare housings...
Bigger remaining question is front headlight.
Should I go for HID?
Or just a good enough quality H4?
Regardless I'll need to get the H4 reflectors in place of
my sealed beams.
Busdepot offers the Bosch reflectors (w/o bulbs), or
two cheaper kits. They recommend the midle kit ($49 for
reflectors and bulbs). They don't say how many W the bulbs
are. Are they standard 55/60W ones? Where can I get 80/100W ones?
(Search on h4 doesn't return any bulbs at BD)
Any list experience/recommendations with the Busdepot stuff?
Can I find similar stuff in Canada?
Cheers,
Martin
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