NJTman

Wanted, forever, to upgrade my headlamps. I haven't driven the truck at all at night, so I'm hoping that they're better than the standard Halogen's I've been using from Phillips, or Sylvania for years.

Found their alignment to be a bit weird. The low beams are about right, but the High beams move to the left a bit. Really strange, as you would think the beam would remain in the same location it was in the low beam...

Oh well, got some aligning to do in the next few days..



The headlamp cup has to be modified to get these to work, as you can see that the rubber gasket thingy won't fit through the stock hole.



No Biggie, eh ?

NJTman

Easy to replace, but now comes the futzing around...

Low beams... (notice the location of the placard on the wall)



High beams move to the left a bit. I guess I need to do some aligning...

mknittle

I think the idea is that the high beams align straight ahead and the low beams go down and a way from on coming traffic. at least that is what I was told.

NJTman

Well, I guess all is good then. I just have to drive about to see if the lows work well at night... (alignment wise)

mknittle

I have been eying a set of them for a while now. But I have quite a bit to do before anything actually happens.

NJTman

I like the idea that I can change out inserts, which gives me more options regarding brightness.

My old headlamps only lasted about a year before they developed water inside, so I figured ... what the heck....

torquefan

Nice project, I've always liked headlight upgrades. After roughing in the aiming against a wall, I always like to go out to a deserted straight road on a dark night, stop the truck right in the middle of the lane, then get out and fine-tune each beam just to get it exactly where I want it to light up the road. I throw a coat or something over one headlight at a time so I can focus on the other one. Of course, it's important to find a spot where you can see any traffic coming for a long way.
Hope you're happy with them, they look great.

NJTman

Great ideas. Never thought of aligning one at a time by covering the other. I haven't been able to get to drive them at night, but once I do, I'm doing exactly what you mentioned above.

I've found you really can't tell how good the alignment is until you're out and driving about. Maybe this week I'll do so. I have my T-15 sitting on the passenger seat now...

bigragu

So T what are the pros/cons with these type lights vs the sylvania's and all the other ones spec'd for our rigs. If this is an upgrade, I'd care to hear the features... Thnx btw. Hey what's a T15?

maybe368

M y 66 912 had a version of Hella lamp that had the weirdest adjustment procedure, but part of it was blocking off 1 light to adjust the other. The glass covers had very specific reflector lines cast into them and the correct glass was needed for them to work right, they were year specific and , even though the different years would fit, the beams were not correct. Leave it to German engineers...Mark

oliver foster

I am watching this one.
Thanks T -man.

mknittle

Bet i can guess where the old one were made.

NJTman

Like i said in the above post, you have more options regarding bulb power, as you change the insert, vs replacing the entire headlamp sealed beam

Here is the assembly:


Here is the insert:



If a standard headlamp gets water in it, you toss it out. These are not sealed and (in theory ) can be dried out. The Hella glass quality seems better as well, which to me, provides better lighting conditions on the road.

You can (if your hands are small and your dexterity allows) replace the insert from behind, without removing the assembly. My wife's honda, and our Toyota both have this feature.

A T15 is a torx 15 screwdriver used for the adjusting screws on our trucks headlamps. If you look at your headlamp adjusters, they're not phillips or straight.

bobva

I like that now you can carry a spare light bulb in the ash tray.

Ok now for the Qs

What is the country is it made in?

Now for the the most important one what is it made out of Glass or that cheap lexon crap that they use on the new cars and trucks?

If its made of plastic Ill stick with the old school Glass sealed beams.

cougar

I have been using those for a very long time. First set was in my 81 back in the late 80's. I had the 80/100 bulbs then, but they didn't last long and went back to the 55/65. When I got my 1st 1st gen in the late 90's, I put a set of them in with the 55/100 bulbs. Been running them ever sense. Haven't had 1 burn out yet.