1964 CS headlight upgrade

Pritch · Guru

1964 CS headlight upgrade

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Ive had a hella H4 glass high/low headlight in my old cars since 2005, excellent bulb and lens on high and low beam. As good or better than my modern cars. It is a flat glass, has a very nice high/low cutoff. I only installed 1 bulb, left the old high only bulbs in place.

-- Edited by DonSSDD on Thursday 17th of October 2024 06:07:46 PM

Lemans64 · Poncho Master!

Might want to consider upgrading the headlamp system to relays, supplies 12 volts directly to headlamps instead of thru the switch and
dimmer switch. Relays are controlled by switches. Big voltage drop thru the switches and connectors. Not sure I would want to run H4
halogen lamps with old wiring. Just my 2cents though.

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Rick, I had these in my 59 with all original harnesses, my 62 with all new AAW wiring, and my 63 has Painless Wiring, no relays in the 59 or 62 and no issues in either. I dont know of any LEDs that are good in these cars but I havent tried them in my old cars.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Somewhat pricy, but I think a 4 lamp LED conversion like this is might fit the bill,

https://www.amazon.ca/Octane-Lighting-Headlight-4000Lm-Headlamp/dp/B09ZKC69L5?th=1

What is nice is they look stock (not like the funky versions), will work fine on the stock wiring, and the now common 9003 LED bulbs can be upgraded/replaced at any time.

LT1Caddy · Guru

cdnpont wrote:

https://www.amazon.ca/Octane-Lighting-Headlight-4000Lm-Headlamp/dp/B09ZKC69L5?th=1

Almost the exact ones I installed in my 66, except mine were HID's. They were around $90 USD and work great. I installed relays too..

Pritch · Guru

I thank each of you kindly for your prompt replies. You make a good point, Rick. I previously upgraded to relays. Mark or Bruce, do the Octane kits you list actually contain a high and low beam bulb or are they both the same?

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Pritch wrote:
I thank each of you kindly for your prompt replies. You make a good point, Rick. I previously upgraded to relays. Mark or Bruce, do the Octane kits you list actually contain a high and low beam bulb or are they both the same?

It looks like 4 of the same lens and bulbs Brian. I noticed that issue early on, and did initially think it would be a deal breaker. But now I think they'd be so much brighter/whiter than incandescent that you might not ever need a dual filament in the high/low, the cast will be wider and further anyway. Just aim the high beam lamps accordingly.

Speaking of LED's, I'm running these in my 3 street cars. Pretty much the same price as halogen, but so much brighter. They've exceeded my expectations by a long shot. I'd expect the 4 lamp setup to do the same.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I did relays and a set of Phillips halogen seal beams on my Strato Chief. I drive the car very little in the dark (like almost never) but the little I've used it I would say I'm very happy with the lighting. The cost for everything including relays was right around $100. I'm not happy about having to remove the original T3 lights but I'd be less happy if I smoked a deer because of poor lights.

LT1Caddy · Guru

Pritch wrote:
I thank each of you kindly for your prompt replies. You make a good point, Rick. I previously upgraded to relays. Mark or Bruce, do the Octane kits you list actually contain a high and low beam bulb or are they both the same?

I'm sure they came with the bulbs, 99%

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

On looking closer at the Amazon listing,

Both have a triple plug, (one appears capped) so ... maybe all are actually low/high bulbs, or not. The package also comes with what I assume is an adapter pigtail(s).

Typical confusing Amazon description.

led 1.jpg

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I wonder if you could get these right from Octane to you door for less than Amazon? They probably come right from Octane through Amazon anyway, right?

The Octane description is somewhat better, but still confusing.

https://www.octanelighting.com/5-3-4-stock-glass-metal-headlight-led-4000lm-h4-light-bulb-headlamp-set-of-4-2.html?srsltid=AfmBOopkM1L-Nx6aSZgpxCswEafb-KOtBEb8kcdUn0_O0n8cCXcukbSk

Pritch · Guru

Thanks again for all of your good suggestions. Mark, I was finally able to get Octane on the phone. You are correct. These led headlights are a great replacement for the old sealed beams. They come with the jumper cable to choose between high beam and low beam. The agent said that they are a very bright white light and are rated at 6000k. I can get them for roughly $100.00 less by ordering them directly from Octane which is located in California. I shall do so this winter when we are in Arizona. Cheers.