KRUSS

For those looking for an H4 replaceable-bulb type sealed-beam headlamps for their third-gen car, here's a link:

https://secure.ioncart.com/prolighting/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=9&cat=Sea led+beam+conversion+kits

-or-

http://www.prostreetlighting.com/english/

Regards,

Ken Russ

OK, fella's -here's the scoop:

Because I continue to read post-after-post about poor headlamp performance on third generation f-cars, I thought I would list a couple of links to help you guys out with some headlamp alternatives. For everybody’s information, the ONLY way to improve the headlamp performance on your third-generation f-car is to replace the original factory-installed sealed-beam headlamps with an aftermarket upgrade that utilizes a replaceable bulb. The reason for that is this: the factory sealed-beam headlamps that came on your third-generation f-car (2B1 sealed-beams on the Firebird –otherwise known as “two-lamp systems”, & 2A1 & 1A1 sealed-beams on the Camaro –otherwise known as “four-lamp systems”) were designed in the early 1970’s and utilized a 40watt minor filament (low-beam) and a 60watt major filament (high-beam). Back in the early 1970’s, that was more than acceptable because nobody had anything better. However, by today’s standards, a 40-watt low beam headlamp would be considered terribly dim (anyone who’s driven a 1985 or newer car with high-performance composite headlamps knows that sealed-beam headlamps are grossly inadequate). A solution to this problem (originally proposed by HELLA Lighting in the late 1970’s) was to release a ‘DOT-approved’ H4/H1 replaceable-bulb headlamp system consisting of a 55watt minor (low-beam) filament and a 60watt major (high-beam) filament arrangement (on the Camaro, a single filament 55watt “H1” bulb was used in the high beam headlamp to augment high-beam function). What this did was make available a true European “high-performance” headlamp system for use in North America. The problems was that the optical pattern originally developed for this lamp wasn’t actually legal in the US (didn’t meet US regulations) and was later ‘pulled’ from US shelves (but that’s another story). It’s important to note that most sealed-beam-type replaceable-bulb systems available today ARE NOT DOT-approved and won’t meet US lighting regulations (unless you find one with a “DOT” symbol on the face of the lens), so be careful.

Now, the links provided above are in-fact links to a website showing one manufacturer’s version of an aftermarket H4/H1 replaceable-bulb headlamp system. I happen to think that the HELLA version of these sealed-beam-type lamps is the best (see new link below) because lighting is all HELLA does and most of their products are highly-rated in Europe (plus, I’ve actually seen these lamps in action and they’re pretty good vs. the factory sealed-beams).

http://catalog.com/susq/hella/headlamp.htm

70476 - 7" Round w/H4 bulb (for 2 headlamp systems).

71156 - 5¾" Round w/H1 bulb (for 4 headlamp systems).
71456 - 5¾" Round w/H4 bulb (for 4 headlamp systems).
72206 - 5¼" x 7¼" Rectangular w/H4 bulb (for 2 headlamp systems). (200mm)

72116 - 4" x 6½" Rectangular w/H1 bulb (for 4 headlamp systems). (165mm)
72146 - 4" x 6½" Rectangular w/H4 bulb (for 4 headlamp systems). (165mm)

Most of these systems are more than acceptable when used with the proper wattage bulb, but be forewarned: using anything other than a DOT-approved H4 bulb (55watt low-beam filament/60watt high-beam filament) can [and often does] cause all sorts of other technical problems such as poor or sporadic lighting operation, premature bulb burn-outs, and even fires. Be careful! Higher wattages aren’t always the solution to lighting problems and quite often cause other problems (such as wiring meltdowns).

