Date:         Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:56:25 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Headlight mods: was RE: Does the H4 bulb put out more light
              than the 9004 bulb?
In-Reply-To:  <5ebe10a0911111327j4c62d7e7m52abb407e21a298c@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

They were available, they were cheap, it was quick and the visibility was much better. At the time I couldn't drive at night at all due to the old mounts being broken, so anything was an improvement. I had the idea when I put them in that I could go to a better lamp later with the same buckets, which I guess is what your links show. 
They're fine for around here, as I said, but I'm planning to upgrade before we move to Nova Scotia. In the short time I was there I nearly collided with no less than five moose... damn those things are big, and difficult to see at night.

Cya,
Robert

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Chris S
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 1:28 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Headlight mods: was RE: Does the H4 bulb put out more light than the 9004 bulb?

Robert,

It looks like a great mod, but what's the point of replacing DOT crap with
more DOT crap?  Sealed beam headlights are the worst you can buy.  Look at
that light pattern on the garage wall in the Samba post - those are your
typical DOT hot-spots.

Look here and scroll down to where it shows Cibie light patterns.  This will
put a smile on your face:
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~ridgely/e-code-comp.htm

Look here:  http://www.rallylights.com/Hella_200mm_H4_Headlamps.aspx

You can buy these E-codes for $50 a piece:
http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=354

If you're going to spend the time modding your square buckets, put the
e-codes in.  Cry once, and smile every mile you're driving in the dark.  :-)


2009/11/11 Robert Fisher <refisher@mchsi.com>

> '87 GL: All of the adjusters on my headlights had rotted away and I never
> liked the output/pattern of the stock lights anyway so I decided to try the
> mod described here:
>
> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=274814
>
> $20 for the lights at the boneyard (make sure to get the springs); $7 for
> the connectors at a FLAPS, and about 3 hours work. That is, the first one
> took just under two hours; the second about a half-hour, plus hooking up
> the
> connectors and reinstallation. I have to do the same to my '86; I'm
> thinking
> it should take about half the time now that I've worked out the process.
>
> According to Stern, they're apparently not the kind of lights you're
> supposed to be able to aim 'by hand' so to speak, but I got a nice pattern
> by following the directions on his site. I've been flashed twice in six
> months, both times when I had a full load of camping stuff, and both times
> by cars that I thought already had their high beams on, ironically enough.
> I'm due to replace my rear shocks so I'll do that and then consider the
> effect on the aim.
>
> I'm going to get the adjuster sets for the stock high beams and reinstall
> them along with a relay setup. I haven't really considered what I might be
> able to do to increase output/visibility, but I don't know that I need to,
> at least for the conditions around here.
>
> Cya,
> Robert
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> David Cohen
> Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 6:55 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Does the H4 bulb put out more light than the 9004 bulb?
>
> With the absolutely ridiculously high prices for late model Vanagon
> headlight bulb housings I think I will just mount my mountain biking lights
> on
> the grill.  They are far superior and much less expensive. And I thought
> Datsun Roadster parts were a rip off.  For the price of these Vanagon H4
> headlight bulb lenses I would hope that you could see Mars clearly on a
> cloudy
> night.
>
>
> In a message dated 11/10/2009 4:37:28 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
> inua@CHARTER.NET writes:
>
> Well, I  have read all the debate on the lights.
>
> H*ll - I'm gonna mount me four  Boeing 767 sealed beam landing lights
> across the front top of my vans and  turn them all on at once.  All
> drivers  will clear the road for  me because they are all gonna think "Oh
> my gosh - if it's that tall and  bright - how fr**ging wide is it??" and
> they will clear the road. No  problems! ;-)
>
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus  Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>
>
>
> David Cohen  wrote:
> > Hi,
> >  Does the H4 55/60w bulb put out more light  than the  stock 9004 bulb?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >  David
> >
> >
> >
>



--
Chris S.
Disclaimer: "Death and serious injury may occur"