Author Topic: Twin Cam Special headlights  (Read 2900 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline gideon

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Dec 2017
  • Location: Northern NJ
  • Posts: 523
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #45 on: Saturday,August 29, 2020, 05:31:47 AM »
The main point made in the Jalopnik article I linked to is that LED bulb upgrades to lamp housings that were designed for Halogen bulbs just don't work well yet.  They may appear brighter, but the beam pattern is wrong resulting in worse vision for the driver or glare for oncoming traffic, or both.  The opinions expressed in that article are those of Daniel Stern, a self-professed automotive lighting expert  (I'm not casting aspersions on his expertise, I just have no way to judge it).  Daniel Stern's website is here

https://www.danielsternlighting.com/
 
He sells/recommends E-Code (European spec) Cibie H4 7" round halogen headlights.  The Bus Depot website claims that the Hella version is comparable to and cheaper than Cibie.  Both Daniel Stern and Bus Depot recommend getting the E-Code units.  Bus Depot also does not recommend using H4 LED bulbs with the designed-for-Halogen headlight.
« Last Edit: Saturday,August 29, 2020, 05:35:22 AM by gideon »

Offline BDA

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jul 2012
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Posts: 9,499
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #46 on: Saturday,August 29, 2020, 07:33:02 AM »
I read through some of the articles from that guy, Daniel, and he seems to know what he's talking about. And, like you, I don't know a whole lot about it, so I choose to believe him.

I think I saw some guy on YouTube say to get LED bulbs that mimic the H4 bulb for retrofitting a halogen lamp. He's probably right that that's the best you can do but as Daniel points out, it's not good enough.

I had an email conversation with a guy on the yahoo group about LEDs. IIRC, he chose an H4 replacement. He said it was much brighter and probably due to how low his car was, he didn't get a lot of people flashing back at him so he was pretty happy. So I would suggest that the height of the lamp is an important variable and that maybe a little leeway on a worse beam pattern as long as it doesn't blind oncoming traffic (although I've been blinded by xenon or LED bulbs found stock on big pickup trucks).

That's a good link. I'll have to go back and check out your previous links.

Offline jbcollier

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Nov 2013
  • Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • Posts: 5,808
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #47 on: Tuesday,September 01, 2020, 09:08:54 AM »
Further on LED headlights, here is an article from the September 2020 issue of Classic Motorsports:

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-FDcJfw5

https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-zFcXQnJ

The beam pattern looks pretty tight with minimal scatter.

Offline Lotsof 3146 R

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Joined: Apr 2020
  • Location: Kent UK
  • Posts: 48
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #48 on: Saturday,September 12, 2020, 11:21:55 AM »
Not for the purists ...
High output led headlights with side lights and indicator lights.
Low power - so you don’t need a relay
Low cost £25 for a pair for eBay (Land Rover defender halo led)

Offline Lotsof 3146 R

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Joined: Apr 2020
  • Location: Kent UK
  • Posts: 48
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #49 on: Saturday,September 12, 2020, 11:22:57 AM »
Sidelights

Offline Lotsof 3146 R

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Joined: Apr 2020
  • Location: Kent UK
  • Posts: 48
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #50 on: Saturday,September 12, 2020, 11:23:33 AM »
Indicators

Offline Lotsof 3146 R

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Joined: Apr 2020
  • Location: Kent UK
  • Posts: 48
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #51 on: Saturday,September 12, 2020, 11:24:13 AM »
Beam

Offline SilverBeast

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Aug 2019
  • Location: Yeadon,West Yorkshire,UK
  • Posts: 691
  • 1974 Twin Cam Special
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #52 on: Saturday,September 12, 2020, 12:07:44 PM »
Now I'm torn,  between halogens and LEDs.  Have you compared these with halogens for lighting the road at night?

Offline Lotsof 3146 R

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Joined: Apr 2020
  • Location: Kent UK
  • Posts: 48
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #53 on: Saturday,September 12, 2020, 12:19:34 PM »
These are great for lighting the road - there are some inferior ones - look at he lens layout.
The prices vary hugely on eBay - from 23 to 70 plus.
I need new lights to convert from lhd and I’ve now bought a pair for the Jensen Healey


Offline SilverBeast

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Aug 2019
  • Location: Yeadon,West Yorkshire,UK
  • Posts: 691
  • 1974 Twin Cam Special
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #54 on: Saturday,September 12, 2020, 12:51:03 PM »
Have you a link to the Ebay seller you got yours from?
Thanks
Richard

Offline TurboFource

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Sep 2019
  • Location: Maryland
  • Posts: 1,919
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #55 on: Saturday,September 12, 2020, 03:50:53 PM »
Does the turn signal part work with the headlights on?
The more I do the more I find I need to do....

Offline Lotsof 3146 R

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Joined: Apr 2020
  • Location: Kent UK
  • Posts: 48
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #56 on: Sunday,September 13, 2020, 03:59:24 PM »
Does the turn signal part work with the headlights on?
Yes

Offline rjbaren

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Feb 2018
  • Location: Mundelein, IL
  • Posts: 285
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #57 on: Thursday,September 24, 2020, 07:02:26 PM »
An interesting website on lighting is "Danielsternlighting.com"   He covers LED and Halogen bulbs.  Regarding turn signals/side markers, he has two methods for making the front side markers flash with the turn signals.  He talks about headlight relays and many other lighting things.  No affiliation other than a satisfied customer.

Offline Richard48Y

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Oct 2020
  • Location: No. Nevada
  • Posts: 1,515
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #58 on: Sunday,October 25, 2020, 12:50:15 PM »
"I'd recommend that you convert incandescent gauge lights to LEDs."

Source?

Offline BDA

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jul 2012
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Posts: 9,499
Re: Twin Cam Special headlights
« Reply #59 on: Sunday,October 25, 2020, 03:43:13 PM »
Here's a thread on converting pretty much all the lights on a TCS except the headlights to LEDs: http://www.lotuseuropa.org/LotusForum/index.php?topic=891.msg6614#msg6614