If you elect to use aftermarket H4/H1 replaceable bulb headlamps, be prepared to do a little “custom” wiring in order to make them function properly. The H4/H1 bulbs AREN’T direct replacement bulbs and WILL NOT mate with your existing headlamp wiring harness. The best thing to do is visit your local Radio Shack and pick up a SPST switching relay rated at 20 amps that will be used to route juice directly from your battery to the headlamps (the H4/H1 bulbs consume more amperage than do regular sealed-beams and thus would likely degrade (or even destroy) your factory harness if used with the new lamps). Using a relay to route power directly from the batter is the best way to ensure that your factory harness remains useable in the event that you ever want to change back to them at a later time.

Finally, before criticizing lamps that other people have obviously had good luck with, perhaps it makes more sense to simply ask for help as to why they didn’t work in your application. After-all, isn’t that what this message board is for?


[This message has been edited by KRUSS (edited July 04, 2001).]

sunbitz

Been there, done that, wasted $50+ bucks!
The replacement housing does not fit a 91 camaro. When you install the low beam blue lights your high beams will have a very dim light. When you hit the high beams your low beams will go completely off on the drivers side and the pass side is dim. I have not tried it with both high and low beam kits though....
Don't feel like spending another $50 to find out that don't work either.

Save your money until they come out with true sealed beam blue lights.
Can't be much further down the road.

I bought these on ebay and the auction stated they were for 82-92 camaros. Auction was by prostreetlighting. After I left negative feedback they emailed saying they will not advertise them for 82-92 camaros anymore.

I'm here to tell ya, save your money, because they will not fit in the headlight housing.

Anth's Iroc

I got sylvania cool blues for my car they have them in lo and high beam.....

------------------
1987 BLUE IROC
IT'S A DOG
BUT IT'S MY DOG
AND IT HAS A NASTY BITE......
CNYFBA MEMBER
http://cnyfba.cz28.com/

Synergy

Honestly.. I dont see how in hell a kit can fit an 85 Camaro for example and it wont fit your 91. They're EXACTLY the same. I know they fit my 92 just fine and if you know how to wire them correctly your hi beams wont come on and they will work like they're supposed to.


------------------
92 Z28 5.7
------------------
Trick Flow 23° heads, Comp Cams XR270HR-10 cam, Accel intake base + ported TPI,
TES headers, Flowmaster catback, MSD ignition, #24 SVO injectors, 1LE aluminum driveshaft.

Click here to see pics of my car !

92 z28

i installed the kit as well, if you know how to mess around with the wiring youll get it perfect, like i did...

Christos

Wow! these lights look like exactily what i have been looking for.

The stupid sealed type act like they put out 50 candlepower, and its annoying after you have had a ride in a newer car running the 9005-9006 or whatver halogen lights.

Do these headlight replacements run the newer style (9005-9006) of halogen bulbs?

------------------
1986 IROC Camaro
305 TPI "LB9"
3.23 gears
Doesn't know enough about cars.
AIM: jesusathome

KRUSS

Sorry, replaceable bulb sealed-beam type headlamps typically use only an H4 (low beam) and H1 (high beam) replaceable-type bulbs commonly seen in Europe and Japan cars. The reason is because the replaceable-bulb sealed-beam type headlamp was developed in Europe and introduced in the US by HELLA, a European lighting company. As-such, the use of the H4 and H1 bulbs were a natural extension of their lighting practices at that time since they were the bulbs that they’d had the most experience with. Conversely, the 9005 (HB3) and 9006 (HB4) bulbs which are now common in the US were developed by US bulb suppliers and are typically used only in North America. Since North American lighting companies have had little interest in developing solutions for old technologies (sealed beams) there are no 9005/9006 replaceable bulb sealed-beam type headlamps that I am aware of.

Ken

TRVLIN99

Not exactly true about Hella. They also make automotive horns. Matt

sunbitz

The kit I bought did not fit my camaro. They have four little tabs on the back of the housing which made the light stick out too much and the trim ring would not attach to keep the light in place. I bent the tabs and tried it again and they fit, but not very well. I then took the tabs off completely and they just wiggled inside the housing. So they were crap! I contacted Pro street lighting and told them about this and they said they found out they did not fit a camaro. I could not return them because I broke off the tabs on the housing. I'm guessing they found the right housing for a camaro and that is what everyone here must be using.
And I refuse to pay $50 and then have to jerk around my wiring just to make their product work. They should have done their research before selling a product and not just toss it out there.

