Head Lights

[Rob Rakowski]

I rarely drive at night but a recent road trip brought me to wee hours requiring the use of my headlights (1963 B coupe). I was shocked at how poorly they lit up the road. My lights appear yellowish not white and without much candlepower. A few years ago I installed relays in the buckets for the headlights and parking lights. I went through all connections and grounds and found
no change in the quality of lighting. I then ran wire directly from the battery poles to the lightbulb. No change. So, any suggestions? About a year ago I spoke to someone (misplaced his name & phone number) about a led headlight he was developing to be made in China. I asked him to call me when they were ready for release but haven't heard from him. Anybody??
Rob

[Dave Wildrick]

I assume you are using the original 6V sealed beam headlights.
I switched to 6V H4 halogen units about 12 yrs ago. There is a separate bulb/reflector housing and a 6V bulb that inserts into the housing, with the whole thing replacing your sealed beam unit. These are available from many vendors, such as Al Zim (http://www.allzim.com/store/cart.php?m= ... ail&p=1931) for less than $70 each.

I got mine from Jeffrey Fellman in Florida for $75 each, a long time ago.
He is the vendor for the Chinese LED headlight replacements. His website is: http://www.classicowheels.com/specialtyparts.htm
I don't see the LED headlights listed currently.

[Randy Mittelstet]

Jeffrey's newest headlights are in the classifieds on this site. Search for SMD headlights.
Could anyone using these lights please post a review here?

[Steven Clarke]

Rob:
I rewired my headlights a couple of years ago using the small relays in the headlight buckets. I was amazed at how much better the headlights worked, very strong white light compared to the weak, dim yellow glow I had previously.

I soldered all the connections which I think helps (I am not a fan of crimped electrical connections), but I think maybe an even bigger factor may have been new headlight sockets. I was surprised at how bad those 50 year old sockets had become. They were corroded and had lost a lot of their spring pressure. They just didnt look like they could carry the amperage any more. I bought my new ones from YnZ Yesterday Parts. They are the original style that use the bullet connectors, and I bought new bullets also.

http://www.ynzyesterdaysparts.com/index ... duct_id=46

Anyway, just my two cents, good luck.
Steve

[Rob Rakowski]

Dave, H4's may be the way to go but I think I'll try Steven's recommendation first. Even though I tried to clean the sockets up, they still looked rough. Randy, Jeffrey Fellman is the fellow I spoke with a year or so ago when I ordered his LED parking lights which, by the way, are super bright. I emailed him yesterday but from past experience he is hard to get hold of. I checked classifieds for SMD headlights and got "0" results. More later.
Rob

[Rob Rakowski]

Dave, H4's may be the way to go but I think I'll try Steven's recommendation first. Even though I tried to clean the sockets up, they still looked rough. Randy, Jeffrey Fellman is the fellow I spoke with a year or so ago when I ordered his LED parking lights which, by the way, are super bright. I emailed him yesterday but from past experience he is hard to get hold of. I checked classifieds for SMD headlights and got "0" results. More later.
Rob

[PatrickLtjens]

https://porsche356registry.org/classifieds/6082

[Jim Nelson]

https://porsche356registry.org/classifieds/6082

A possible answer. No one who has tried them has posted a review yet, so it's a little difficult to know if that's the silver bullet answer to our headlight problems. Might be. Don't know yet.

[E Rutherford]

The best thing to do regardless whether you stay with the 6V seal beam or convert over to the H4, you should install a headlight relay setup. This allows the head lights to receive max voltage without compromising the wiring or switch. The relay does the heavy lifting and the switch just powers the relay. The relay system is a must when you run H4s! The relay connects the headlight circuit direct to battery circuit, max wattage, nice and bright!

Lots of us sell this system

ed
klassse356.com

[Rob Rakowski]

Ed, As noted in original post, relays installed several years ago. Still no response from Jeffrey Fellman on phone message or email. How does he remain in business since only takes orders by phone??

[Sebastian Gaeta]

Ed, As noted in original post, relays installed several years ago. Still no response from Jeffrey Fellman on phone message or email. How does he remain in business since only takes orders by phone??

Jeffrey has some great stuff. Ironically he is unhappy with his ability to get the word out about his products in the Registry but then never returns people's calls. I have stopped referring people to him for just this reason.

On the ither hand, there are several people who swear by him, they must have his secret phone number!

[Jeffrey Leeds]

A couple of weeks ago he posted a special sale discount offer for a couple of his steering wheels because he was taking a 'round the world trip with his son (?) so that could explain the non-response to recent inquiries.

[Sebastian Gaeta]

Perhaps, then, he travels quite a bit?

[Jerry Henning]

Email can be read and responded to from almost any crevice on this big blue marble we call Earth.

[Phil Planck]

Here is a pair for $30. Made a big difference on my 55 coupe.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-Halogen-Seale ... 0542819946