As for KRUSS.....
Do you own/work for Pro Street Lighting??
I've seen your posts in other areas here at thirdgen.org and you only talk about these lights. And in every one of these posts you only pitch their product. And by offering a link to the website makes me feel as though you are selling here on the boards.
You do provide information which is truly valuable regarding the use of these lights, but I still think you are selling more than simply providing information.

Not cool in my book!

KRUSS

It's been over a year since I looked at this post only to learn of SUNBITZ' insinuation. Nice try, but you must not have read my posts very thoroughly because in the entire time I've been contributing to this message board I've only mentioned Pro Street Lighting once (in this very thread). In-fact, I advocate HELLA lighting products over just about any other aftermarket product because I've used a number of them and have had considerably better results with HELLA products than almost all others I've tried. Additionally, I work in the transportation lighting business and have access to every sort of OE and aftermarket lighting product and only listed ProStreet Lighting as a reference link to ONE of the many resources where ThirdGenners can get replaceable-bulb type headlamps to replace their deficient sealed beams. I otherwise have no affiliation with any aftermarket lighting company and my company only supplies original equipment lighting assemblies to the automotive industry (no aftermarket).

Next time, get your facts straight before you start accusing people of things you clearly know nothing about.

Willie

iTrader: (1)

1)
Is the $50 purchase referenced above for a set of four lamp assemblies with bulbs? I find that incredibly cheap for a set of "quality" lamps.

2)
If you're technically inclined, visit:

http://lighting.mbz.org/

This is the company I purchased my Hella E-code conversion lamps from. I paid $240 for a set of four and found they are worth it. With these, I now know it's not the wattage that produces more usable light, but it is the lens design.

CaysE

In all honesty, the Sylvania Cool Blue sealed-beam headlamps (H4656CB & H4651CB) do the job great, are relatively cheap (12-15 bucks per bulb), and available just about anywhere. There's a huge improvement in visibility, IMO.

Anth's Iroc

I bought the kit form prostreet lighthing and i didnt care for it to much.it seemed that after awhile of having them on one light would dim and on my 87 the casing didnt fit to well in the light socket.So i use cool blues now to im pretty happy with them.....

KRUSS

I have a set of HELLA 1A/2A lamps in my car and love them too (I didn't pay nearly as much as stated above because we had some evaluation samples laying around that were slated to be scrapped -so to grabbed 'em).

I happen to agree that lighting performance has more to do with good optical beam pattern design than with actual bulb wattage (although more wattage often otherwise simply improves a good beam pattern). There is so much JUNK out there for sale that one really needs to be careful when making a purchase (especially with all of the HID bulb 'claims' circulating lately).

For anyone NOT interested in the novelty of lamps that emmulate an HID look (bluish tint), a good set of HELLA replacement lamps with H1/HB2 bulbs in them will work fantastically!

Ken

JaDeCaMaRoRS

Recently bought H4 diamond cut lenses semi sealed to convert from my sealed beams and yes I had the cool blues. Anyone who hasnt spent money on your lighting yet, do NOT waste ur time and money on the cool blues, unless you are satisified with not seeing well. First off cool blues are only slightly brighter than stock, if you want the brightest sealed beam get the Sylvinia XtraVision becasue they dont have the blue colored tint on the bulb that in fact reduces brightness.

If you want to really see at night get semi sealed H4 conversions. Worth any penny, and no one here can tel me cool blues hold a candle to them, because obvioulsy u have never had one cool blue on one low beam and one H4 on the other (I have and thats what converted me over). H4 is the way to go and if you want the best quality bulb get the PIAA Super Platinums becasue they are the best quality and run at stock voltage but burn brighter than the 90watt H4 (I know this too because I went through that stage too).